— California 4-star WR Ryan Pellum is on a visit to Oregon and will be on campus for two days. The Ducks had been his clear leader for a while, but now they have a company with USC making a big charge of late. LSU, Nebraska, Tennessee, and others are pushing to get visits as well, but I’ve heard he wants to stay out west, and it could be a Trojans and Ducks battle as we saw recently with Texas CB Aaron Flowers. Unlike Pellum, Flowers was a strong USC lean before the Ducks flipped him at the last moment last week. These two teams are going head-to-head for a lot of players again this cycle, and I think the Ducks take back the lead for Pellum after this visit. But they could lose Flowers in the long run as he will take all of his officials.
— I still feel good about the chances for Arkansas to keep 4-star LB Brian Huff in-state despite the fact he’s set three officials elsewhere. Huff will visit UCF June 2, Notre Dame June 9, and Missouri June 23. The biggest threat to Arkansas is Missouri, as he loves the staff, and they need instant impact linebackers immediately. However, new Arkansas DC Travis Williams is a former all-SEC LB and is pushing hard for Huff, and they will get many more visits even if they aren’t official. I think right now, UCF and Notre Dame trail these two.
— FSU fans have to be a little nervous that QB commit Luke Kromenhoek took a return visit to Penn State, but with another trip to Tallahassee this weekend, I think they wrap things up. Penn State will likely land Maryland QB Michael Van Buren, and if they do, that will help them recruit St. Frances more. The issue? Van Buren is 5-11, and Kromenhoek is 6-4, and continuity in the offensive scheme is a consideration, with Drew Allar (6-5) set to be the man. Don’t think these things matter? They do in the minds of coaches. But hey, Penn State went from statuesque Christian Hackenberg to much smaller Trace McSorley, and that worked out.
— California OT Brandon Baker is a busy guy. He just visited Florida State and has Georgia and Texas this week as well. And he’s already been to Michigan this month and saw Miami, Nebraska, Ohio State, and Tennessee in March. But the big visit coming up is Oregon for their Spring Game on April 29. Before that, he’ll be back at Nebraska for their Spring Game on April 22. Oregon leads this one in a big way, followed by Nebraska and Georgia. The team to watch? USC, as always these days. It’s his home state team, and he has been there plenty of times. I expect a summer commitment.
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— And finally, for this one at least, how about a nice 2025 rumor? Mississippi WR Caleb Cunningham likes Ole Miss a lot and also has a major interest in Florida State. But a visit this week to Tennessee, I’m told, could shake things up. Why? Cunningham likes the offense and saw what Jalin Hyatt did last season, especially against Alabama, and has a chance to be a taller version of the Vols wideout. I’m told this visit has been in the works since his January offer and is a big one for his future cut list.
