Every week, “Friday Night Notes” provides a summary of the latest high school recruiting news from across the nation. It covers updates from the Class of 2023, as well as those in 2024 and beyond.
In this week’s update, there has been a change at the top of the recruiting cycle for 2024. Michigan was leading the rankings, but Georgia took over the lead. This shift was influenced by the recent addition of highly regarded quarterback Dylan Raiola, along with a few more three- and four-star commitments in the past week.
Based on the Sports Composite rankings, Georgia’s class of 2024 now has a score of 270.65 points, which is more than 20 points ahead of the second-ranked team, Michigan, with a score of 250.12. Closing this gap will be a significant challenge for Jim Harbaugh and his program. However, recruiting a couple of top-tier prospects could certainly make a positive impact and potentially narrow the margin.
Speaking of potential reinforcements, there’s some promising news on the horizon.
As reported by Wolverines Wire’s Trent Knoop, Justin Scott is scheduled to visit Ann Arbor on June 9. Scott, standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 310 pounds, is considered the top prospect in Illinois, ranked third in his position, and twelfth nationally in the class of 2024 according to the composite rankings.
Scott has received offers from 29 other college programs and is also planning visits to Georgia, Miami, and Ohio State next month. According to On3’s prediction model, Miami seems to be the frontrunner to secure his commitment with a 69.8% likelihood, followed by Notre Dame at 20.2%, and Georgia at 6.3%. Michigan’s chances are currently less than 1%.
However, Scott won’t be the only standout recruit coming to Ann Arbor during that period.
As indicated by On3 Recruits, highly-rated wide receiver Ryan Wingo from Saint Louis University (Missouri) will also be making an official visit on June 9. Wingo, standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 205 pounds, is ranked second overall in Missouri, fifth among wide receivers, and twenty-first nationally in the 2024 class.
Wingo has received offers from 41 other college programs, showcasing his impressive talent. Among the potential choices, several schools are seen as strong contenders to secure his commitment. These include Georgia, Michigan, Missouri, Texas, Alabama, Clemson, Miami, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas A&M.
Colorado extends invitations to two exceptional quarterbacks from the class of 2025.
No college football program has made bigger improvements in the last six months than Colorado. Ever since they brought in Deion Sanders as their head coach, the Buffaloes have been having a remarkable streak of success in recruiting new players and attracting transfers. This has led to a fantastic outcome: tickets for their home games during the regular season have completely sold out for the first time in many years. As a result, people have high hopes for the team’s performance in 2023.
However, it’s important to note that this program had a big challenge to overcome, and there’s still a lot of work ahead before they can truly compete with the top Power 5 teams. Their main priority is to recruit more talented players and build depth, especially in the most important position in the game.
In the coming years, the Buffaloes will be starting Shedeur Sanders as their quarterback, who happens to be Coach Prime’s son. Shedeur is a highly-regarded four-star recruit from the class of 2021. He’s among the group of players who have followed Coach Prime from Jackson State.
After Shedeur Sanders, the situation at quarterback for Colorado becomes less clear.
In an effort to address this, Colorado has extended offers to two highly promising quarterbacks from the class of 2025.
First up is TJ Lateef from Orange Lutheran (California), a four-star quarterback standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 185 pounds. He’s ranked ninth among quarterbacks in his class, holding the 17th spot in California and 148th nationally.
Lateef’s talent has not gone unnoticed, with numerous other reputable institutions extending offers his way. This list includes notable names like Georgia, Miami, Arizona, Arizona State, Boston College, Cincinnati, Florida State, Texas A&M, and Indiana. No particular favorite stands out, as per On3’s prediction model. Arizona State is currently the weakest favorite at just 12.1%, followed by Arizona at 10.6%. Oregon State holds a 9.1% projection, and Colorado stands at 7.6%.
The other sophomore quarterback Colorado has shown interest in is Bear Bachmeier from Murrieta Valley (California). Also a four-star prospect, Bachmeier stands at 6-foot-1 and weighs 205 pounds. He’s ranked just one spot below Lateef in his position, and holds the 19th spot in the state and 165th nationally.
Thirteen other programs have offered Bachmeier, including Purdue, Oregon, Miami, Kansas, and Stanford. The favored choice isn’t clear here either, as On3’s projections currently lean towards San Diego State with an 11.3% likelihood.
4-star ATH Jadan Baugh commits to Arkansas
Jadan Baugh, a talented four-star athlete from Columbia (Georgia), is among the most versatile prospects in the class of 2024. He’s skilled at multiple positions including running back, wide receiver, and defensive back. In Georgia, he’s ranked 57th overall and stands at 43rd among multi-position players.
Baugh garnered interest and scholarship offers from a total of 16 diverse programs, encompassing notable names like Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. However, last Friday, Baugh made his commitment to the Arkansas Razorbacks official, a choice that adds a valuable weapon to their team.
In the previous season, Baugh (6-foot-2, 197 pounds) showcased his diverse skills on the field. He rushed for 306 yards and scored three touchdowns while playing as a running back, with only 15 attempts. He also demonstrated his abilities as a wide receiver, catching 27 passes for an impressive 442 yards and five touchdowns. Additionally, on defense, he made a significant impact with 32 solo tackles (four for a loss), an interception, and a fumble recovery.
Thanks to Baugh’s commitment, Arkansas’ class of 2024 now boasts 10 committed players and holds the 15th rank nationally.
