Recruiting roundup: Dante Moore crucial to Oregon's class; Baylor, Kansas State land historic commitments
Since mid-June college football prospects have been flying off big boards as they announce their commitments at a record-setting pace.
On Friday, the final elite quarterback domino will fall, as five-star quarterback Dante Moore will announce his college commitment.
He will be the latest in a long line of recent big-time commitments across the country.
Here's a look at a few of the biggest decisions:
It's "Moore or bust" for the Ducks in a time when the program finds itself at a quarterback crossroads.
- All-American Bowl cornerback Caleb Presley commits to Oregon Ducks, joins former Rainier Beach teammate Josh Conerly Jr.
"I'm headed to Oregon," Presley said. "My reason for going is the coaching staff. They have a lot of potential. Coach (Dan) Lanning is coming off a national championship, coach Tosh (Lupoi) is coming out of the NFL and has won a national championship as well, and coach Demetrice Martin, me and him have had a relationship since he was at Colorado."
- Nation's No. 1 offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa announces commitment to Miami, becomes first 5-star recruit of Mario Cristobal era
Mauigoa projects as a future NFL first-round pick and is the fifth big-time addition for Miami since late June.
- Nation's No. 1 athlete in 2024 Jonathan Echols commits to Tennessee Volunteers
After missing out on five-star offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa, Tennessee bounced back with one of the nation's top recruits in the 2024 class.
- Avery Johnson, nation's No. 3 dual-threat quarterback, commits to in-state Kansas State Wildcats
"The main reason behind it... you hear all the time, 'Go where you are wanted the most.' I feel like they always wanted me the most," Johnson said. "They've been here since I first started getting recruited. They started recruiting me at the end of my sophomore year and have been hard on me every since. I just felt it was the right place for me."
- 7 top Oregon HS football prospects announce commitments in a little more than a week
Players from Central Catholic, West Linn, Tualatin, Sherwood, Sheldon and Sprague all announced their college decisions
- Florida three-star wide receiver Tastean Reddicks commits to Oregon State, continues building pipeline to Corvallis
Reddicks is the second Florida commitment for Oregon State, which landed multiple Florida commitments last year as well
- Nation's No. 2 running back Richard Young announces his final three
Young is down to a final three of Alabama, Georgia and Oregon
- Nation's No. 11 offensive tackle Isaiah Robinson announces commitment to Baylor Bears, becomes highest-rated OL in program history
"I'm committing to Baylor, because the more I thought about it, the more I realized I liked everything about it," Robinson said. "I didn't see a reason for me not to choose Baylor."
- Nation's No. 8 offensive tackle Zechariah Owens commits to Clemson Tigers
“The program is different. At the end of the day, if all things fail, I will still have Clemson and a degree," Owens said.
"I had a family problem that I don't want to really get into, and coach (Thomas) Austin was the first coach to come at me and come for me. I know he’s always going to be there. When he did that I knew it was bigger than football.
"It’s about who is going to take care of you. I couldn’t believe that a coach would do that. That’s not something I was used to from a college coach. He stopped everything he was doing to check to see if I was okay. I’m all-in.”
- Texas defensive lineman Theorin Randle commits to Washington State Cougars
"I took and my official visit and the place was just right," Randle said. "I loved the coaches. The head coaches usually doesn't show defensive tackles that type of love, so that was big for me. Coach Jake Dickert just signed a five-year deal and that granted me stability. So, that’s just the place to be."
