Takeaways from live evaluations of Florida, Georgia, Texas Tech commits

Football season is in full swing — and action on the recruiting trail is getting red-hot as we dip deeper into the fall.

After another weekend of live evaluations, here is the latest on several blue-chippers in the 2024 and 2025 and 2026 classes from On3 National Recruiting Analyst Sam Spiegelman:

5-star QB DJ Lagway – Florida commit

It’s been thrilling to watch the development of On3 Industry Ranking five-star QB DJ Lagway over the years. As an underclassman, Lagway put together strong film showcasing rare physical traits for not only a quarterback, but any position on the field. After absorbing a new offense at Willis (Texas) going into his junior year, Lagway made a massive leap forward with his decision-making and ability to orchestrate the offense.

On Friday night against a stout Conroe (Texas) Oak Ridge defense littered with two of the nation’s top 25 players committed to Georgia in the defensive front seven, Lagway capped his regular season with an emphatic six-touchdown performance on his senior night at Berton Yates. The Florida-committed QB was superb extending plays and delivering accurate throws all over the field — under duress and also in critical moments. Lagway was phenomenal despite being pressured for a good portion of the night. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder was able to throw on-point with defenders chasing him and while as they made contact. He delivered catchable balls and also came through with timely touchdowns on the ground to start and end the contest.

The win gave the Willis Wildkats football program its first-ever 10-win season, first unblemished regular season, and first-ever outright district championship. Lagway was sensational on this stage. As a senior, he passed for 3,500-plus yards (and counting) with 49 touchdowns compared to 5 interceptions. He’s completing 78 percent of his passes. The future Gator has also racked up 700 yards rushing with 11 touchdowns and is averaging north of 10 yards per rush.

This feels like the senior season that’s been long in the works for Lagway, who has lifted his high school program to extraordinary heights this fall. This analyst has long been very high on Lagway because of the work ethic and approach behind the scenes, and as a senior, it’s all fallen into place. Lagway, the No. 2 QB in the On300, has franchise QB written all over him.

5-star LB Justin Williams – Georgia commit

There are only a handful of defenders in the country who can impact a game quite like Justin Williams. The five-star Georgia-committed LB was a missile fired out of a cannon from the middle of the Oak Ridge defense. At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Williams is a suped-up version of Harold Perkins pressuring the quarterback, flying around sideline to sideline, and also spying on playmaking quarterbacks like the aforementioned Lagway.

Williams packs an outstanding blend of size and speed at the middle linebacker spot. He notched three sacks in the first half and his ability to spy on Lagway and also stuff the run at such a high clip was outstanding. The future Bulldog finished as the game’s leading tackler by a mile with double-digit stops. He sees ball, gets ball in such a dynamic fashion, and the speed at which he operates puts William on a different bar. He is the top-rated LB in the On300.

5-star S Xavier Filsaime – Florida commit

On3 Industry Ranking five-star S Xavier Filsaime had strong flashes in a district championship clash against Prosper (Texas) High. The Florida-committed defensive back is instinctual in coverage and flies to the football. The 6-foot, 185-pound Filsaime has long arms and great range and can cover a lot of ground in a hurry.

Filsaime saw snaps at high safety and also lining up over receivers in the slot. He is extremely position versatile with plus-length and routinely puts himself in and around the football. He has a pass defensed in the end zone and consistently made his impact felt in coverage. He checks in as the nation’s No. 2-ranked safety.

4-star DL Joseph Jonah-Ajonye – Georgia commit

On3 top-25 DL Joseph Jonah-Ajonye played the majority of the game despite dealing with a bum ankle. Nonetheless, the 6-foot-5, 280-pounder already looks the part of an SEC defensive lineman. He’s massive and explosive off the line, strong at the point of attack with very strong hands and outstanding length, not to mention bends very well at his size.

Another blue-chipper committed to Georgia, Jonah-Ajonye contributed in part to a sack of Lagway and also was impactful in slowing down the run game. He worked primarily off the edge, where he’s quick and can overpower opposing linemen. This analyst loves his upside as a movable piece on that Bulldogs’ defensive front down the road. Jonah-Ajonye is tabbed as the No. 5 DL in the On300.

4-star OT Ellis Davis – Texas Tech commit

Ellis Davis is the anchor of an imposing Prosper (Texas) offensive line comprised of several future Division 1-bound offensive linemen. The 6-foot-6-plus, 275-pound is long and strong, plays low and bends well, and is tough at the point of the attack.

Against a talent-laden McKinney (Texas) defense, Davis lined up at both tackle spots. He’s light on his feet and plays with a strong base, and is one of the more toolsy prospects at a premium position in this cycle with his frame, his massive wingspan and 33.5-inch arms to grow into when he arrives in Lubbock. Davis reminds this analyst of Monroe Freeling early in his development. Davis is the No. 5 OT in the On300 and one of the handful of stalwarts in Texas Tech’s 2024 class.

4-star LB Riley Pettijohn – 2025

Another one of those impactful second-level defenders, On300 junior LB Riley Pettijohn was the catalyst for the McKinney defense. A tough, instinctual, athletic linebacker — and the son of former Syracuse DL Duke Pettijohn, Riley is a thumper in the trenches with fantastic speed to also patrol from sideline to sideline.

Pettijhon was also fluid dropping back in coverage and covers a ton of ground from the middle of the defense. He is constantly around the football. The McKinney coaching staff uses Pettijohn in all three phases of the game and does not want to take him off the field. He brings a lot of speed and playmaking ability to the linebacker position, and has plus-ability to also be a secondary pass-rusher or nickel defender. Pettijhon is the No. 3 LB in the 2025 class.

3-star IOL Connor Carty – 2025

Another one of those Prosper OL that checks a lot of boxes is three-star IOL Connor Carty. Carty, a mauling interior OL who checks in at 6-foot-5 and tips the scale at 300 pounds at the tail end of his junior season, was a force in the run game in the Eagles’ district-clinching game on Thursday.

Carty is broad and moves well at his size. He plays downhill with a nasty streak. He’s physical at the point of attack and a classic road-grader. Run-blocking is his true bread and butter, and more and more colleges are taking stock this fall. He’s already tabbed as the No. 29 IOL in the 2025 class.

ATH Jermaine Bishop Jr. – 2026

Class of 2026 ATH Jermaine Bishop Jr. pieced together one of the most impactful performances by a skill-position player with huge plays made on both sides of the ball in Willis’ district-winning game on Friday at Yates. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound sophomore is, of course, the cousin of former Kansas State QB Michael Bishop. Jermaine sees action at receiver and cornerback and in the return game.

Bishop is long and lean. He’s a talented pass-catcher and dangerous anytime you he touches the rock. As a defensive back, he played largely press-man and was consistently competing in coverage. He’s a plus-tackler. He jarred a ball loose after a catch and housed an interception in the second half to sway momentum back in the home team’s favor. He’s going to be a national recruit in the 2026 class. He’s giving this analyst early Manny Muhammad vibes.