College Recruiting Heats Up
Florida leads for a top QB target according to Chad Simmons, while the Gators are also strong for a fast-rising Florida recruit with OSU/Texas/others offering. Alabama is in a toss-up with Arizona for Caleb Holt, who should commit by late March. UNC is the front-runner for the No. 22 class QB plus an OL target, while Oklahoma is trending for two 4-stars.
The battle for Caleb Holt involves a five-star shooting guard from the 2026 class who is widely considered a potential top-five pick in the 2027 NBA Draft. At 6-foot-5, the Alabama native is ranked as the No. 3 overall player in his class and the top player at his position. Holt's recruitment has intensified into a head-to-head matchup between his home-state Crimson Tide and Arizona. While Alabama has made the blue-chip prospect a top priority from the beginning, Arizona has surged recently, making it a true toss-up. Holt has also visited Houston, Kentucky, and Providence, but a final decision is anticipated in the coming weeks. Florida's aggressive pursuit of a top quarterback comes after the transfer of former starter DJ Lagway to Baylor. The current Gators quarterback room is unsettled, featuring Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo and redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr. competing for the starting role. The Gators have their sights on Elijah Haven, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2027 class, with some analysts projecting him to land in Gainesville. They are also heavily in the mix for Champ Monds, a four-star 2027 quarterback who reclassified from the 2028 class and has already visited the campus six times. Oklahoma is pushing to re-land a former commitment in Zane Rowe, a four-star edge rusher from Texas. Rowe, who initially pledged to the Sooners in April 2024 before decommitting, is set to announce his new decision on March 13, with OU, Oregon, Washington, and North Carolina as finalists. The Sooners have also secured an official visit with Brian Swanson, a four-star offensive tackle from Dallas ranked as a top-100 player in the 2027 cycle by 247Sports. Additionally, they are among the top 10 contenders for Marcus Fakatou, a four-star defensive lineman from California. Under new head coach Bill Belichick, North Carolina signed the nation's 12th-ranked recruiting class for 2026, a group featuring 39 players from 19 different states. The staff has now turned its focus to the 2027 cycle, where they are finalists for several top prospects. UNC's recent commitments include Taron Dickens, a three
