USF football recruiting notebook: Big-time programs after Bulls' commits, top G5 class nationally, more

USF has 23 commitments in its 2025 recruiting class, and while the Bulls’ staff is still working to put their finishing touches on the group, a big storyline moving forward is power conference schools looking to flip USF verbals.

Greenville (Ga.) High’s Antavious Richardson, the No. 805 overall player and No. 42 “athlete” in America per the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking, has seen his recruiting stock soar in the past few weeks.

Richardson was previously committed to Georgia State before flipping to USF June 24. He picked the Bulls despite a push from Mississippi State, and the likes of North Carolina, UCF, Notre Dame and Duke have offered him this month. Sources have told On3 that Alabama is keeping close tabs on Richardson as well.

It’s going to be tough for the Bulls to keep Richardson committed, but the USF staff will do everything they can.

Atlanta Riverwood’s Sean Poret, the No. 1,012 overall prospect and No. 79 interior lineman nationally according to the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking, is one of USF’s gems of the 2025 class, but he has power conference programs in pursuit of him. Florida State and Vanderbilt are a couple programs to watch for Poret, and AAC foe Memphis offered him last week.

USF fans will hate to see updates of other programs poaching their team’s commits, but it goes with the territory when you’re recruiting big-time talent.

On3 updates rankings for USF commits

The Bulls currently have the nation’s best Group of Five class, and Alex Golesh‘s commit list got a boost on paper when a handful of his pledges got an On3 ranking.

Of the 23 commits (not including kicker Brunno Reus), just two USF commits have yet to receive an On3 ranking. The Bulls don’t have a four-star pledge yet per On3, but there are four with a grade of 88, which is close to a four-star grade (which begins at 90).

Poret and Greensboro (N.C.) Dudley wide receiver Koredell Bartley earned 88 grades. They join Peachtree City (Ga.) McIntosh linebacker Evan Ward and Port St. Lucie (Fla.) St. Lucie West Centennial EDGE Brooks Williams as USF commits with an 88 grade.

The aforementioned Antavious Richardson went from unranked to an 87 three-star grade, while Miami Northwestern cornerback Tywan Cox, Argyle (Texas) Liberty Christian running back Chase Garnett, Powder Springs (Ga.) Harrison offensive tackle Colin Bellomy and Perry (Ga.) High wide receiver Kory Pettigrew all received 86 grades.

The following three prospects got an initial three-star grade of 85: Moultrie (Ga.) Colquitt County interior offensive lineman Khalil Collins, Oakdale (Conn.) St. Thomas More tight end Brandon Kubay and Riverview (Fla.) Sumner safety Jeremiah Jones. Washington (D.C.) St. John’s linebacker DeAngelo Bowden‘s first On3 ranking is an 84 three-star grade.

The On3 ranking is different than the On3 Industry Ranking — the latter of which is often referenced in On3 articles. The On3 Industry is a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four major recruiting media service. On3’s own ranking is weighed at 35 percent.

Bulls looking at 2025 linebacker options

USF has been busy in August extending a handful of scholarship offers, and most have been in the 2026 recruiting class. But there was one offer the staff sent out in the 2025 cycle, and there could be more on the way at the linebacker position.

Omaha (Neb.) Boys Town linebacker Darien Whitaker tweeted Aug. 17 that he earned a scholarship offer from USF. The former Northern Illinois commit was already considered a heavy Kansas State lean when the Bulls offered Whitaker; multiple On3 insiders have already logged predictions for him to pick the Wildcats. Washington State also offered Whitaker in August.

USF is evaluating in-state options while also looking all over the country for linebackers in the 2025 class. Again, don’t be surprised to see the Bulls offer additional linebacker targets while also working behind the scenes on potential flips of older targets.