Class of 2021 January Commitment Tracker
SI All-American tracks the biggest decision news in the college football recruiting class of 2021 all in one place.
This piece will be updated as junior football prospects make early Power Five commitment decisions in the New Year, complete with fresh or first impression evaluations of their game.
January 31
RB Jayden Williams, West Des Moines (Iowa) Valley
Kansas State got good news to close out the month as Williams announced his commitment mid-day. The running back is a decisive one-cut prospect with a muscular build at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds or so. He is comfortable coming down hill and has better than average speed when he's out in the open, with some wiggle when needed. Solid laterally, there is a no-nonsense element to his game that makes him hard to stop at the point of contact.
DB Zakhari Spears, Los Angeles (Calif.) Loyola
Washington has always leaned on recruiting California and it scored another verbal from the Golden State on January's last day. Spears picked UW amid a dozen offers thanks to his long frame (listed at 6-foot-3) but his game presents much more. He is a cornerback by trade but has translatable skill for the safety position at an early stage, especially with his awareness and range. Spears shows strong ability to come off of the hash and make plays on the football to go along with solid long speed and aggression.
DL Nick Sharpe, Gastonia (N.C.) Huss
An in-state snag for Wake Forest comes via the well put-together interior defensive lineman. Sharpe is a productive force with good strength and natural leverage on his side. The two-way lineman flashes a great motor and ideal drive while working on offense to the point playing guard or center in the ACC shouldn't be ruled out just yet. Defensively, Sharpe uses his hands well and has the will to anchor against double teams. As he becomes more flexible and progresses with his lateral ability a true position projection will become apparent.
January 30
TE Gavin McKay, Memphis (Tenn.) University School
6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, Missouri's latest junior commitment lists more like a wide receiver at this early stage. McKay spends a lot of time in high school split outside but his frame will enable him to grow into a pass-first option at tight end in the SEC. He has a long stride, strong hands along with the body positioning and control the tight end position requires in the modern era. When McKay is working inside, he is a willing blocker with a good motor. Per Maxpreps, he hauled in 5-8 yards worth of passes including three scores in 10 games played.
TE Jameson Geers, New Lenox (Ill.) Providence Catholic
The near 6-foot-5 tight end talent is staying in the Midwest with a pledge to the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He profiles like a classic tight end prospect with the ability to overwhelm defenders with his combination of size and ball skills. Geers is like a tough rebounder battling for position in how he navigates the middle of the field. With the frame to become a true Big Ten tight end down the line, the newest Gopher can be an extension of the offensive line and a security blanket in the passing game alike.
January 29
WR Chase Penry, Englewood (Colo.)
Colorado picked up the in-state pledge with a listed 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame. The wideout helped his team to a state championship in 2019 and appears as a matchup problem on tape. Penry's size and ball skills separate him in the red zone while his mature route-running does so elsewhere. Solid hands and above average speed make him a clear FBS prospect early on.
January 28
DE Rodney McGraw. Elkhart (Ind.) Central
Another in-state commitment on this list, Indiana picked up the Hoosier State defensive end near the end of the month. McGraw is listed a 6-foot-5 and has been credited with 40 tackles for loss over the last two years. He is a straight-line rusher at this stage of the game, but has a nice burst off of the line and above-average power despite playing high at times. McGraw attacks the football and has a frame to play the passing lanes even if he moves inside down the road.
ATH Sahmir Hagans, Philadelphia (Pa.) St. Joseph's
The Duke Blue Devil hot streak rolls on into another week as the Philly prospect picked the ACC program. The small and shifty tailback talent makes plays as a triple threat at the prep level -- as a runner, receiver and return man. Hagans also dabbles on defense with production but there is no doubt he is one to project with the ball in his hands. He plays bigger than his size suggests, with scrappy physicality and really shines in the open field with great acceleration and instincts in traffic.
DB Devin Lemear, Manor (Texas)
TCU kept this recent emerger within state lines. Lemear is very comfortable in the box as a downhill striker with great pop at the point of contact for a guy listed at less than 170 pounds. He will need to polish up as a cover man but shows up when the football is in the air with fair reaction time and range. Lemear looks like a sub package candidate.
