Advertisement
Published Jul 3, 2024
Big Ten Spotlight: Rutgers paces league with 20 June commits
circle avatar
Adam Gorney  •  Rivals.com
National Recruiting Director
Twitter
@adamgorney

Other than the weeks leading up to National Signing Day in December, there is no busier time in the recruiting calendar now than the month of June.

The Big Ten had 160 commitments in the month. Today, we look at which programs won June and which ones didn’t with the 2025 class.

Advertisement

RUTGERS - 20

RELATED: Rutgers commit list

There is absolutely no question that the Scarlet Knights won June. They landed 20 commitments in 30 days, three of them being four-stars in OL Jaelyne Matthews, RB John Forster and LB DJ McClary (flipped from Penn State).

On top of those recruiting wins, the Scarlet Knights landed pledges from eight recruits who are just one notch away from four-star status.

Greg Schiano and his staff have to be thrilled with where their class stands.

*****  

MINNESOTA - 16

RELATED: Minnesota commit list

Sixteen of Minnesota’s 22 commitments came in the month of June as the Golden Gophers now have a top-25 class. The June group is led by high three-star DT Jayquan Stubbs but there were no four-star pledges during June.

Still, Minnesota did an excellent job loading up across the board but especially along the offensive line.

*****  

MARYLAND - 13

RELATED: Maryland commit list

The Terrapins had only four commitments heading into June but after adding a baker’s dozen during the month, Maryland now is inching closer to closing out its high school class. Of that entire haul, only Severn (Md.) Archbishop Spalding QB Malik Washington was a four-star but there could be sleepers along the way, too, with two Florida three-stars OL Lamar Williams and DL Donta Simpson leading the charge.

*****  

WASHINGTON - 13

RELATED: Washington commit list

It was an incredible June haul for the Huskies, who added a baker’s dozen prospects in the month after a slow start to coach Jedd Fisch’s first recruiting class. Four-star OL Champ Taulealea and four-star LB Jonathan Epperson are big wins but the biggest could end up being four-star tight end Vander Ploog from Fullerton (Calif.) Troy. Ploog is a multi-sport star who could flex out at tight end or stay in and block.

Things got even better Monday when four-star LB Zaydrius Rainey-Sale recommitted to the Huskies and more could be coming.

*****  

INDIANA - 11

RELATED: Indiana commit list

In the month of June, first-year coach Curt Cignetti ended up bringing in five-star prospects QB Julian Lewis and WR Winston Watkins Jr. It would be a major surprise if even one was really serious about the Hoosiers but both are wild cards in a way.

Still, it’s a credit to Cignetti and his staff to make those in-roads and get those headlines even if Lewis or Watkins head elsewhere.

DB Jaylen Bell, RB Sean Cuono and DE Triston Abram are high three-stars who could be immediate contributors in Bloomington.

*****  

MICHIGAN STATE - 9

RELATED: Michigan State commit list

Michigan State entered the month of June with only five commitments but the Spartans had an impressive haul in June to pump that number up to 14 in total. There were no four-star pledges among that group but the highest three-star was in-state DT Derrick Simmons, who committed on June 27. Three-star Detroit tight end Jayden Savoury could be a sleeper.

*****  

OHIO STATE - 9

RELATED: Ohio State commit list

By early April, Ohio State already had four five-stars in the recruiting class and it couldn’t get much better for the Buckeyes. The month of June was really solid as well as Ohio State is holding onto the No. 1 recruiting class in the team rankings.

Landing high four-star DB Faheem Delane was the biggest fish in June but WR Quincy Porter and DE Zion Grady among many others are helping out the No. 1 class. The Buckeyes didn’t have the most commits last month but they had the best.

*****  

PENN STATE - 9

RELATED: Penn State commit list

Penn State still has a top-five class in the team rankings especially after adding nine pledges in June, led by RB Jabree Coleman, a former Georgia commit, and four-star DBs Jahmir Joseph and Daryus Dixson.

Defensive end also loaded up in a major way as the Nittany Lions landed three big-time prospects at that position in Max Granville, Jayden Woods and Cortez Harris.

*****  

WISCONSIN - 9

RELATED: Wisconsin commit list

After landing nine commits to put Wisconsin’s class at 20 total so far, the Badgers find themselves at No. 10 in the team rankings.

WR Eugene Hilton Jr., OL Logan Powell and LB Mason Posa were the four-star commits this month as the Badgers really loaded up. High three-star DE Wilnerson Telemaque is loaded with potential but just needs to put it all together.

