Nov 5, 2022; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide cheerleaders lead out the players from the tunnel to start the game against the LSU Tigers before the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

German LB Justin Okoronkwo commits to Alabama

Alabama landed a 2024 commitment of linebacker Justin Okoronkwo of Germany on Sunday.

He’s listed as a three-star prospect by the 247Sports composite, and he had offers from other Power Five schools, including Penn State and Michigan.

Okoronkwo committed to Maryland last Nov. 29 and made an official visit on June 23. But on his U.S. trip, he also attended camps at Alabama, Georgia and Nebraska and apparently reconsidered the Terrapins, decommitting from Maryland on Saturday.

The 6-foot-3 Okoronkwo announced his decision on Twitter on Sunday.

He becomes the 11th commit to the Crimson Tide’s Class of 2024, which is led by five-star quarterback Julian Sayin of Carlsbad, Calif.

–Field Level Media

IMG Academy running back Jerrick Gibson

Jerrick Gibson, No. 2 RB in 2024, commits to Texas

Texas landed a commitment Saturday from Jerrick Gibson, ranked as the nation’s No. 2 running back in the 2024 class on the 247Sports composite.

Gibson, a 5-foot-10 back who plays at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., announced his commitment during an official visit in Austin. The four-star prospect chose the Longhorns over Georgia, Tennessee and Miami after official visits with all three this month.

“Just where his heart was,” Gibson’s father, Victor Jenkins, told 247Sports about Texas.

“Just the development, especially for his position, they develop well. I feel like I can leave him there and not have to worry about anything.”

Taylor Tatum from Longview, Texas, is the No. 1 running back in the class. He has yet to commit.

With Gibson’s pledge, Texas has its sixth 2024 commit.

–Field Level Media

Cutter Boley selected the University of Kentucky as the school he will play football.May 18, 2023

Local blue-chip QB Cutter Boley commits to Kentucky

Quarterback Cutter Boley, a four-star prospect at Lexington Christian Academy, is staying home to play at Kentucky.

He announced his choice in a ceremony at his school, picking the Wildcats over Tennessee, Florida, Michigan and Penn State.

The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Boley also announced his reclassification from the 2025 class to 2024, and said he plans to enroll early. It was a natural fit for him.

“Coming from a small town in Hodgenville, where I came from, I grew up with the people who really plan their whole year around the UK football season,” Boley told On3. “That was a huge thing every single weekend. You watched a UK football game somewhere. If it was a home game, we went. If it was an away game, we stayed and went down close to the river and watched it.

“It was growing up watching everybody, how passionate they were, even way outside of Lexington, just how passionate people all over the state are about Kentucky, especially about football. … People have been really excited. I’m excited to see if we can take it to the next level.”

In the 2025 class, Boley was ranked as the No. 6 quarterback and the No. 72 overall recruit by the 247Sports composite. His 2024 ranking had not yet been calculated as of Thursday morning.

–Field Level Media

Sep 10, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA;  Ohio State Buckeyes helmets before the game against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

2024 QB Air Noland commits to Ohio State

Blue-chip quarterback Air Noland committed to Ohio State’s 2024 class, helping to ease the sting of the decommitment of No. 1 QB Dylan Raiola.

Raiola, from the Phoenix area, pledged to the Buckeyes in May 2022 but backed off seven months later, with Nebraska, Georgia and Southern California the presumed frontrunners to land him.

The 247Sports composite ranks Noland as the No. 8 quarterback and the No. 84 overall player in the 2024 class.

The left-hander, a four-star prospect from Langston Hughes High School in Fairburn, Ga., announced his pick Saturday night, choosing the Buckeyes over finalists Alabama, Arkansas, Clemson, Miami, Oregon and Texas A&M.

“Of course they have a great coaching staff,” Noland told 247Sports about picking Ohio State. “But what stood out to me was the way they prepare their quarterbacks on and off the field, regardless of if he’s reading a coverage or a business opportunity off the field.”

As a junior, he led his high school team to an undefeated season and a state championship, throwing for 4,095 yards and 55 touchdowns, per 247Sports.

Ohio State’s class currently stands No. 4 in the nation in the 247Sports rankings. The nine commitments include a pair of five-star wide receivers, Jeremiah Smith of Hollywood, Fla., and Mylan Graham from New Haven, Ind.

–Field Level Media

Jul 21, 2022; Atlanta, GA, USA; The Tennessee helmet shown on the stage during SEC Media Days at the College Football Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

2024 QB Jake Merklinger commits to Tennessee

Jake Merklinger, a four-star quarterback in the Class of 2024, committed to Tennessee on Thursday.

The 247Sports composite lists Merklinger as the No. 6 quarterback and No. 55 overall prospect in the class.

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Merklinger, flanked by his parents, made the announcement at Calvary Day School in Savannah, Ga., choosing
the Volunteers over his other finalists — Georgia, Michigan State and North Carolina.

Over the past three seasons, Merklinger has recorded 6,607 passing yards and thrown for 75 touchdowns, adding 690 rushing yards and 20 more TDs, per 247Sports.

With Merklinger’s commitment, Tennessee’s 2024 class rose to No. 6 in the nation in 247Sports’ very early rankings.

–Field Level Media

Nov 12, 2022; Washington, DC, USA;  Archbishop Carroll High School player Nyckoles Harbor (7) during the game as Archbishop Carroll High School defeated Bishop O'Connell High School 48-6 in WCAC Semi-Finals game at Bishop O'Connell High School.  Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY

South Carolina lands 5-star prospect Nyckoles Harbor

Five-star prospect Nyckoles Harbor, who plans to play tight end in college, committed Wednesday to South Carolina.

