USF football recruiting National Signing Day preview

National Signing Day for the 2025 recruiting class is just a few days away, and the University of South Florida Bulls will head into the week armed with 24 commitments. Will Alex Golesh and Co. add more by next week? On3’s Mike Singer covers it all in this article.

QUARTERBACK: St. Augustine (Fla.) High’s Locklan Hewlett flipped from Wake Forest to USF back in the spring and has been a vocal recruiter for the Bulls in the class. The USF staff is excited about their future signal-caller.

RUNNING BACK: Several weeks ago, Argyle (Texas) Liberty Christian’s Chase Garnett tweeted that he was keeping his recruitment open while remaining committed to the Bulls. From what sources tell On3, Garnett is expected to stick with USF on signing day. At the beginning of the month, Holly Springs (Miss.) High’s Tray Kinkle pledged to USF and had the likes of Ole Miss, Florida, Florida State and Auburn on his offer sheet.

Last weekend, Hutchinson (Kan.) junior college’s Waymond Jordan, the top JuCo running back in America per On3, officially visited USF. He’s expected at ucf this weekend, and he very well may end up choosing between the knights and Bulls.

WIDE RECEIVER: USF heads into the weekend with two receiver commits — Baltimore St. Frances Academy’s Jeremiah Koger and Perry (Ga.) High’s Kory Pettigrew. The latter prospect was pursued by some big-time programs, but USF receivers coach L’Damian Washington did a tremendous job keeping the Peach State product locked in.

And the Bulls would like to finish up by adding two impressive pass catchers.

Cantonment (Fla.) Tate’s Christian Neptune has taken his recruiting process the distance. He officially visited USF and Stanford over the summer but has kept things quiet throughout the fall. Headed into signing day week, the Bulls should be considered the team to beat, but he remains a mystery.

And St. Augustine (Fla.) High’s Carl Jenkins Jr., a former ucf commit, is a longtime Bulls target who may find his way in USF’s class. His recruitment has been difficult to predict as well, but USF is very much in the mix.

TIGHT END: Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban’s Tayte Crable and Oakdale (Conn.) St. Thomas More’s Brandon Kubay are both locked in with the Bulls.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Atlanta Riverwood’s Sean Poret is officially visiting Florida State this weekend, and the Bulls’ commit is likely to switch his allegiances to the Seminoles. Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas’ Caleb Harris, Powder Springs (Ga.) Harrison’s Colin Bellomy and Moultrie (Ga.) Colquitt County’s Khalil Collins are firmly committed to South Florida, and the Bulls have a junior college commitment from Khalil Walker.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Like on the O-line, there’s not expected to be any moves or drama on the D-line Wednesday. Valdosta (Ga.) High’s Marcus Williams, Venice (Fla.) High’s Eli Jones and Port St. Lucie (Fla.) West Centennial’s Brooks Williams are all locked in with USF.

LINEBACKER: This group is rock solid as well. Newburgh (Ind.) Castle’s Gavin Leach, Powder Springs (Ga.) Harrison’s Christian Smith and Washington (D.C.) St. John’s College’s DeAngelo Bowden make up the group of ‘backers.

CORNERBACK: On Thursday, the Bulls added a pledge from Miami Central’s Herlin Perry, who is reclassifying from the 2026 to 2025 class, a source tells On3. Perry will sign with the Bulls Wednesday, as well as Lake Butler (Fla.) Union County’s Gavin Jenkins at the cornerback spot.

USF has one more cornerback target left on the board. the staff would be over the moon to add Thomaston (Ga.) Upson-Lee’s Akeondre Chaney, a late-riser who is also considering the likes of Georgia Southern and Michigan State. It’s anyone’s guess as to where he’ll end up.

SAFETY: The Bulls love their safety group of Riverview (Fla.) Sumner’s Jeremiah Jones, Apopka (Fla.) Wekiva’s Jabari Smith and Lakeland (Fla.) High’s Jermichael Gillis. They’re all firm in their USF pledges.

SPECIAL TEAMS: USF went all the way out to Melbourne, Australia for a punter in the 2025 class in Luke Goater, who stands at 6-2, 195 pounds.