January 27
WR Andrew Wilson-Lamp, Massillon (Ohio)
West Virginia picked up a wideout with good size from a pipeline state in Wilson-Lamp. Listed at 6-foot-2, he runs above average relative to the frame, especially when pushing vertically. He has plus ball skills and some lower-body strength but could stand to improve as a route-runner like many at this level. Particular focus on intermediate routes, which may become a nice counter to his long speed at the next level, would enhance his immediate impact potential.
LB Devon Williams, Dublin (Ohio) Coffman
Kentucky goes back to pipeline state Ohio for more defensive prowess in Williams. The junior has an SEC defender's build at about 6-foot-1, 215 pounds and plays like it. Williams brings plenty of ideal traits to the table from his play recognition, coverage ability, ball skills and the type of short area explosion that makes him a prep enforcer. With a dozen offers early on this one looks like a steal for the Wildcats which should be less of a surprise than before considering the 2020 class may be the best ever headed to Lexington.
January 26
DE Korey Foreman, Corona (Calif.) Centennial
Any prospect considered the best in America by anyone early on will have plenty of upside in college but it's so easy to see with Foreman. Take the Clemson commitment's run at The Opening Finals last summer, where he was one of the top edge performers, and he will have the rare chance to be a two-time invitee. Guys like Rashaan Gary and Nolan Smith, who each challenged for top prospect in the land when all was said and done in their cycles, are two of the few to accomplish what Foreman is almost certain to. He's 6-foot-4, 265 pounds with a blurring speed rush and plenty of power to counter already.
DE Cade Denhoff, Lakeland (Fla.) Christian
Coming off double-digit sacks in 2019, the long and lean pass rusher is another key Clemson Tiger commitment from the state of Florida. Denhoff is an explosive edge prospect with a great first-step, enhancing his ability to win with speed and to set up the counter move inside. He can get by blockers with better power than his frame suggests as he looks to add mass to his frame and polish up from a technical standpoint. Plus footwork and lateral ability allow Denhoff, who detailed his decision with SI All-American, to have most of the raw tools coveted for the position.
TE Jake Briningstool, Brentwood (Tenn.) Ravenwood
Another top pass-catcher picked Clemson this weekend in Briningstool. Another one from outside of state lines. Another one with an impressive frame and scholarship offer list to back. The 6-foot-6 standout is a smooth transitioner despite his immense size, with great athleticism to boot. Briningstool can make plays on the football outside of his frame, too, with great athleticism and redirection ability overall. Simply put, this is another big target who can flex out and overwhelm a defensive back or occupy the middle of the defense with his size and quickness as a matchup nightmare.
OT Logan Purcell, Annandale (Minn.)
The towering offensive line prospect is staying in-state with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He looks like a basketball prospect at 6-foot-7, 250 pounds or so, and more than holds his own on the hardwood as a double-double threat and rim protector. On the gridiron, Purcell plays on both sides of the ball with success as a stand-up edge and lean offensive tackle. The Big Ten pledge even punts for his prep team, but in the projection business offensive tackle makes so much sense given the frame, athleticism and grit he plays with. Once the mass and tech catch up this could be a big win for PJ Fleck.
ATH Jamal Haynes, Loganville (Ga.) Grayson
Yet another prospect staying in-state early on, Haynes picked Georgia Tech and Geoff Collins as his next stop. Haynes makes plays out wide at receiver and factors into the return game for one of Georgia's top prep programs. He's a start-stop whirlwind for defenses to handle with good quickness and speed. Haynes can put route combinations together and tracks the ball well to this point, not unlike star underclassmen Tech player Ahmarean Brown at the same stage.
LB Ja'Corey Hammett, Miami (Fla.) Northwestern
Another solid prospect picking his local program, Miami reeled in the junior linebacker just as he was beginning to ascend in the recruiting game. Power Five programs began extending offers Hammett's way just this month in another nice early evaluation by Manny Diaz's staff. The long linebacker helped his team to a state championship with strong impact on the edge and in space where he could showcase his explosiveness. Hammett can bend and win in traffic, too, so his position projection as he adds mass will be interesting given a 6-foot-3 frame.
DL Taizse Johnson, Washington (D.C.) St. John's
The Maryland Terrapins snagged raw local power in the 300-pound Johnson. He will have time to develop mature moves in the trenches but his mass and low center of gravity is a major advantage he will carry with him into his senior year of high school. Johnson is very athletic for his size with legit football instincts in the trenches, but he's at his best when he can bull down hill and collapse a pocket.
