Elite defenders highlight most important commitments in August

The month of August saw the transition from the preseason to the regular season in both the high school and college football ranks. Along with that came some of the most high-profile commitments in the entire 2024 cycle.

As the calendar flips to September, only 31 of the top 300 prospects in the On3 Industry Ranking remain uncommitted. Multiple elite prospects came off the board this month, highlighted by a crop of blue-chip defensive lineman. Below are the biggest commitments from August.

Five-Star Plus+ DL Williams Nwaneri — Missouri

School: Lee’s Summit (Mo.) North
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 3
On3 NIL Valuation: $385K

The race for Williams Nwaneri was down to Missouri and Oklahoma, with Georgia and Tennessee also consistently pushing. After taking his round of official visits in June, Nwaneri eventually opted to stay home and choose the in-state Tigers, becoming one of the highest-rated commits in program history.

“What made me feel good about Missouri was comfortability, relationships with the coaching staff and the people there,” Nwaneri told On3. “It has a feeling like somewhere close that I could go and fit in. Staying home is extremely big for me. As a child I watched Missouri, I get to stay home and we can start something new. Having a chance to be that hometown hero and starting a trend at Missouri played into my decision.”

Five-Star Plus+ EDGE Colin Simmons — Texas

School: Duncanville (Texas)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 6
On3 NIL Valuation: $474K

A Miami hat made the table for decision day, but it was always between Texas and LSU for Colin Simmons. Both programs felt they were in good position to add the top-ranked EDGE, but the Longhorns came out on top in a decision that Simmons said was made just one day before his announcement.

“When it came down to it, I just had to think about family and what’s best for my family,” Simmons told On3. “What’s the best position my family can be put in, and Texas is the best that is.”

Five-Star Plus+ DL David Stone — Oklahoma

School: Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 8
On3 NIL Valuation: $372K

David Stone kept everyone guessing until the moment he chose the Oklahoma hat over Miami and Michigan State. Many believed the Hurricanes had done enough to swipe the 6-foot-4, 280-pounder late, but Stone, an Oklahoma City (Okla.) native, opted for the Sooners, cushioning the blow of missing out on Nwaneri earlier in the month.

“Being from Oklahoma, going there gives me a chance to stay home and give back. It has been a dream of mine since I was little to give back and this gives me that chance. It goes deep with Oklahoma,” Stone told On3. “It is 30 minutes from home, I have a sister there and the relationships are deep between them and my family. I feel very comfortable around the coaches at Oklahoma, and that played a big role in my decision, too.”

Five-Star Plus+ safety KJ Bolden — Florida State

School: Buford (Ga.)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 9
On3 NIL Valuation: $436K

It ultimately came down to Auburn, Florida State and Georgia for KJ Bolden. FSU didn’t get an official visit before his decision, but in the end, he just couldn’t pass up playing for Mike Norvell and the team that he grew up cheering for as a fan.

“I committed to Florida State for multiple reasons,” Bolden told On3. “Florida State has been my dream school since I was growing up. Since I was a kid, I always wanted to go there. I also really like what Coach Mike Norvell is doing with the program.

…He has changed the program around a lot. Right after Coach Willie Taggart left, Coach Norvell told me he would turn things around. Now Florida State is one of the top teams in the country and he has done exactly what he told me he would do years ago.”

Five-Star Plus+ EDGE Dylan Stewart — South Carolina

School: Washington D.C Friendship Collegiate Academy
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 11
On3 NIL Valuation: $307K

Stewart pulled the trigger on committing to South Carolina and Shane Beamer despite holding offers from the likes of Georgia and Ohio State. He made many trips to Columbia and found comfort in the Gamecocks’ program.

“What led me to commit to them is the family vibe and they really care about you. Two, it’s the SEC. Three, I know I’m going to get developed because my coaches have done it at all levels and know what it takes. I click with the guys committed in the 2024 class and I’m very comfortable there. It’s like a second home to me,” Stewart told On3.

5-star DL Eddrick Houston — Ohio State

School: Buford (Ga.)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 21
On3 NIL Valuation: $258K

Alabama, Clemson and Georgia tried to keep Eddrick Houston closer to home, but it came down to Ohio State and USC. The Buckeyes had a silent commitment from Houston since an official visit in June. Coach Larry Johnson and Ryan Day locked down their fifth five-star commit this cycle.

