Ohio State, Khyree Jackson Details, Missouri, Texas, and More

CFB Roundup – July 7, 2024

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Elite 4-Star LB Riley Pettijohn Commits to Ohio State

Consensus 4-Star LB Riley Pettijohn committed yesterday to Ohio State over Texas, USC, and Texas A&M, among others.

For awhile, it looked like Pettijohn would be looking at either Texas or Texas A&M to remain close to home, but Ohio State came on incredibly strong towards the end of his recruitment.

According to all four major recruiting services, Pettijohn is a Top 5 LB in the class of 2025, with Rivals ranking him as the best LB. On On3’s composite ranking, Pettijohn ranks 2nd at his position and 33rd overall.

Pettijohn is now the 23rd commitment for an Ohio State class which has 17 Blue Chip recruits and which On3 ranks as the top class (and by a wide margin).

Maryland State Police Release More Information on Fatal Crash

Maryland State police released more details surrounding the fatal collision which claimed the lives of Khyree Jackson, Anthony Lytton Jr., and Isaiah Hazel.

Police say preliminary investigation indicates the driver of the silver Infiniti, identified as Cori Clingman, was on Route 4/Pennsylvania Avenue when she attempted to change lanes while traveling at a high rate of speed, striking a car causing that car to also strike another car. The car she struck hit multiple tree stumps until the vehicle came to rest.

Jackson and Hazel were pronounced dead on the scene, with Lytton pronounced dead by the attending medical professionals at the hospital upon arrival.

The trio of Jackson, Lytton, and Hazel all played together at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Maryland and won a state championship together in 2016.

Jackson was recently drafted #108 overall by the Minnesota Vikings after spending his final season of college football with Oregon. He spent the previous two seasons with Alabama. Lytton played college football for Penn State and Florida State, while Hazel remained home and played for in-state Maryland.

4-Star OT Lamont Rogers Commits to Missouri

Consensus 4-Star OT Lamont Rogers committed to Missouri yesterday over other finalists, Oklahoma, Texas, Florida State, Texas A&M, and SMU.

Rogers cited the coaching staff and the tradition of Missouri for why he committed to Missouri.

Rogers is ranked 60th nationally and 7th of OTs on On3’s composite ranking. This marks Missouri’s 15th commitment for the class, which now ranks 16th nationally and 9th in the SEC.

4-Star DB Kade Phillips Commits to Texas

Consensus 4-Star DB Kade Phillips committed to Texas over his other finalist, LSU. Phillips also took an official visit to Baylor back in April, but LSU and Texas separated themselves.

Ultimately Phillips chose Texas because of the combination of the city of Austin, the value of Texas’ academic setting, and the other non-football opportunities Texas can offer.

Phillips ranks 191st in On3’s composite ranking, and is Texas’ 13th current commitment for the 2025 class. The Longhorns’ class is now ranked 15th in country and 8th in the SEC according to On3.

4-Star OT Bryce Jenkins Commits to Maryland

4-Star OT Bryce Jenkins has committed to Maryland over South Carolina, Tennessee, Rutgers, and other offers. Jenkins took an official visit to Maryland back in early June, and now commits to the Terps to be their 3rd Blue Chip recruit in the 2025 class.

With its 20 commits for 2025, Maryland’s class now ranks 35th overall and 10th overall in the Big Ten.

4-Star S Omarion Robinson Commits to Oklahoma

4-Star S Omarion Robinson committed to Oklahoma yesterday over Oregon, Arkansas, and others. The two biggest factors in Robinson’s decision were Norman’s location and his relationship with Coach Brandon Hall.

Robinson is currently ranked as the 30th best safety according to On3’s composite ranking, but is ranked as high as the 15th ranked safety according to Rivals.

This is Oklahoma’s 13th 4-star commitment and 21st commitment overall, for a 2025 class which ranks 9th nationally and 5th in the SEC.

3-Star IOL Jacobe Ward Commits to Auburn

3-Star IOL Jacobe Ward committed to Auburn yesterday over LSU, Tennessee, and others.

Ward chose Auburn because it felt like home and he was impressed by the people and the environment of the school. Ward made a few visits to Auburn, including an official visit in early June, and each visit felt better and better for Ward.

This is now Auburn’s 16th commitment for a 2025 class which ranks 12th nationally and 6th in the SEC.

3-Star S Major Preston Commits to Ole Miss

3-Star S Major Preston committed to Ole Miss yesterday while holding offers from Virginia Tech, Florida, Oklahoma, Penn State, and others.

Preston felt so great during his first visit in late March he strongly considered committing to Ole Miss before leaving his first visit. He ultimately ended up silently committing to the Ole Miss staff in May.

Ole Miss is losing a good bit from the secondary after this season, so Preston was excited by the prospect of playing relatively early and was impressed with how much of a priority Coach Kiffin and the staff was making him.

Ole Miss currently only has 12 commitments for its 2025 class, which ranks 26th nationally and 12th in the SEC.

Athlon Projects ACC Standings for 2024

Athlon has put together its projections for the ACC standings in 2024.

Leading the way is last year’s champions, Florida State.

Following the Seminoles are Clemson and Miami, two other teams who are seen as having a strong chance of contending. All three of these teams will largely be driven by the quality of quarterback play they can get.

Last year’s runner-up in the conference, Louisville checks in at 4th, and NC State rounds out the Top 5.

Newcomers SMU, Cal, and Stanford check in at 7th, 10th, and 17th (out of 17), respectively.

Athlon Projects Big 12 Standings for 2024

Athlon has also put together its projections for the Big 12 standings in 2024.

Newcomer Utah leads the way, according to Athlon, with Kansas State and last year’s runner-up, Oklahoma State, following. Kansas and another newcomer, Arizona, round out the Top 5.

2022 National and conference runner-up, TCU, finds itself in 8th in the preseason projections.

EA Sports’ 16th best team nationally, Colorado, is projected to finish 11th in the conference.

Another new addition, Arizona State, is ranked 13th.

The bottom 3 schools respectively – BYU, Cincinnati, and Houston – are all in their 2nd season in the Big 12.