2024 College Football Thread: Ohio State advances to play unbeaten hypothetical SEC team (5 Viewers)

[Chadstroma]

Well, it's official. Washington State landed their QB commit for 2026. Congrats to Hudson Kurland of Lake Oswego, HS.

Was it the pressure sales pitch or did he really feel that was the spot? What were the reasons for his choice?

I think it's a few things.

1. They rolled the red carpet out for him and made him feel like he was THE guy. Dog and pony show? Maybe, but the head coach hosted them at his house and really made the kid feel like he was their future. He was the only QB on that visit and from their lips to his ears, he's the one guy they want to be their QB.
2. Compare that to SDSU who has 'soft offered' several QBs and didn't make the same red carpet type of pitch that Wazzou did. And it rubbed him wrong that they 'offered' him a few weeks ago but told him NOT to put anything on social media.
3. This whole recruiting thing is exhausting, overwhelming and stressful. Every college coach that came to visit would have him throw for him. During school hours. Which meant having to find WRs on the team who would go throw for him. His dad (my co-worker) was paying these WRs cash money to show up and catch for his son. I'm sure this all sounds like first world problems, but deep down, I think the family just wanted this all to end and let him move on with his school life, being a kid, etc. RELIEF is what his dad said and I get that.
4. Washington State is in a tiny dot on the map in the middle of nowhere. Football is IT in Pullman. The whole east side of the state supports the Cougs and while it's a far cry from some of the massive progrums in the country, the stadium gets packed and the fans are passionate. Compare that to San Diego State that just doesn't seem to care about college sports. There's much to do in San Diego and college football is way down on that list. I think UCLA, Stanford and Cal suffer from this as well. The fans are just ho-hum about college football and the apathy shows up on Saturdays in the form of empty seats. He'll play in front of vociferous crowds in Pullman.

#2 as the kids say "that is sus". It would tell me as a recruit that you are really the back up plan to the back up plan and we don't want to upset our real targets.
#3 I get that for sure. The WR's... did they not see that might be there opportunity to get in front of coaches and maybe pull interest too? Or they just know that they aren't good enough?

Good for him! It is a big D1 school and to be QB there. People tend to focus on the "big" programs but I mean, getting to a D1 like that that is nationally known is a huge accomplishment just with that.

 

[massraider]

Post-script from the Washington State visit. Head coach has the kid and his family over for dinner, nice house, great meal, great fireside chat with the coach. "You're OUR guy. You are THE QB of the future at Washington State. And now that we've shown you the love, it is time for you to show us the same. Can you commit to us right here, right now".

I'm paraphrasing, but that was the message sent. And reiterated at 10pm last night when the HC called the kid at home to ask yet again if he could commit to Wazzou. If not, they'd have to go find another QB of the future.

My heavens....he's not even a senior yet. These guys are worse than time-share salesmen.

Interesting. You have to wonder how much of it is pressure tactics and how much of it is real.

Sleazy either way.

I don't begrudge a penny of NIL any of these kids are able to get

 

[General Malaise]

Well, it's official. Washington State landed their QB commit for 2026. Congrats to Hudson Kurland of Lake Oswego, HS.

Was it the pressure sales pitch or did he really feel that was the spot? What were the reasons for his choice?

I think it's a few things.

1. They rolled the red carpet out for him and made him feel like he was THE guy. Dog and pony show? Maybe, but the head coach hosted them at his house and really made the kid feel like he was their future. He was the only QB on that visit and from their lips to his ears, he's the one guy they want to be their QB.
2. Compare that to SDSU who has 'soft offered' several QBs and didn't make the same red carpet type of pitch that Wazzou did. And it rubbed him wrong that they 'offered' him a few weeks ago but told him NOT to put anything on social media.
3. This whole recruiting thing is exhausting, overwhelming and stressful. Every college coach that came to visit would have him throw for him. During school hours. Which meant having to find WRs on the team who would go throw for him. His dad (my co-worker) was paying these WRs cash money to show up and catch for his son. I'm sure this all sounds like first world problems, but deep down, I think the family just wanted this all to end and let him move on with his school life, being a kid, etc. RELIEF is what his dad said and I get that.
4. Washington State is in a tiny dot on the map in the middle of nowhere. Football is IT in Pullman. The whole east side of the state supports the Cougs and while it's a far cry from some of the massive progrums in the country, the stadium gets packed and the fans are passionate. Compare that to San Diego State that just doesn't seem to care about college sports. There's much to do in San Diego and college football is way down on that list. I think UCLA, Stanford and Cal suffer from this as well. The fans are just ho-hum about college football and the apathy shows up on Saturdays in the form of empty seats. He'll play in front of vociferous crowds in Pullman.

Yeah, sounds like he's probably a whole heck of a lot better off at Wazzou than SDSU.

I think so too. SDSU is where his sister goes and while he would fit in there quite well (he looks like a Hollywood surf kid) he just didn't feel the same pull he felt from The Cougs.

Curious now if this has any impact on where his best friend on the the HS team commits to....he's still weighing offers (and has a TON of them).