“I have had Ohio State at the top for a while,” Houston told On3. “They know how to win, compete and coach players. Ohio State is a top program, Columbus is a great city and I know Coach Larry Johnson can develop me. I like the community, the people around it stand out to me and that school was just different for me. I had some other top contenders on my list, but Ohio State is my top school. It is the standard, and it’s the school for me.”

4-star EDGE Jordan Ross — Tennessee

School: Birmingham (Ala.) Vestavia Hills
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 34
On3 NIL Valuation: $208K

Jordan Ross has taken a heap of visits to Rocky Top, as Josh Heupel and the Volunteers did enough to land the elite four-star over Alabama, Florida and Texas. The connection in Knoxville put UT above the competition.

“My connection with the coaches and players, how the players always welcomed me and how I felt at home were the main reasons I picked Tennessee,” Ross told On3. “It was just easy with all of the people there. After the official visit I knew. I took more time to make sure, but I have known. I let Tennessee know a couple of weeks ago and it feels great to make it public.”

4-star DL Kamarion Franklin — Ole Miss

School: Lake Cormorant (Miss.)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 39
On3 NIL Valuation: $184K

Auburn, Miami and Tennessee all made a valiant run at Kamarion Franklin, but it was once again the in-state school that won over. Ole Miss surged late to keep Franklin home as the headliner of the Rebels’ 2024 class.

“It’s just home. I’m from here,” Franklin told the Ole Miss Spirit. “It just means a lot more than anything when you play for your home state. The relationships — Pete Golding, Randall Joyner, Kelvin Bolden. Just those guys and playing for the home state.”

4-star RB Nathaniel Frazier — Georgia

School: Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 46
On3 NIL Valuation: $163K

Nathaniel Frazier called choosing between Georgia and Oregon the hardest decision of his life. Instead of staying on the West Coast, Frazier opted for Athens. Georgia’s past history of developing tailbacks helped put Kirby Smart and UGA on top.

“The main reason I picked Georgia was the family atmosphere, the development and the academic part as well,” Frazier told On3. “If you look at the history of Georgia with their two backfield players like Sony Michel, Todd Gurley, Nick Chubb and D’Andre Swift, all of those guys were around playing with each other at the same time. They all made it to the NFL so if you look at that closely and when they played, if you’re a good player and you go to Georgia, you’re going to play.”

4-star CB Wardell Mack — Florida

School: Marrero (La.) John Ehret
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 72
On3 NIL Valuation: $127K

The Gators landed Wardell Mack over Florida State, LSU and Texas. Florida built the best relationship with the defensive back, who joins top-30 commit McKinney (Texas) five-star safety Xavier Filsaime as elite options for the future UF secondary.

“On my official visit in April I saw it was a great place, with great people trying to put the pieces together to put Florida back on the map,” Mack told On3. “Just having a sit down with coach Corey (Raymond) and his work through the years. Also, having Louisiana native coaches puts a plus on everything.”

4-star safety Zaquan Patterson — Miami

School: Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 80
On3 NIL Valuation: $125K

Florida State and Michigan were real players in Zaquan Patterson‘s recruitment, but Miami won out late. Like many other top prospects that committed in August, staying close to home played a big factor in Patterson’s decision.

“It means a lot to stay home and go to Miami,” Patterson told On3. It would mean a lot to me to be part of the change at Miami, but it would mean even more to the city. The people want it. I want to be part of the team that brings it back. The city helped make Miami and now I want to be part of giving greatness back to them. I want to bring a championship back to the city.”

4-star safety Peyton Woodyard — Alabama

School: Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 88
On3 NIL Valuation: $151K

Peyton Woodyard flipped to Alabama from Georgia after being committed to the Bulldogs since early January. Woodyard is aware of the Crimson Tide’s history with defensive backs, making his flip to Tuscaloosa feel like a “no-brainer.”

“I feel like at the end of the day it was a no-brainer with the DB pedigree they have over there at Alabama,” Woodyard told On3. “Not just with corners, but specifically the safety position. I feel like nobody does it better. From Minkah Fitzpatrick, Landon Collins, Eddie Jackson, Brian Branch. I feel like the list goes on. So if you’re a safety, I feel like no one does it better than Alabama.”