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CFB Roundup – March 18, 2025

Good morning, and welcome back to CFB Roundup from CFB Home – the first daily newsletter that’s all college football, all the time with no bias, no slant, and no fluff.

Deion Sanders: I’d Like to Play Against Another Team in the Spring Game

Colorado Coach Deion Sanders shared recently that, rather than an inter-squad scrimmage, he’d like to see the Buffaloes face off against another team.

“The Spring Game will be televised on ESPN2 on that 19th. We got to sell this thing out and pack this thing because the way the trend is going, you never know if this is going to be the last spring game. I don’t believe in that. I don’t really want to condone that. I would like to play in the spring. Actually, I would like to play against another team in the spring. That’s what I’m trying to do right now. To have a competitive [game] against your own guys kind of gets monotonous. You really can’t tell the level of your guys because, you know, it’s the same old, same way. Everybody kind of knows each other. Towards the end, I would like to style it like the pros. I would like to practice against someone for a few days, then you have the spring game and I think the public will be satisfied with that tremendously. I think it’s a tremendous idea. I’ve told those personnel who should understand that it’s a tremendous idea.”

Syracuse’s Fran Brown Bites on Coach Sanders’ Proposal

As referenced above, Colorado’s Deion Sanders shared that he wants his team to play a spring game against another team, rather than inter-squad. On Twitter, Syracuse Coach Fran Brown responded positively sharing, “we will come to Boulder for 3 days.”

What the coaches are basically proposing is something akin to a preseason game that would occur after a few joint practices to let iron sharpen iron from another team, so to speak.

LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier on Expectations: We Expect to Play in January

LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier shared that he has some high expectations for the Tigers going into 2025, and that’s to be competing for a National Championship.

LSU finished 9-4 after the first two seasons of the Brian Kelly era ended 10-4 and 10-3. LSU has won three bowls, winning the Citrus Bowl, then the ReliaQuest Bowl, and finally the Texas Bowl in 2024. However, Nussmeier sees January football as the expectation for LSU:

“I think that I’m worried about doing the best I can to help LSU win a national championship. That’s the mindset, that’s the energy and intensity that I bring every single day. It’s not about me, it’s not about the transition or the Year 2 [jump], it’s about LSU Football and Year 4 under Coach Kelly, what are we going to do? And you know, we’re not afraid to admit it, we’ve set the standard of where we expect to be, and we expect to play football in January next year.”

In his first full season as a starter, Nuss finished with 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Consensus 4-Star DL Trashawn Ruffin Flips from Texas A&M to North Carolina

Consensus 4-star DL Trashawn Ruffin flipped his commitment from Texas A&M to North Carolina yesterday after committing to Texas A&M back in October.

In talking about UNC, Ruffin spoke on the aura of the coaching staff and the experience at Chapel Hill:

“Well, first of all, UNC has the greatest coach of all time as far as I am concerned, and an all-star staff. I feel that they can lead me in the right way in order to be developed as I should be. And the atmosphere was great when we were there. I haven’t ever felt energy like this a day in my life. Meeting Julius Peppers and Lawrence Taylor … made my weekend amazing and special.”

Ruffin ranks 184th nationally and 17th at the DL position according to the On3 industry composite.

This is North Carolina’s first Blue Chip commitment in the 2026 class, a class which currently has 9 total commitments and sits at 37th nationally and 8th in the ACC. Texas A&M is now down to a “measly” 7 Blue Chip (and total) commitments for a class which still ranks 4th nationally and 2nd in the SEC.

Deion Sanders on No Longer Coaching His Sons: I Love It

According to On3, Deion Sanders has been coaching at least one of his sons since 2017. However, in 2025, that will change as both Shilo and Shedeur are headed off to the pros.

Speaking on finally being the Head Coach of a program without his sons, he shared, “I love it because I only have to wear one hat, and you don’t understand how much I appreciate that. When you’re a dad and a coach, you’re wearing two hats. You coach your butt off, but naturally, you’re making sure your kids are alright at the same time, simultaneously. I’ve adopted kids on this team that I love to life, and I’m watching them as well, but it’s nothing like your two biological kids. And you can’t help but focus on those young men and see how they’re doing. So, it’s different for me. I’m sure it’s different for them, but I’m loving the process, I truly am.”

4-Star RB Evan Hampton Commits to Louisville

4-star RB Evan Hampton committed to Louisville yesterday over Michigan, Vandy, NC State, Kentucky, and other programs, sharing with On3 that Louisville, “just felt like home.”

Hampton also shared with On3 that “the coaches were key. I had some great relationships built. I love what Coach Brohm has going, and I want to be a part of it. Just felt like the right decision for me.”

247 and Rivals rank Hampton as the 2nd rated prospect in Kentucky, but On3 names Hampton as the top KY prospect and the lone recruiting service to give him that 4th star. Hampton ranks 353rd nationally and 27th at the RB position according to the On3 industry composite, though.

For Louisville, the 2026 class is filling out quite nicely, as Hampton is the 2nd Blue Chip commitment and 11th total commitment for a class which currently ranks 29th nationally and 4th in the ACC behind only Clemson, Miami, and Florida State.

EDGE Demon Clowney Re-Enters Transfer Portal After Signing with Louisville Over Winter

On3’s Pete Nakos is reporting that EDGE Demon Clowney is back in the transfer portal.

Clowney signed with Louisville during the winter transfer portal after transferring in from Charlotte.

Clowney spent 2020-22 with Ole Miss before transferring to Charlotte for 2023 and 2024.

With Ole Miss, Clowney only appeared in 5 games and racked up 10 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks. But, with Charlotte, he appeared in 22 games and tabbed 59 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery.

He was announced as a Louisville signee back on December 26th, but he is not going to be with the Cardinals for his final season of eligibility this fall.

Other Commitments/Decommitments

3-Star (84) ATH DeVohn Moutra commits to Sacramento State

3-Star (83) QB Brady Barrier commits to Michigan