Recruiting Notebook: Texas A&M trending for 5-star RB; Florida on a recruiting heater

Exactly two short weeks remain until the beginning of the Early Signing Period — also known as the new National Signing Day. And between the official opening of the NCAA transfer portal and the final stretch of the recruiting calendar, college football recruiting news is on one right now.

Each day until we hit the signing period, On3 will be breaking down the top storylines from both the recruiting world and the transfer portal. Let’s get into it.

Texas A&M trending for 5-star running back

El Campo (Texas) five-star running back Rueben Owens shocked just about everyone this summer when he committed to Louisville over Texas and Texas A&M.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder was a top priority for both in-state programs, but the Cardinals — led by coach Scott Satterfield — pulled off a shocker. But six months later, Satterfield is out as head coach after accepting the Cincinnati job, and Louisville has reportedly hired Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm to replace him.

Late Wednesday afternoon, Owens announced his decommitment from the Cardinals, and he began trending toward Texas A&M in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM). The Aggies have struggled mightily on the trail compared to last year, but Owens would give them a second five-star commit this cycle along with Katy (Texas) Paetow defensive lineman David Hicks. And Jimbo Fisher and Co. are still working to get five-star linebacker Anthony Hill back in their class as well.

Florida lands another elite passer

Just a few weeks ago, Billy Napier was without a blue-chip quarterback commit in both the 2023 and 2024 classes. My how things change. The Gators’ first-year head coach flipped four-star Jaden Rashada away from Miami — a bit of revenge for the Cormani McClain recruitment. And on Wednesday, he landed the Gators’ 2024 quarterback with On300 No. 2 passer DJ Lagway out of Willis (Texas).

Lagway is one of the nation’s best in the junior class, as On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power lays out here. And he also gives Napier and Co. a huge foundational piece to build on in the 2024 cycle, which could be a dominant one for the Gators. Beating Lincoln Riley is no small feat for any coach, let alone one in his first year at the Power Five level, but Napier has something cooking in Gainesville.

5-star OT locks in official visit with the Gators

There was no shortage of good news in the Sunshine State — well at least for the Gators that is. On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons confirmed this afternoon that five-star offensive tackle Samson Okunlola will officially visit Florida this weekend. The trip will be his second to Gainesville in the past month after a multi-day unofficial in mid-November.

In-state rival Miami has been considered the favorite since the summer for Okunlola, and the Hurricanes are the only other school so far this fall to receive a visit from him. He also took an official visit to Coral Gables over the summer, as well as trips to Alabama and Michigan State.

After taking an unofficial visit to Florida in November, he was expected at Ohio State for the Michigan game. He did not make that trip. The Spartans and Crimson Tide have remained in the mix, but this is shaping up to be a two-team battle between the bitter rivals in the Sunshine State.

Alabama taking aim at Cormani McClain

While the Okunlola news was not welcome down in Coral Gables, it wasn’t the only concerning development for Miami fans. Five-Star Plus+ cornerback and ‘Canes commit Cormani McClain is considering taking an official visit to Alabama this weekend, but CaneSport.com’s Matt Shodell reports that nothing has been decided as of this afternoon.

The Crimson Tide were one of three finalists to land McClain the first time around, but finished behind both Miami and Florida. Nick Saban and Travaris Robinson have been unrelenting though, and if McClain makes the visit, that could spell major trouble for Miami’s recruiting class after a dismal year on the field in 2022.

Other notable happenings

• Four-star Lincoln (Neb.) East athlete Malachi Coleman will officially visit Nebraska for a second time this weekend. The top player in the state decommitted from the Huskers after Matt Rhule’s hiring, but On3’s Chad Simmons reports there’s a good chance he rejoins the Nebraska class. One-time Huskers commit Cameron Lenhardt is also expected in town for his second official.
  

• Michigan State is still in search of a quarterback in the 2023 class, and the Spartans have turned their attention to On300 Washington State commit Sam Leavitt. He received an offer earlier this afternoon and already has an official visit set to East Lansing for this weekend. The Spartans were in pursuit of five-star Oregon commit Dante Moore, but this doesn’t bode well for that recruitment.