By Mike Lilly
There can never be too much talent on a roster in the NIL era of college football. Even the best of programs lose talent to the transfer portal every offseason, making it just as important to keep the cupboards stocked with talent. Let’s take a look at teams that have been underwhelming, and might want to hit the panic button early in 2025 on the recruiting trail:
Michigan
4 Commits
Four 4-stars
This can be spun many ways, but there is no reason a program coming off of a national championship can’t get some early traction in a recruiting cycle. Even with the departure of head coach Jim Harbaugh, new head coach Sherrone Moore was seen as a continuity hire and needs to find a way to gain momentum in the cycle.
Landing Nathaniel Marshall (#4 DL) is the highlight of this class so far, but there’s a lot of work to be done to make the Wolverines’ class elite. There have also been some rumblings about Marquise Davis (#11 RB) trending to Michigan, a commitment that could give the spark needed to make a nice run on the trail.
https://twitter.com/nxtgencertified/status/1566529050218270720
Colorado
3 Commits
One 4-star, Two 3-stars
Coach Deion Sanders and the Buffs may get some backlash because of their notorious (sometimes celebrated) use of the transfer portal, but you have to notice a bit of a theme here. Two recruiting cycles in a row of less-than-stellar classes could spell doom for the long-term success of a program, transfer portal or not.
Something needs to flip in Boulder to secure the number of high school players needed to maintain a roster and it needs to happen quickly. Securing the commitment of Alex Graham (#24 CB) over the likes of Michigan and Alabama is a nice win, but keep an eye on Colorado’s number of commitments as we get closer to early signing day.
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https://twitter.com/FolsomFrenzyPod/status/1784244034178834822
Florida
3 Commits
Two 4-stars, One 3-star
The future of the program and head coach Billy Napier likely hinge on the results in 2024, and the 2025 recruiting cycle is off to a tough start. Losing the commitment of Peyton Joseph (#7 IOL) is a massive blow and could also affect a decision from Antwann Hill (#11 QB), who the Gators are a contender for, being Joseph’s high school teammate.
Things could turn quickly in Gainesville with an improved season this fall and you have to wonder if the staff feels the pressure. Could we potentially see Napier roll out true freshman DJ Lagway (2024 #1 QB) in hopes of attracting more talent to play alongside the talented signal-caller? Time will tell, but the Gators need to make a splash to gain some momentum.
https://twitter.com/nwblackmon/status/1784331140666413546
Arkansas
3 Commits
Three 3-stars
After a disappointing 2023 season on the field, Arkansas’ 2025 class is leaving a lot to be desired. Losing the commitments of Jamarion Parker (#28 RB) and Carius Curne (#9 DL) on the same day in March crushed any momentum coach Sam Pittman and the Hogs had on the trail.
The highlight of the class so far is the commitment of talented in-state quarterback Grayson Wilson (#33 QB), who has been committed for over a year. The on-field results in 2024 could not be more important for the program’s future if they look to regain momentum recruiting against the rest of the SEC, and likely keep Pittman’s job.
https://twitter.com/LemmingReport/status/1736564647602352505
