Previewing one of USF's biggest recruiting events in school history: Double-digit four-star targets, P4 flip candidates, more

When the University of South Florida hosts Miami on Saturday evening on ESPN, it will be in front of recruiting section that’s at maximum capacity. According to intel On3 has gathered, the Bulls will have well over 100 prospects at Raymond James Stadium for what will be one of the biggest recruiting events in school history.

The prospects and data listed below are all what’s expected as of Friday morning. There could be no-shows or additions to the visitor list. But from what On3 has gathered, USF will have one of the most impressive crop of prospects for their game in the country this weekend.

The Bulls should have 12 four-star players at the game, which includes players in the 2025 and 2026 recruiting classes. A whopping 11 prospects committed to Power Four conference schools are expected in Tampa for the in-state matchup.

On3 believes that there will be around 60 offered targets at the game, plus 16 USF commits.

Below is a breakdown of those players, and for the sake of time, this article does not include prospects visiting who don’t have a USF offer going into the trip from what On3 understands.

THE USF COMMITS

While the list of targets will draw the most fan attention, one has to start the visitor list with the players who have already committed to South Florida. This group includes St. Augustine (Fla.) High quarterback Locklan Hewlett, a three-star passer who flipped his pledge from Wake Forest to USF in April.

“I am so excited for this Saturday,” Hewlett told On3. “I’m pumped to get around all the commits and targets. It’s going to be a huge weekend!”

Here are the rest of the Bulls’ verbals expected in Tampa Saturday night: Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas OL Caleb Harris, Powder Springs (Ga.) Harrison OL Colin Bellomy, Moultrie (Ga.) Colquitt County OL Khalil Collins, Port St. Lucie (Fla.) West Centennial EDGE Brooks Williams, Venice (Fla.) High DL Eli Jones, St. Cloud (Fla.) Tohopekaliga EDGE Andrew Hines, Raleigh (N.C.) Rollesville EDGE Jayden Fry, Washington (D.C.) St. John’s LB DeAngelo Bowden, Lakeland (Fla.) High S Jermichael Gillis, Miami Northwestern CB Tywan Cox, Greensboro (N.C.) Dudley WR Koredell Bartley, Perry (Ga.) High WR Kory Pettigrew, Bradenton (Fla.) Braden River K Brunno Reus and Tampa (Fla.) Alonso tight end Ben Cole.

USF’s lone 2026 commit will be there as well in Auburndale (Fla.) High linebacker Elijah Dias.

2025 FLIP TARGETS

Lakeland (Fla.) High four-star safety and Ole Miss commit Keon Young is still in communication with USF and is arguably the biggest visitor for the contest. The Bulls would be over the moon to flip him away from the Rebels.

The list of other Power Four commits is impressive.

There should be two P4 offensive line verbals at the game in Lakeland (Fla.) High’s Ben Beymer (Maryland) and Ocala (Fla.) Trinity Catholic’s Gerrick Gordon (Rutgers).

One of the more high profile recruitments that USF lost in the 2025 cycle was St. Augustine (Fla.) High wide receiver Carl Jenkins Jr., who picked UCF over the Bulls. Jenkins plays his high school ball with the aforementioned Hewlett, and South Florida is looking to flip the talented pass catcher.

Two other UCF commits are expected in town as well. The staff will look to impress cornerback Rukeem Stroud and wide receiver Santonya Isaac, both of whom attend Tampa (Fla.) Bay Tech and are committed to the knights.

There will be three ACC defensive back flip candidates who On3 believes will be at the game Sept. 21 in Ocoee (Fla.) High’s Joshua Guerrier (Pittsburgh), Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips’ Malaki Wright (Duke) and Lake Worth (Fla.) Santaluces Community’s Caden Gordon (N.C. State). The Bulls were on all three before they committed to their schools they’re currently pledged to and are looking to sway matters back in their favor. Wright was once committed to USF.

USF badly wanted Clearwater (Fla.) Central Catholic running back Sean Cuono, but he committed to Indiana in June. The Bulls aren’t giving up, though, and will roll out the red carpet for him Saturday night.

Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas tight end and Tulane commit Cameron Roberts should be in attendance tomorrow. On3 is unsure if he holds a USF offer headed into the trip, but he will be one to monitor.

In the 2026 class, South Florida will host Miami Barbara Goleman Senior safety Darryl Bell, who has been committed to Florida State for nearly a year. He’s a four-star prospect per the On3 Industry Ranking.

TWO BIG NOTABLE 2025 USF TARGETS

It’s a massive deal for the Bulls to host Cantonment (Fla.) Tate wide receiver Christian Neptune. He’s an important, longtime target for USF and one the staff badly wants. His recruitment has been quiet since his summer official visits, but the Bulls remain a big contender for him. Mississippi State and Stanford are among his other offers.

Seffner (Fla.) Armwood linebacker Kellen Wiley is a massive prospect for the Bulls late in the cycle. He’s a national prospect with offers from Miami, USC, Louisville and others and is keeping South Florida under consideration. He made it to town for the season opener against Bethune Cookman as well.

IMPRESSIVE CROP OF 2026 PROSPECTS

There will be star power on the offensive line in Tampa with four-star, national recruits Chancellor Barclay from Orlando The First Academy, Tampa (Fla.) Bay Tech’s Canon Pickett and Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy’s G’Nivre Carr. And all the way from Princeton (N.J.) The Hun School, the Bulls are expected to host three-star lineman Michael Gildea.

Another St. Augustine High prospect will be in town tomorrow night in four-star pass catcher Somourian Wingo. Tampa (Fla.) Bay Tech running back Javari Barnett and Bell Buckle (Tenn.) Webb School receiver Joel Wyatt are two more four-star players who On3 is told will visit Saturday.

Moving to the defensive side of the ball, there are more star-studded prospects who should be at Raymond James Stadium Saturday night.

Charlotte (N.C.) Myers Park cornerback Camden Portis — son of Miami Hurricanes legend Clinton Portis — is confirmed to make it in for the game. Two other four-star defensive backs visiting are Cocoa (Fla.) High’s Clifton Hester and Sarasota (Fla.) Booker’s Chauncey Kennon. A notable three-star defensive back visiting is Tampa (Fla.) Carrollwood Day’s DJ Williams, who was also in for the Bethune Cookman game.

Two of the top pass rushers in the 2026 class are expected at the contest in Fleming Island (Fla.) High EDGE Jarius Rodgers and Venice (Fla.) High’s Asharri Charles. Both are highly coveted prospects.

MORE TARGETS VISITING

Below is a list of the other South Florida targets On3 believes will be at the game Saturday. All players are in the 2026 class unless otherwise noted.

Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes OT Abram Eisenhower
Orlando The First Academy OT Reed Ramsier
Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes OT Benjamin Corhei
Cumming (Ga.) Lambert OT Dylan Biehl
Orlando Jones OT Xavier Payne
Jacksonville (Fla.) Bolles IOL JJ Sparks
Washington (D.C.) St. John’s IOL Jordan Harrison
St. Petersburg (Fla.) Lakewood OT Chancellor Campbell
Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons WR Dawson Quarterman
Miami Central WR King Walker
Atlanta Creekside WR Eric Paul Jr.
Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin ATH Ethan Sherman
Lake Wales (Fla.) High WR Gabriel Legrand
Palmetto (Fla.) High ATH Dylan Wester
Newberry (Fla.) High Kaleb Woods
Tarpon Springs (Fla.) High QB Joaquin Kavouklis (2027)
Newnan (Ga.) Heritage School QB Dylan Barber
Savannah (Ga.) Benedictine Military School QB Stephen Cannon
Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater QB Carter Emanuel
Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes RB Qwantavius Wiggins
Gainesville (Fla.) Buchholz WR Justin Williams
Miami Central CB Herlin Perry
Clearwater (Fla.) Calvary Christian CB Cam Smith
Tampa (Fla.) Gaither CB Andre Brown
Tarpon Springs (Fla.) High ATH Jaylan Erby
Tarpon Springs (Fla.) High CB CJ Cresser
Cocoa (Fla.) High S Okece Battle
Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas LB Phillip Goodrich
Boca Raton (Fla.) West Boca Raton EDGE Demetrius Geathers