Taking a closer look at some of the latest 247Sports Crystal Ball trends for some of the top uncommitted 2022 and 2023 prospects.
Brandon Huffman
After going into effect back in March of 2020 due to the nationwide shutdown, the NCAA’s temporary recruiting dead period lifted on June 1 of 2021. That opened the floodgates for college coaches to host and interact face-to-face with prospective student-athletes from the class of 2022 and 2023 for the first time in almost 15 months.
While many schools have been rushing to get top targets on campus for both unofficial and official visits, camps have become just as important this summer with many staffs wanting to size up and work out recruits that they have never had a chance to evaluate in-person before.
Though a handful of Top 100 prospects have made decisions -- or buzz is still strong for long-standing 247Sports Crystal Ball picks -- there are a number of top recruits where the buzz is starting to build for specific schools. That has resulted in momentum on the Crystal Ball for specific programs.
Here is a look at some of the top uncommitted prospects and accompanying trends on the 247Sports Crystal Ball.
5-star DL Bear Alexander
Fort Worth (Texas) Brewer defensive linemanBear Alexanderhad been acommit to Georgia since February. But over the weekend, he opened up his recruitment, coinciding with Alexander taking an unofficial visit to Texas A&M, his second visit of the spring (he was there for the spring game). Given a decommitment right after a visit to Texas A&M, the first Crystal Ball went in for the Aggies, with Texas A&M insider Brian Perroni putting it in followed by fellow A&M insider Andrew Hattersley. While the rest are still on Georgia, those pre-dated his commitment. So the Aggies now might be making the move, but they'll have to weather official visits by Alexander to Miami and USC.
5-star DL Shemar Stewart
On the other hand, Opa Locka (Fla.) Monsignor Pace defensive tackleShemar Stewarttook an official visit to LSU, yet two Crystal Balls went in forMiami, from Southeast analyst Andrew Ivins and Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong. While most thought LSU was the team to beat for the better part of the year, multiple visits to Miami, including a pair last week for unofficials, has the Hurricanes feeling good about where they stand with Stewart and got him two Crystal Ball votes for The U.
5-star CB Jeadyn Lukus
All signs are pointing to Clemson for Mauldin (S.C.) cornerbackJeadyn Lukus —the Crystal Balls are unanimously on. the Tigers. But afteran officialvisit to North Carolina over the weekend, Steve Wiltfong put the first measure of caution, lowering his Crystal Ball confidence on Clemson to a 1 from the previous 7.
Clemson will still get a shot with Lukas on campus this month, but the Tar Heels certainly gave him something to think about, blowing Lukus away on the visit.
4-star S Zion Branch
Meanwhile, Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman safetyZion Branchhad multiple Crystal Balls pointing to USC. Then came an official visit to Ohio State over the weekend, and the Buckeyes started getting momentum, with Ohio State insider Bill Kurelic putting in the first Crystal Ball for the Buckeyes. Subsequently, Steve Wiltfong and national recruiting analyst Greg Biggins put in Crystal Balls for the Buckeyes. Of course, Ohio State still has to watch Branch visit Oklahoma and USC in June for officials and he has in-season officials set for Alabama and Clemson. But the Buckeyes are clearly riding the wave of Branch's visit to Columbus.
4-star RB Damari Alston
LSU also hosted Atlanta (Ga.) Woodward Academy running backDamari Alstonover the weekend, but unlike with Stewart, this is one that hosting the visitor meant positive vibes for the hosts. Steve Wiltfong and LSU insider Billy Embody were the first two to log Crystal Balls for the Tigers. But they will sit back and watch while Alston visits Northwestern and Penn State this month and some potential unofficials in the meantime. But for now, Ed Orgeron has a potential commitmentlooming from the SEC footprint.
3-star DL Rashaud Pernell
Highland Springs (Va.) defensive linemanRashaud Pernellstayed in state for his first official visit, heading the 3.5 hours to visit Virginia Tech. While the Hokies have been perceived to be the leader for a while, Virginia Tech insiders Matej Sis and Evan Watkins had pegged him as a future Hokie in February, he added two more Crystal Balls this weekend following his trip to Blacksburg. National recruiting analyst Brian Dohn put one in on Sunday night and the Hokies have 100% of the points for Pernell.
3-star QB Richard Torres
San Antonio (Texas) Southside quarterbackRichard Torrestook his first official visit of the spring over the weekend, to Nebraska. This weekend, he'll visit Kansas State. But in the meantime, there was enough positive momentum coming out of his trip to Lincoln that the Huskers had two of their insiders, Mike Schaefer and Brian Christopherson, log Crystal Balls for the Huskers. Further aiding the excitement for Nebraska was Steve Wiltfong's prediction that Torres would go Red. Still, Kansas State will try its hand with Torres this coming weekend.
4-star LB Robby Snelling
Reno (Nev.) McQueen linebackerRobby Snellingis one of the premier two-sport stars in the 2022 class, a four-star linebacker who also has double-digit baseball offers. In fact, he was at one time a commit to Stanford for baseball. But an offer from Oregon last summer sent his recruitment on a wild ride, that now has Snelling with 25 offers. He has decommitted from Stanford and over the weekend, Oregon hosted Snelling on an official visit. While he spent the majority of his weekend focusing on football, the Oregon coaches also brought a baseball uniform to a photo shoot (he couldn't spend any time with the Oregon baseball coaches since they were hosting the NCAA Regionals). Steve Wiltfong put in a Crystal Ball for the Ducks shortly after their visit, the lone Crystal Ball so far.
4-star QB Nicco Marchiol
Chandler (Ariz.) Hamilton quarterbackNicco Marchiolcommitted to Florida State in January, but with the commitment of A.J. Duffy to the Noles, rumors started reaching a feverish pitch that Marchiol would back away from his commitment. And last week, he did, opening up his recruitment. Almost immediately, Crystal Balls started flying in for Arizona State, with Steve Wiltfong logging the first and subsequently being joined by four more picks for Arizona State. That said, he did visit Michigan State last weekend for an official and will check out West Virginia for an official this weekend, but Arizona State, near where he plays in Chandler, is in a good spot.
4-star CB Khamauri Rogers
Lexington (Miss.) Holmes County cornerbackKhamauri Rogershad many feeling like he would stay in-state and pick Ole Miss. Even though Steve Robertson put in a Crystal Ball for Miami back in February, it wasn't until after Rogers spent timeat Miami at the Hurricanes' "First Day Out" Cookout that momentum really started to build for Miami. Since then, three Crystal Balls have gone in for the Hurricanes for the one-time LSU commit. This one, though, could have a lot of twists and turns yet.
4-star DL Kendrick Gilbert (2023)
Indianapolis (Ind.) Cathedral defensive linemanKendrick Gilbertis just getting his recruiting rolling, but his newest offer, fromNotre Dame over the weekend might be the most powerful one yet for Gilbert. So it was no real surprise when the first Crystal Ball went in for the Irish for the in-state defensive lineman shortly after his visit, from Steve Wiltfong. Could the Irish and Marcus Freeman prove to be tough to overcome? In the early junction, it appears so.