OL Braylen Nelson, Aurora (Colo.) Vista Park
Colorado picks up a 6-foot-5, 300-pounder up front and he has upside as a potential right tackle in the Pac-12. Nelson is a massive prospect who plays with a strong base and punch alike. He has more pass protection reps compared to most at the position and plays with good patience on the edge. Should he play more explosive and increase his lateral ability, left tackle may one day be on the table, too.
January 25
WR Beaux Collins, Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco
Another long wide receiver is headed to Clemson and this one has familiarity with that future Tiger roster considering he was a prep teammate of quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei for the last three years. Collins, a legit 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, projects as a complete wide receiver with advanced technique and polish relative to his age. He can construct a route with purpose and efficiency, runs well enough to make plays at all three levels and is a willing blocker. As he adds more strength and lower-body explosion, Collins could line up like the next great big outside wide receiver at WRU.
LB Power Echols, Charlotte (N.C.) Vance
This explosive junior linebacker has already flashed while playing at Kenan Memorial Stadium as a prep prospect and he's set to play there plenty more having committed to North Carolina over the weekend. Echols is a well put-together 6-foot-1, 210 pounds or so, with an elite first step and finishing power. He is instinctive and fast-flow in nature, perhaps indicating the ability to play inside or out in the ACC. Echols' floor is as the enforcer of Tar Heel defenses to come.
DE Joshua Farmer, Havana (Fla.) Gadsden County
Florida State kicked off its 2021 recruiting class with a semi-local front seven prospect in the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Farmer. He lines up at defensive end, stand-up edge, defensive tackle and traditional linebacker at times, with flashes at each spot. Farmer is likely to grow into a full-time presence up front, with traits to win with speed and power against ACC blockers. He uses his hands well to extend, read and react with some short-area burst to put pressure on the opponent and/or to finish plays with force.
DL Jeffrey Bowie, West Branch (Iowa)
The Iowa Hawkeyes landed a 6-foot-5, 250-pound defender in Bowie, who is an inside out trenchman with pass rushing prowess. He is fairly raw but shows good get-off, instincts and grit in getting to the ball carrier. There is some finishing power with the Big Ten commitment, who has the quickness to delay a true position projection at this time. Bowie could end up inside or remain on the leaner side and dabble on the edge.
DL Isaac Washington, Pilot Mountain (N.C.) East Surry
Tennessee landed one of the top interior defensive line prospects from neighboring North Carolina. Washington is a compact prospect who can flash production up and down the line with quickness and power. The new UT pledge can occupy blockers and anchor against a double team, too, always important in the SEC.
January 22
LB Anthony Freeman, Durham (N.C.) Northern
The compact inside linebacker prospect popped to local program Duke during the week. Freeman, who plays running back with success at the prep level as well, has an old-school and downhill feel to him on tape. He brings some pop behind his pads and looks most comfortable inside in the box. There is some redirection ability and a ceiling for space/third-down game, but Freeman is a straight line power prospect at this time.
January 21
DE Aaron Hall, Durham (N.C.) Southern
Duke keeps the 6-foot-6 defensive end in his home town and it doesn't take very long to see why. Aside from the dream frame coming off the edge, Hall is an accomplished pass catcher and basketball player. Once he adds bulk to his frame he will likely be able to hone in on one position, and one sport, for the first time while enrolled in the ACC. He already plays with great effort on either side of the ball but needs to add technique on defense to become a three-down prospect in college. Hall is the first Duke commitment in the 2021 class.
DB Demarko Williams, Atlanta (Ga.) Westlake
South Carolina dips in the the Atlanta area for another defensive back prospect. Williams plays mostly safety in high school with a strong downhill style despite standing under 6-feet tall. He has snap quickness out of his backpedal and brings the lumber upon contact, perhaps translating well to the nickel position when projecting him within the SEC. Williams' plays on offense make it seem like he has good straight-line speed and overall athleticism, not to mention ball skills.
