Preview of USF’s massive official visit weekend: WR Carl Jenkins Jr., flip potential, more

It’s been a grind of a month for the USF football staff on the recruiting trail. It started out with various camps and events then shifted to having top targets in Tampa for official visits. And this weekend is a crucial one for the Bulls’ 2025 class.

It’s On3’s understanding that USF hosts 18 official visitors this weekend, which includes top targets and commits.

There are five Bulls’ verbals in Tampa this weekend, including the face of the class — three-star quarterback Locklan Hewlett out of St. Augustine (Fla.) High. The ex-Wake Forest commit will have his recruiting hat on this weekend.

Port Saint Lucie (Fla.) West Centennial EDGE Brooks Williams, Greensboro (N.C.) Dudley wide receiver Koredell Bartley, St. Cloud (Fla.) Tohopekaliga EDGE Andrew Hines and Venice (Fla.) High EDGE Eli Jones are the other USF commits on campus for their official visits.

FLIP WATCH?

There are two prospects committed elsewhere at USF from June 21-23. Covington (Ga.) Newtwon’s Zion Johnson, who ranks as the nation’s No. 630 overall player and No. 53 running back per the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking, has been committed to Cincinnati since February, but he’s in Tampa for an official. Johnson added an offer from the Bulls in January and has kept in good contact with the staff. He’s one to keep a close eye on. Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia had offered Johnson as well.

The Bulls offered Greenville (Ga.) High safety Antavious Richardson a scholarship at the end of May and quickly worked to set up an official visit with the 6-2, 170-pounder. He committed to Georgia State in April, but has USF after him.

IMPORTANT WR RECRUITING WEEKEND

The most high-profile target on campus this weekend is St. Augustine (Fla.) High’s Carl Jenkins Jr., who catches passes from the aforementioned Hewlett. The Rivals four-star prospect will announce a commitment June 29 and is down to UCF, Louisville, USF and Mississippi State. This is a huge weekend for the Bulls in their hopes to land the 6-foot-3 pass catcher.

Cantonment (Fla.) Tate wide receiver Christian Neptune holds offers from the likes of Stanford, Washington, Mississippi State, Minnesota, and took an official visit to Palo Alto, Calif. a few weeks ago to spend time with the Cardinal staff. The Bulls have been after the 5-11, 180-pounder since offering him last October and hosted him for an unofficial visit in January.

DETAILING THE REST OF THE USF OFFICIAL VISITORS

Argyle (Texas) Liberty Christian running back Chase Garnett is one of the more intriguing prospects on campus this weekend. The Bulls have been in pursuit of Garnett for a while, and he has a July 12 commitment date schedule. Boise State is another notable school involved in Garnett’s recruitment. Minnesota and Arizona are also among his offers.

USF has landed a pair of offensive line recruits in the past week and has a couple more on campus this weekend. The Bulls play host to Arden (N.C.) Christ School’s Sam Browder and Sandy Springs (Ga.) Riverwood’s Sean Poret, who is one of the hottest offensive tackle prospects on the market. Vanderbilt, Duke, Boston College and Florida State have all offered Poret this month.

Oakdale (Conn.) St. Thomas More linebacker Dillano Glaud announces his commitment this upcoming Monday, and USF gets the last shot at him, hosting him this weekend. Liberty and James Madison are the other finalists for the top Bulls’ target. USF is considered the leader for him according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Washington (D.C.) St. John’s Dee Bowden is another linebacker prospect who the Bulls are hosting this weekend. The Bulls offered Bowden in May, and it’s our understanding that it’s his first time in Tampa. Temple and Pittsburgh are among the other teams to watch in his recruitment.

West Palm Beach (Fla.) Cardinal Newman safety Max Redmon is considered a heavy Florida State lean, but the Bulls’ staff gets a crack at the three-star prospect this weekend. Illinois is another school involved here.

Lakeland (Fla.) High’s Jermichael Gillis, who ranks as the No. 422 overall prospect and No. 36 safety nationally per the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking, is in Tampa this weekend. His recruitment has been quiet publicly in the past few months, so we’re not sure exactly where things stand for him, but he’s reported offers from Miami, LSU, USC, Michigan and many others in the past.

Rolesville (N.C.) High EDGE Jayden Fry is a late riser in the process, adding his first offer in early May from Morgan State and has since added Troy, Georgia State, USF and others since. The Bulls will be one to watch moving forward for him, especially if things go well during his official visit this weekend.

USF will host in-state kicker Brunno Reus, who is considered one of the top specialists in the 2025 class.