TMI’s Brice Marich gives his thoughts on the recruiting front and the transfer portal
With less than a week away from the early signing period on Wednesday, here’s some thoughts and notes on Michigan’s recruiting class and the transfer portal as well:
-Michigan had four-star edge rusher Lugard Edokpayi on an official visit this week and I’m told the Wolverines killed it on this trip. First time on campus, but he really connected with the coaching staff especially Mike Elston and Dylan Roney, who were rockstars. As of now, I’m leaning towards Michigan being the team to beat especially with a cancelation of his Florida State official visit. Maryland looms as the top competition. He’s the top defensive target left on the board.
– Still like the Maize and Blue with Top100 wide receiver Gatlin Bair, but not enough to put in a prediction. Oregon has made up a TON of ground in this recruitment and really been pitching their up-tempo and explosive offense to him. Looking like he will decide and pick a school in February. I don’t consider that a negative or positive, but more so him taking more time to look at both suitors and see where things stands with each program following their postseason.
The 2024 recruiting cycle is still heating up with the Early Signing Period coming up next week as some of the top high school football players around the country are announcing their respective college decisions.
During the week of Dec. 8-14, 14 players committed to a Big Ten program, with each of those commitments coming from the 2024 class. Nine Big Ten schools secured at least one commitment this week.
Indiana and Michigan State lead the way with three commits among that group, followed by Purdue with two, while Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern and USC each have one.
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With that in mind, scroll down to take a look at the prospects who committed to a Big Ten program over the past week, starting with the 2024 prospects and concluding with the underclassmen.
Recruiting background: A 6-foot-3, 305-pound defensive lineman out of Lancaster (Pa.) Manheim Township, Palepale flipped his commitment from USC to Michigan, giving Jim Harbaugh and his staff their 26th commitment of the 2024 recruiting cycle. He initially pledged to the Trojans on July 1 over Michigan and Penn State after taking official visits to all three schools in June. His recruitment was spearheaded by Michigan defensive line coach Mike Elston. Palepale has committed to play in the 2024 Polynesian Bowl all-star game in January.
Recruiting background: A 6-foot-4, 190-pound wide receiver out of Fishers (Ind.) Hamilton Southeastern, Hamilton committed to the Boilermakers over Power Five offers from Indiana, Kentucky and Pittsburgh, among others. The decision comes in the wake of an official visit to West Lafayette. Purdue wide receivers coach Cory Patterson was the lead recruiter for Hamilton, who becomes the 23rd commitment for the Boilermakers in the 2024 recruiting cycle. In 11 games this season, Hamilton hauled in 47 receptions for 934 yards and 11 touchdowns on offense while adding a punt return touchdown on special teams, per MaxPreps.
Recruiting background: A 6-foot-0.5, 185-pound safety out of Washington (D.C.) St. John’s, McIntosh committed to the Terrapins following an official visit to the campus, choosing Mike Locksley’s program over Power Five offers from Boston College, Pittsburgh, Tennessee and West Virginia, among others. McIntosh becomes the 20th commitment for the Terrapins in the 2024 recruiting cycle. His recruitment was spearheaded by Maryland safeties coach Zac Spavital.
Recruiting background: A 6-foot-5, 305-pound offensive lineman out of Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, Green committed to the Boilermakers over Power Five offers from Virginia Tech, Arizona State, BYU and Houston, among others. He is the 24th commitment for Ryan Walters and company in the 2024 recruiting cycle. Purdue offensive line coach Marcus Johnson was the lead recruiter for Green, who took an official visit to West Lafayette on the weekend of Nov. 24. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Recruiting background: A 6-foot-4, 240-pound edge defender out of Corsicana (Texas) Navarro College, Toussom committed to the Golden Gophers following an official visit to the campus, giving PJ Fleck and his staff their 22nd commitment of the 2024 recruiting cycle. His primary recruiter was Minnesota defensive line coach Winston DeLattiboudere III. In 11 games this season at Navarro, Toussom recorded 57 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, eight sacks, six pass breakups and a fumble return for a touchdown. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Recruiting background: A 6-foot-3, 225-pound edge defender out of Lithonia (Ga.) Arabia Mountain, Ndukwe committed to the Hoosiers following an official visit to Bloomington, making him the program’s 15th commitment of the 2024 recruiting cycle. He was previously committed to James Madison for more than four months before reopening his recruitment on Dec. 3 after head coach Curt Cignetti was hired to the same position at Indiana. His primary recruiter was Indiana defensive ends coach Buddha Williams. In 10 games as a senior, Ndukwe recorded 35 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and one interception return for a touchdown on defense while catching 10 passes for 216 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for another score on offense, per MaxPreps.