*****  

MICHIGAN - 8

RELATED: Michigan commit list

Michigan used June to load up on its recruiting class as the Wolverines entered the month with only five pledges and now has a baker’s dozen. Two four-star running backs in Donovan Johnson and Jasper Parker plus two four-star defensive ends in Jaylen Williams and Julius Holly lead the way.

This will be interesting to watch as well as six of the eight commits came from Florida, Georgia or Louisiana.

*****  

OREGON - 7

RELATED: Oregon commit list

The Ducks had quality over quantity in June and it should pay off in the coming years as it was a phenomenal month for coach Dan Lanning and his staff. Five-star running back Jordon Davison had some last-minute changes in his recruitment and Oregon ended up winning out. Four-star cornerback Dorian Brew, as quiet as anybody in the class, chose the Ducks over Texas and others.

Those aren’t the only big ones, though, as four-star TE DaSaahn Brame, four-star DL Josiah Sharma and others made a big recruiting impact in June. Four-star OL Ziyare Addison is one of the most versatile OL in the country and he showed off at the Rivals Five-Star.

*****  

UCLA - 7

RELATED: UCLA commit list

Twelve of UCLA’s 14 total commitments have come since April 10 as the new UCLA coaching staff is breathing life into recruiting and it’s already paying off well. Former coach Chip Kelly had little-to-no interest in going after top targets until the end (when it was too late) but this staff is doing a great job.

The only four-star in June was safety Jadyn Hudson from Pittsburg, Calif., but OL Garrison Blank could be a star and three-star DE Epi Sitanlei has all the potential in the world.

*****  

NORTHWESTERN - 6

RELATED: Northwestern commit list

There are still no four-stars in Northwestern’s recruiting class but there are some talented prospects who were added in June. Three-star TE Noah LaPorte and three-star OL Michael O’Connell, who has great size, are two to watch.

Three-star DE Jonah Hayes from Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller could end up being the best in the class.

*****  

ILLINOIS - 6

RELATED: Illinois commit list

Half of Illinois’ class came in the month of June and while there was no four-star in this crop of prospects, Illinois is still bringing in some talented players.

High three-star Cedric Wyche II and DT Isaiah White lead the way at Illinois.

*****  

IOWA - 5

RELATED: Iowa commit list

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has been in charge since 1999 and he’s had only four losing seasons (including the first two as he was changing around the Hawkeyes) and none since 2012. So Ferentz is going to do things on the field and in recruiting his way.

As for June recruiting, the Hawkeyes added five prospects to a total class of 12 right now and while there were no four-stars, defensive tackles Lucal Allgeyer (who will play offensive tackle for the Hawkeyes) and Brad Fitzgibbon could be the future of the Iowa defensive front.

*****  

NEBRASKA - 5

RELATED: Nebraska commit list

Nebraska did not load up with handfuls of commitments in June but the Huskers, who only landed five pledges, look really good from a quality standpoint.

On the last day of the month, Houston Kaahaaina-Torres picked Nebraska over Arizona State, Michigan State and Utah. The Huskers flipped former Oregon State OL pledge Halafihi Tupu.

Three-star DE Malcolm Simpson, who has somewhat slipped in the rankings, has a ton of potential and the lone four-star was St. Louis (Mo.) Cardinal RItter’s Jamarion Parker, who had more than 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.

*****  

PURDUE - 4

RELATED: Purdue commit list

Even after a busy June, the Boilermakers had only four commitments in the month and they find themselves with just nine total commitments. That puts Purdue at No. 73 nationally in the team rankings as it’s the only program in the Big Ten without double-digit commitments.

Flipping high three-star WR Lebron Hill from Louisville was definitely a major win and could be big down the road.

*****

USC - 3

RELATED: USC commit list

USC added three commits in June but lost three massive ones so all in all it was a very difficult and challenging month for the Trojans. Having five-star DT Justus Terry, four-star DE Isaiah Gibson and four-star DB Hylton Stubbs head elsewhere stings.

The Trojans added length though in four-star WR Corey Simms, four-star DB Shamar Arnoux (who is Julian Lewis’ teammate) and local four-star DE Hayden Lowe, who has a lot of upside.

MichiganState
FOOTBALL
Scores / Schedule
footballfootball
6 - 2
Overall Record
0 - 0
Conference Record
Finished
N. Carolina
91
N. Carolina
Michigan St.
94
Arrow
Michigan St.
Michigan St.
63
Michigan St.
Memphis
71
Arrow
Memphis
Michigan St.
72
Arrow
Michigan St.
Colorado
56
Colorado
Advertisement