He chose the Gamecocks over a bevy of offers, including from Michigan, Maryland and Oregon.

Although he also was an edge rusher at Archbishop Carroll in Washington, D.C., Harbor was listed at the No. 1 recruit in the athlete category and the No. 19 overall player in the nation by the 247Sports composite.

At 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, Harbor also is a sprinter and an Olympic hopeful. 247Sports said he intends to run track in college, too.

He credited South Carolina coach Shane Beamer for his commitment.

“It’s Beamer Ball,” Harbor said. “He is the hottest recruiter in America, which everybody is learning. It’s a great school overall and he is building something great there. “

As a senior, Harbor caught 15 passes for 439 yards and five touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball, he made 45 tackles and had 5 1/2 sacks, per 247Sports.

The publication also said that Harbor holds the top times in the nation in two track events this season: the 60 meters (6.64 seconds) and the 200 meters (20.76).

–Field Level Media

Berkeley Prep 2023 Edge Rusher Keon Keeley

Berkeley Prep 2023 Edge Rusher Keon Keeley 1024x681

Top 2023 edge rusher Keon Keeley commits to Alabama

Keon Keeley, a five-star edge rusher, committed Monday to Alabama, choosing the Crimson Tide over Ohio State and other top-flight programs.

Keeley is ranked No. 1 at the position and No. 10 overall in the nation in the Class of 2023 by the 247Sports composite. From Tampa, Fla., he attends Berkeley Prep and is expected to play linebacker in college.

He remained the only composite top 10 player uncommitted ahead of the start of the early three-day national signing period on Dec. 21.

The 6-foot-6, 242-pound Keeley committed to Notre Dame on June 28, 2021, and decommitted on Aug. 17. He told BamaOnLine on Monday that Alabama was the right place for him.

He has made at least four visits to Tuscaloosa.

“It’s just a great program,” Keeley said. “If you do the right stuff and trust the process, you can have a lot of success.”

Heading into the signing period, Alabama has the No. 1 recruiting class for 2023, per the 247Sports rankings. Following the Crimson Tide are Georgia, Notre Dame, Texas and Ohio State.

–Field Level Media

Oct 12, 2019; Champaign, IL, USA; A Michigan Wolverines helmet sits on the back of the bench during the second half of the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Allio-USA TODAY Sports

2024 four-star OL Luke Hamilton commits to Michigan

Michigan gained another victory in Ohio this weekend with the commitment of four-star offensive lineman Luke Hamilton to its 2024 class.

Hamilton, from Avon, Ohio, said Sunday he was committing to the Wolverines. He was on hand in Columbus on Saturday when No. 3 Michigan knocked off No. 2 Ohio State in a battle of previously 11-0 teams.

“Last night, watching them do something like that to a team with such success kind of pushed me over the edge to do it and I’m not looking back,” Hamilton told 247Sports.

The 247Sports composite lists the 6-foot-5, 290-pound Hamilton as the No. 8 offensive tackle in the nation. He also gave strong consideration to Michigan State.

“The past two years they’ve been on the uprise,” Hamilton said of the Wolverines. “Of course they’ve always been a top-tier program. They’ve been pushing the past few years. They’re going to be a team nobody wants to mess with. They’re going to be that ‘Bama. They’re going to be a high-level team nobody wants to play and be scared of.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 29, 2022; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier looks on against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Recruit Jaden Rashada flips from Miami to Florida

Four-star quarterback prospect Jaden Rashada called an audible over social media on Friday morning by agreeing to join Florida, four-plus months after committing to Miami.

Rashada is listed by 247Sports’ composite rankings as the No. 7-rated quarterback in the 2023 class. He initially selected the Hurricanes over the Gators as well as LSU, Mississippi and Texas A&M in June.

“After a lot of prayer, conversations with my family and those close to me, I have decided to change my commitment and play for the University of Florida,” Rashada wrote early Friday morning on Twitter.

“I have tremendous respect for Miami and what they are going to accomplish there, but I have watched this season and Coach (Billy) Napier and his team are building something very special in The Swamp and I want to be a part of it.”

Per Sports Illustrated, Rashada has thrown for 4,883 yards and 63 touchdowns and added 420 yards and five scores during his four-year high school career at Pittsburg (Calif.) High School.

The addition of Rashada gives Florida the No. 8 overall recruiting class for 2023, per the 247Sports rankings.

–Field Level Media

Aug 27, 2022; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell leads his team before the game against the Duquesne Dukes at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

5-star WR Hykeem Williams commits to Florida State

Five-star wide receiver Hykeem Williams committed to Florida State on Friday.

An All-American Bowl selection, Williams is ranked as the No. 4 wide receiver and the No. 22 overall player in the Class of 2023 by the 247Sports composite.

Williams, who plays at Stranahan High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., chose the Seminoles over Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Pitt and Texas A&M.

According to 247Sports, once Williams signs, he’ll be the highest-ranked wide receiver to commit to play at Florida State since Ermon Lane in 2014.

Williams told 247Sports that coach Mike Norvell and his staff were prime reasons for his commitment.

“Oh my gosh, he’s different,” Williams said of Norvell. “He’s very uplifting. He wants the best for his players. When it comes to speeches. I think his speeches will make me want to run through a wall.”

–Field Level Media