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.

Virginia Tech Targeting Arizona Cardinals LBs Coach Sam Siefkes as DC

ESPN’s Pete Thamel is reporting that Virginia Tech is targeting Arizona Cardinals LBs Coach Sam Siefkes as the DC, a spot that came open after Brent Pry overhauled the staff and fired Chris Marve as the previous DC.

Coach Siefkes does not have a Wikipedia page, but he has spent the past two seasons with the Cardinals, having spent two seasons with the Vikings before that. Prior to working with the Vikings, he was the DC and ILBs Coach at Wofford for 3 seasons. Before that, he was with UW-Platteville as DC and ILBs Coach from 2016-17. He spent the 2015 season as a GA at Wisconsin, the 2014 season as a quality control coach at FIU, and the 2012-13 seasons as a student assistant at Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Ryan Day Shares Ohio State’s 2025 QB is Already in the Program

Ryan Day recently shared on 97.1 The Fan that after QB Will Howard graduated and is out of eligibility, the 2025 QB for the Buckeyes is currently in the room.

Coach Day shared, “these are guys are going to compete their tail off. And we have some good quarterbacks in the system, and, you know, I shared with all of them that you know now, this was the week leading up to the national championship game that you know you had an opportunity to watch. And so you got to really utilize that, because that’s exactly what we’re looking for in a leader here at quarterback.

So, when you guys come back in about two weeks, you gotta look different, you gotta walk different, you gotta act different, because now you’re fighting to become the starting quarterback at Ohio State. We have some really talented guys in that room, and, you know, looking forward to see what that competition brings.”

The competition is going to be between Julian Sayin, Lincoln Keinholz, and 5-star freshman Tavien St. Clair, with the assumption being it will be Sayin’s job, most likely.

Shane Beamer “Beyond Grateful” for Contract Extension

Shane Beamer and South Carolina recently agreed to a contract extension, an extension that would keep Coach Beamer with South Carolina through 2030. That would mark 10 full seasons with South Carolina, something now Gamecocks Coach has accomplished since Rex Enright from 1946-55.

Of the extension, Coach Beamer said, “very blessed. So thankful to – it was something Coach [Ray] Tanner started working on back at the end of the season. It’s been a process. Appreciate Coach Tanner and Jeremiah [Donati] coming in and jumping in as well, Dr. [Michael] Amiridis, and Thad Westbrook, and the Board of Trustees. Beyond grateful for their trust in me. Emily and my family, we love it here, we love this state, we love this community, love being a Gamecock, and just really excited about that. Excited about the future as well.”

Will Howard on Journey That Led Him to Ohio State, Becoming a National Champion

Will Howard recently reflected on his college journey that led him from Kansas State to Ohio State, a path that ultimately led to him becoming a national champion:

“It’s crazy to look back at all the things that have happened in my career, going from really playing as a freshman at Kansas State, not really knowing what I’m doing out there, and going into my junior year kind of lost, not really thinking I’d be playing, and then ending up winning a Big 12 Championship.

All that, I just had to trust in the Lord, man, and trust that He had a plan for me and that all the adversity that we were going through, all the tough times that I went through. I’m just so thankful that I got the chance to come here and to be a Buckeye and that Coach Day believed in me and that these guys believed in me.

I’m blessed, and I’m just so unbelievably thankful that I got a chance to be a Buckeye, even if it was just for one year.”

Syracuse OC Jeff Nixon Interviewed for Texans OC Job

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler is reporting that Syracuse OC Jeff Nixon interviewed for the open OC position with the Houston Texans.

Coach Nixon has some NFL experience, having been the RBs Coach for the Giants in 2023 and having been with the Panthers for 3 seasons, including as Interim OC in 2021.

Before that, Coach Nixon spent 3 seasons with Baylor as the OC.

2026 4-Star EDGE Jarius Rodgers Commits to Syracuse

2026 4-star EDGE Jarius Rodgers committed to Syracuse yesterday.

Rodgers committed to the Orange over offers from UCF, Florida State, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, SMU, Kentucky, Nebraska, and others.

According to the On3 industry composite, Rodgers ranks 252nd nationally and 24th at the EDGE position.

Syracuse now has 2 Blue Chip commitments and 9 commitments overall for the 2026 class, a class which ranks 24th nationally and 4th in the ACC, behind only Florida State, Miami, and Clemson.

