USF football recruiting notebook: Big-time programs after Bulls’ commits, a big storyline moving forward, more
USF’s 2025 Recruiting Class Faces Pressure from Power Conference Schools
USF currently has 23 commitments for its 2025 recruiting class, and while the coaching staff continues to finalize their roster, a key concern is that power conference schools are attempting to entice USF commitments to switch allegiances.
Antavious Richardson from Greenville (Ga.) High, ranked as the No. 805 overall player and the No. 42 “athlete” in the nation according to the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking, has seen his recruitment gain momentum recently.
Originally committed to Georgia State, Richardson switched to USF on June 24, choosing the Bulls even with interest from Mississippi State. This month, he has received offers from North Carolina, UCF, Notre Dame, and Duke, and sources indicate that Alabama is closely monitoring his situation.
While it will be challenging for USF to retain Richardson’s commitment, the staff will make every effort to do so.
Another standout in USF’s 2025 class is Sean Poret from Atlanta Riverwood, ranked as the No. 1,012 overall prospect and the No. 79 interior lineman nationally by the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking. However, he is also attracting attention from power conference programs, with Florida State and Vanderbilt being key schools to watch. Last week, AAC rival Memphis extended an offer to him.
USF fans may be disheartened by reports of other programs pursuing their commits, but this is a common reality when striving to attract top-tier talent.
On3 updates rankings for USF commits
USF’s Recruiting Class Shines Among Group of Five Programs
The Bulls boast the top recruiting class in the Group of Five, and Alex Golesh’s commitment list gained strength as several pledges received On3 rankings.
Out of the 23 commitments (excluding kicker Brunno Reus), only two have yet to be ranked by On3. While USF has not secured a four-star commitment according to On3, there are four players with an impressive rating of 88, just shy of the four-star threshold, which starts at 90.
Sean Poret and Koredell Bartley from Greensboro (N.C.) Dudley both achieved an 88 rating. They are joined by Evan Ward from Peachtree City (Ga.) McIntosh and Brooks Williams from Port St. Lucie (Fla.) St. Lucie West Centennial, all holding an 88 rating.
Antavious Richardson moved from unranked to a three-star rating of 87, while other notable commits, including Miami Northwestern’s Tywan Cox, Argyle (Texas) Liberty Christian’s Chase Garnett, Powder Springs (Ga.) Harrison’s Colin Bellomy, and Perry (Ga.) High’s Kory Pettigrew, all received ratings of 86.
Three prospects—Khalil Collins from Moultrie (Ga.) Colquitt County, Brandon Kubay from Oakdale (Conn.) St. Thomas More, and Jeremiah Jones from Riverview (Fla.) Sumner—each received an initial three-star rating of 85. Washington (D.C.) St. John’s DeAngelo Bowden earned a starting On3 rating of 84.
It’s important to note that On3 rankings differ from the On3 Industry Ranking, which is often cited in their articles. The On3 Industry Ranking is based on a proprietary algorithm that aggregates scores and rankings from the four major recruitment services, with On3’s own rankings accounting for 35 percent of that overall score.
Bulls looking at 2025 linebacker options
USF’s Active August: Scholarship Offers and Linebacker Targets
In August, USF has been actively extending several scholarship offers, primarily focusing on the 2026 recruiting class. However, the staff also made an offer in the 2025 cycle, specifically at the linebacker position.
On August 17, linebacker Darien Whitaker from Omaha (Neb.) Boys Town announced via Twitter that he received a scholarship offer from USF. Previously committed to Northern Illinois, he was leaning heavily toward Kansas State at the time of the Bulls’ offer, and multiple On3 insiders have predicted he might choose the Wildcats. Washington State also extended an offer to Whitaker in August.
USF is assessing in-state prospects while searching nationwide for linebackers in the 2025 class. It’s likely that the Bulls will continue to target additional linebackers and might work behind the scenes to potentially flip commitments from existing targets.