QB Brock Vandagriff, Bogart (Ga.) Prince Avenue Christian
One of the biggest names in the junior class came off the board after spending time at Georgia over the weekend. Since the elite passer backed off of an Oklahoma commitment on New Year's Day, the industry trend was for him to land close to home in Athens. Vandagriff brings a great balance of precision and athleticism at the game's most important position and represents the first tangible gain for Kirby Smart's reassembled offensive staff as he adjusts to a more open concept of offense. Vandagriff is extremely comfortable on the move and possesses one of the quicker releases in the country. He can change speeds and throw with touch if needed, but has the velocity on the ball to play both outside the numbers and down the field.
[More on Vandagriff to UGA here]
January 20
LB Kolbe Fields, Metairie (La.) Archbishop Rummel
A read-and-react linebacker with the possibility of playing inside or out depending on his development, Fields flashes good instincts and plays against good competition as well. The first impression of the Oklahoma State commitment on tape provides efficiency in his path to the football with minimal risk. Improved coverage samples could make him a three-down linebacker in this day and age of college ball.
RB Amaad Foston, Milledgeville (Ga.) Milledgeville Academy
Virginia's latest junior commitment plays running back in an old-school, downhill offense and his game reflects as much. He runs with great leverage and balance but also blends in patience and better quickness than scheme and size would suggest. Foston has good initial burst and can make moves laterally when countering the power.
DB Javon McIntyre, Philadelphia (Pa.) Imhotep Charter
An in-state commitment for the Pitt Panthers, McIntyre is a physical secondary prospect with plenty of room to improve from a technical standpoint. But his pop at the point of contact pairs well with his listed size (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) and he flashes some ball skills on tape as well. A versatile sub or safety role makes the most sense when projecting McIntyre into the ACC.
OL Josh Simmons, San Diego (Calif.) Madison
The massive, two-way lineman is the latest Californian to pick the Oregon Ducks. At 6-foot-5, 320-plus pounds he looks like an offensive lineman down the road but on tape he is just bigger, stronger and meaner than just about every player he lines up against. Simmons is comfortable giving ground on the O-line with a wide base and wider block radius. As a run-blocker, he looks like an ideal fit for a power spread scheme like Oregon's with his power and tenacity.
January 19
QB Caleb Hood, Rockingham (N.C.) Richmond
Will the in-state star play quarterback in Chapel Hill? That's a question many will ask over the next few years but the legacy prospect, who will be a four-year starter at QB for Richmond High School, picked North Carolina over the weekend. A great athlete and ball handler, Hood has the ability to read defenses at the mesh point as much as he does when they're in coverage. He appears quicker than fast but also has a physical element to his game that makes one think he can excel at multiple positions. Also a basketball player, Hood has plenty of tools no matter where he lines up in the future.
OL Cullen Montgomery, Bellaire (Texas) Episcopal
Oklahoma picked up another top area prospect along the offensive line in Montgomery. He plays right tackle at the prep level with a nice combination of size (6-foot-5, 315 pounds) and movement skill relative to the frame. He may not be built for getting to the second level on routine but is rock solid in short areas with enough length and pop to look efficient as both a pass and run blocker. Montgomery may slide to guard in college.
DL Mekhi Wingo, Saint Louis (Mo.) DeSmet
Staying in-state with Missouri, Wingo looks like the pass-rushing interior defensive lineman the Tigers have thrived with over the years. He registered 15 sacks in 2019 thanks to power and quickness on a 6-foot, 280-pound frame. He works with some polished moves off of the snap, particularly with his violent hands. Wingo's movement skill is among the best we've seen in the early stages of evaluating the class of 2021 and keeping him home is a big deal for new Missouri head man Eli Drinkwitz.
January 9
OL Jaelin Alstott-VanDeVanter, Mooresville (Ind.)
Hello prototype young offensive line frame. The Purdue Boilermakers kept this relative unknown within state lines before he had the chance to blow up and become a prized recruit outside of the region. At 6-foot-7, 260 pounds, Alstott-VanDeVanter is still clearly growing into his massive frame. His game is along similar lines in that he is still far from polished as a pass protector and with his footwork in general. At this stage he looks much more comfortable moving forward than retreating, but Alstott-VanDeVanter does show some pop and grit in getting low to match his opponents plane.