2026 4-Star IOL Brandon Anderson Decommits from Tennessee

2026 4-Star IOL Brandon Anderson decommitted from Tennessee yesterday after originally committing back on October 20th.

Earlier this month, Anderson shared with Gators Online that Tennessee, Texas A&M, Auburn, Florida, Miami, Georgia, and Georgia Tech were all schools which he would be officially visiting.

Anderson ranks 277th nationally and 23rd at the IOL position according to the On3 industry composite.

With the decommitment, Tennessee is currently sitting at 3 Blue Chip commitments and 7 commitments overall for the 2026 class, a class which currently ranks 7th nationally and 4th in the SEC behind only Auburn, Texas A&M, and LSU.

2026 4-Star RB Amari Clemons Commits to Florida State

2026 4-Star RB Amari Clemons committed to Florida State yesterday morning after visiting Tallahassee over this past weekend.

Clemons committed to Florida State over Auburn, Florida, Miami, Louisville, Ole Miss, Illinois, South Carolina, NC State, and others. In his junior season, Clemons averaged 12.3 yards per carry with 1,880 yards and 34 touchdowns on just 153 carries.

According to the On3 industry composite, Clemons ranks 291st nationally and 24th at the RB position for the 2026 class.

This is Florida State’s 4th Blue Chip commitment and 6th commitment overall for a 2026 class that currently ranks 9th nationally and 1st in the ACC.

3-Star RB Omar Mabson Commits to Auburn

3-Star RB Omar Mabson committed to Auburn yesterday as a late addition to the 2025 class.

Mabson reclassified up to the 2025 cycle and became a late target for Auburn, setting up an official visit in January. For Auburn HS, Mabson ran for 1,515 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024 and finished as the 2nd ranked team in the state of Alabama according to On3’s high school rankings.

Mabson ranks 56th at the position according to On3, but the On3 industry composite ranks Mabson 66th at the RB position and 818th nationally.

With the commitment, Auburn is now up to 26 commitments for the 2025 class, a class which ranks 6th nationally and 4th in the SEC behind only Texas, Alabama, and Georgia.

On3 Top 25 Impact Players of 2025

On3’s Thomas Goldkamp put together a list of On3’s Top 25 players ahead of the 2025 season:

1. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State WR

2. Sam Leavitt, Arizona State QB

3. Caleb Downs, Ohio State S

4. Dylan Stewart, South Carolina EDGE

5. Colin Simmons, Texas EDGE

6. Drew Allar, Penn State QB

7. Ryan Williams, Alabama WR

8. Leonard Moore, Notre Dame CB

9. LT Overton, Alabama DL

10. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame RB

11. Anthony Hill Jr., Texas LB

12. Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati DT

13. DJ Lagway, Florida QB

14. Arch Manning, Texas QB

15. Jermod McCoy, Tennessee CB

16. TJ Parker, Clemson DE

17. Rueben Bain Jr., Miami DL

18. Peter Woods, Clemson DT

19. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State WR

20. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina QB

21. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU QB

22. Spencer Fano, Utah OL

23. Avieon Terrell, Clemson CB

24. Carson Beck, Miami QB

25. Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State DE

Other Commitments/Decommitments

2026 4-Star (90) OT Kaden Snyder commits to Kansas

2026 3-Star (89) DL Hudson Parliament commits to Iowa

3-Star (88) RB Jamar Searcy commits to Wake Forest

2026 3-Star (88) RB LaMarcus Bell commits to Oregon State

2026 3-Star (87) IOL Colin Whitters commits to Iowa

2026 3-Star (87) EDGE Jacob Alexander commits to Illinois

2026 3-Star (87) WR Corbin Glasco commits to Kansas

3-Star (86) LB Jake Bauer flips from Navy to North Carolina

3-Star (86) DL Bethel Imasuen commits to Boise State

3-Star (83) EDGE Markell Bowens commits to Boise State

3-Star (83) OT Jacob Bailey commits to James Madison

3-Star (82) QB Hype Grand commits to Ohio

3-Star (82) ATH Tsiyown Lowery commits to Idaho

3-Star (82) RB Donovan Day commits to Valparaiso

3-Star (80) OT Jared Smith flips from Weber State to Utah State

2-Star (74) LB Max Mendoza commits to New Hampshire

2026 Unrated DL Landen Anderson commits to Kansas

Unrated LB Eliot Hummer commits to Northern Illinois