Recruiting background: A 6-foot-1, 175-pound athlete out of Cleveland (Ohio) St. Ignatius, Martin flipped his commitment from Toledo to Northwestern. He had been committed to the Rockets since March 26, but he now becomes commit No. 12 for the Wildcats in the 2024 recruiting cycle. Northwestern defensive backs coach Matt MacPherson was the lead recruiter for Martin, while director of recruiting for defense Bryan Payton also assisted in the recruitment.
Recruiting background: A 6-foot-2, 185-pound quarterback out of Miami (Fla.) Columbus, Mendoza committed to the Hoosiers just eight days after decommitting from James Madison and landing an offer from new head coach Curt Cignetti. He was pledged to the Dukes for more than five months before reopening his recruitment on Dec. 3 after Cignetti was hired by Indiana. He announced his commitment on the heels of an official visit to Bloomington, becoming commit No. 14 for the Hoosiers in the 2024 recruiting cycle. His recruitment was spearheaded by quarterbacks coach Tino Sunseri and offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Mike Shanahan, who were both on Cignetti’s staff at James Madison. In 11 games as a senior, Mendoza completed 159 of 223 passes (71.3%) for 1,950 yards with 22 touchdowns against five interceptions while rushing for an additional 319 yards on 46 carries, per MaxPreps. He is the younger brother of Cal starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
Recruiting background: A 6-foot-4, 255-pound defensive lineman out of Emmaus (Pa.) High School, Landino committed to the Hoosiers following an official visit to Bloomington. He becomes Indiana’s 13th commitment of the 2024 recruiting cycle, including the first under new head coach Curt Cignetti. He was previously committed to Cignetti at James Madison for more than five months before reopening his recruitment on Dec. 4, just a few days after Cignetti was hired by Indiana. Landino recorded 102 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble and four blocked kicks over 12 games as a senior.
Recruiting background: A 6-foot-5.5, 235-pound tight end out of Cupertino (Calif.) Homestead, Hook committed to the Spartans in the wake of an official visit to East Lansing, becoming Michigan State’s ninth commitment of the 2024 recruiting cycle. He was a longtime Oregon State commit under Jonathan Smith before reopening his recruitment on Dec. 6 after Smith was hired as the Spartans’ head coach. His recruitment was spearheaded by Michigan State tight ends coach Brian Wozniak. In 10 games as a senior, Hook caught 34 passes for 404 yards and five touchdowns on offense while recording 39 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry and one interception on defense, per MaxPreps.
Recruiting background: A 5-foot-11, 215-pound running back out of McKinney (Texas) High School, Frazier committed to the Spartans following an official visit to East Lansing, making him the first commitment of the Jonathan Smith era. He was previously pledged to Smith at Oregon State for nearly seven months before reopening his recruitment on Dec. 1 after Smith left to take the Spartans’ head coaching job. Frazier is the eighth overall commitment for the Spartans in the 2024 recruiting cycle.
Recruiting background: A 6-foot-6, 286-pound offensive tackle out of Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman, Ruggeroli committed to the Cornhuskers over offers from Washington State, Arizona State, Boston College, Colorado State, Fresno State, Nevada and UNLV. He is the 26th commitment of the 2024 recruiting cycle for Matt Rhule’s program. His recruitment was spearheaded by Nebraska offensive line coach Donovan Raiola.
Recruiting background: A 6-foot-5, 290-pound defensive lineman out of Prior Lake (Minn.) High School, Abasiri committed to the Trojans just three days after decommitting from Minnesota. He was pledged to the Golden Gophers for nearly nine months before reopening his recruitment on Dec. 11 following an official visit to USC. His recruitment was spearheaded by new USC defensive line coach Shaun Nua. Abasiri is the 18th commitment for Lincoln Riley and the Trojans in the 2024 recruiting cycle.
Recruiting background: A 6-foot-0.5, 205-pound running back out of Frisco (Texas) Memorial, Tullis committed to the Spartans just one day after decommitting from Oregon State on the heels of an official visit to East Lansing. He initially committed to head coach Jonathan Smith and the Beavers on July 8, but he is now the third former Oregon State commit of the week to join Smith in making the jump to the Spartans. Michigan State running backs coach Keith Bhonapha was the lead recruiter for Tullis, who becomes the program’s ninth commitment of the 2024 recruiting cycle. In 10 games as a senior, he rushed for 238 yards and two touchdowns on 44 carries and caught three passes for 18 yards.