January 8
OL Donovan Jackson, Bellaire (Texas) Episcopal
Another elite Texan is leaving the state. One of the programs that has worked the state about as well as any other out-of-state school (just watch the upcoming NFL Draft) is Ohio State, who added Jackson Wednesday evening. The reigning offensive line MVP of The Opening Finals, the 6-foot-4, 308-pounder is about as polished as an underclassman can be. He is a balanced blocker versus the pass and the run, is physically developed and plays with the dominance one would expect given his national offer list. The only question remaining here is whether or not he's long enough to play tackle in the Big Ten. Either way, don't expect Jackson to sit very long in Columbus.
ATH Brashard Smith, Miami (Fla.) Palmetto
Florida is off to a nice start in the class of 2021, particularly within state lines and in neighboring Georgia. This grab, in the Miami area, is important on many fronts. First, UF has failed to get a running back committed in the current recruiting class of 2020 although the speedy Lorenzo Lingard is transferring in from Miami. Second, Palmetto High is loaded in the 2021 class with at least a quartet of no-brainer Power 5 prospects in defensive backs Jason Marshall, Corey Collier and lineman Leonard Taylor in addition to Smith. Three, getting any potential pipeline going ni Dade County is a big deal. As for the newest Gator's game, he has some three-down talent out of the backfield in that he's crafty and comfortable in space. Smith has enough speed to keep a defense honest but makes his proverbial money on his vision, ability to set up blocks and quickness. More on Smith to UF HERE.
January 7
DB Jaylen Johnson, Cincinnati (Ohio) La Salle
Ohio State's first addition of the New Year came from within state lines in Johnson. The defensive back probably projects best at safety with his 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame and downhill style. Johnson is versatile in that he can move well enough to cover a zone in space but fits a defense as an additional sure tackler who can make plays sideline to sideline if needed. Classic rover or new-age nickel linebacker type spots make sense here based on our first impression.
January 6
QB Santino Marucci, North Palm Beach (Fla.) Benjamin
Wake Forest lost a pair of current quarterbacks over the last two weeks but Dave Clawson and company also gained his arm of the future in Marucci. The Floridian is a good athlete at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds or so with a wrestling background, but he's known for his passing consistency and accuracy. There's a rock solid fit into what the Demon Deacons want to do on offense, part of the reason the junior popped when he did.
January 4
QB Preston Stone, Dallas (Texas) Parrish Episcopal
Sonny Dykes has turned the SMU program into one to watch in the Lone Star State and on the recruiting front, adding Stone is one of the most firm steps in that direction. The dual-threat, in-state star has been a known name since prior to his freshman high school campaign with an offer list to reflect as much. Stone is a fun prospect to watch in that he's athletic enough to extend virtually any passing play, with some gunslinger in his game considering he'll take some chances. He's also a very capable runner who can keep defenses honest all game long. It's not hard to picture a kid like Stone starting right off the bat should SMU's structure remain and on-field run continue.
January 2
LB Randolph Kpai, Sioux Falls (S.D.) Washington
Nebraska added Kpai to the commitment list shortly after the year began. The South Dakota native plays both ways on Friday nights, including at the position becoming more and more important for traditional linebackers to dabble with -- running back. Kpai just looks like he's playing at a different speed than his peers at this point, flashing in all three phases as a long striker with better speed than one would expect on a 6-foot-3 frame. We could see him developing into a new-age edge rusher, hybrid linebacker or even man the middle of a defense down the line.
January 1
LB Raesjon Davis, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
LSU added former Mater Dei cornerback and SI All-American Elias Ricks to its roster this month and another Monarch defender is headed to the SEC West in Davis. Like we said about Ricks in years prior, Davis looks like he's already in college with how physically developed he is. Already in the 6-foot-1, 215-pound range, he looks like he can play a different position in any three-down scenario. Davis moves well enough to rush the passer or play in coverage with serious downhill physicality when needed. Few linebacker types have the tape this junior already does and it may translate to playing very early, even in the SEC West.
QB Jake Rubley, Littleton (Colo.) Highlands Ranch
A big pro-style passer, Rubley picked Kansas State to kick off the year. He stands tall in the pocket with a strong, powerful release at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds or so. Rubley can take something off of the ball and play with touch if needed and also moves better than his size suggests. He just looks like the type of passer who racks up big numbers in the Big 12 and he'll have another year to polish up his footwork and get through progressions faster before doing so in Manhattan.
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