 

[General Malaise]

Well, it's official. Washington State landed their QB commit for 2026. Congrats to Hudson Kurland of Lake Oswego, HS.

Was it the pressure sales pitch or did he really feel that was the spot? What were the reasons for his choice?

I think it's a few things.

1. They rolled the red carpet out for him and made him feel like he was THE guy. Dog and pony show? Maybe, but the head coach hosted them at his house and really made the kid feel like he was their future. He was the only QB on that visit and from their lips to his ears, he's the one guy they want to be their QB.
2. Compare that to SDSU who has 'soft offered' several QBs and didn't make the same red carpet type of pitch that Wazzou did. And it rubbed him wrong that they 'offered' him a few weeks ago but told him NOT to put anything on social media.
3. This whole recruiting thing is exhausting, overwhelming and stressful. Every college coach that came to visit would have him throw for him. During school hours. Which meant having to find WRs on the team who would go throw for him. His dad (my co-worker) was paying these WRs cash money to show up and catch for his son. I'm sure this all sounds like first world problems, but deep down, I think the family just wanted this all to end and let him move on with his school life, being a kid, etc. RELIEF is what his dad said and I get that.
4. Washington State is in a tiny dot on the map in the middle of nowhere. Football is IT in Pullman. The whole east side of the state supports the Cougs and while it's a far cry from some of the massive progrums in the country, the stadium gets packed and the fans are passionate. Compare that to San Diego State that just doesn't seem to care about college sports. There's much to do in San Diego and college football is way down on that list. I think UCLA, Stanford and Cal suffer from this as well. The fans are just ho-hum about college football and the apathy shows up on Saturdays in the form of empty seats. He'll play in front of vociferous crowds in Pullman.

#2 as the kids say "that is sus". It would tell me as a recruit that you are really the back up plan to the back up plan and we don't want to upset our real targets.
#3 I get that for sure. The WR's... did they not see that might be there opportunity to get in front of coaches and maybe pull interest too? Or they just know that they aren't good enough?

Good for him! It is a big D1 school and to be QB there. People tend to focus on the "big" programs but I mean, getting to a D1 like that that is nationally known is a huge accomplishment just with that.

Sus for sure! His dad was on the phone with the OC at SDSU for half an hour explaining why his son chose WSU over SDSU. They did not take the rejection well but hey, they didn't give the same effort and it bit them.

Lol.....Oregon doesn't produce too many D1 college players on an annual basis - it does happen, but very rarely is it a WR. There aren't any legit D1 WRs on his HS team but no doubt, any exposure is good exposure.

It's a good situation in Pullman. Brand new coach, new staff, new facilities and likely a new, rebranded "Pac-12" with some heavy hitters forthcoming. Pretty exciting stuff!

 

[bigbottom]

Well, it's official. Washington State landed their QB commit for 2026. Congrats to Hudson Kurland of Lake Oswego, HS.

Was it the pressure sales pitch or did he really feel that was the spot? What were the reasons for his choice?

I think it's a few things.

1. They rolled the red carpet out for him and made him feel like he was THE guy. Dog and pony show? Maybe, but the head coach hosted them at his house and really made the kid feel like he was their future. He was the only QB on that visit and from their lips to his ears, he's the one guy they want to be their QB.
2. Compare that to SDSU who has 'soft offered' several QBs and didn't make the same red carpet type of pitch that Wazzou did. And it rubbed him wrong that they 'offered' him a few weeks ago but told him NOT to put anything on social media.
3. This whole recruiting thing is exhausting, overwhelming and stressful. Every college coach that came to visit would have him throw for him. During school hours. Which meant having to find WRs on the team who would go throw for him. His dad (my co-worker) was paying these WRs cash money to show up and catch for his son. I'm sure this all sounds like first world problems, but deep down, I think the family just wanted this all to end and let him move on with his school life, being a kid, etc. RELIEF is what his dad said and I get that.
4. Washington State is in a tiny dot on the map in the middle of nowhere. Football is IT in Pullman. The whole east side of the state supports the Cougs and while it's a far cry from some of the massive progrums in the country, the stadium gets packed and the fans are passionate. Compare that to San Diego State that just doesn't seem to care about college sports. There's much to do in San Diego and college football is way down on that list. I think UCLA, Stanford and Cal suffer from this as well. The fans are just ho-hum about college football and the apathy shows up on Saturdays in the form of empty seats. He'll play in front of vociferous crowds in Pullman.

#2 as the kids say "that is sus". It would tell me as a recruit that you are really the back up plan to the back up plan and we don't want to upset our real targets.
#3 I get that for sure. The WR's... did they not see that might be there opportunity to get in front of coaches and maybe pull interest too? Or they just know that they aren't good enough?

Good for him! It is a big D1 school and to be QB there. People tend to focus on the "big" programs but I mean, getting to a D1 like that that is nationally known is a huge accomplishment just with that.

Sus for sure! His dad was on the phone with the OC at SDSU for half an hour explaining why his son chose WSU over SDSU. They did not take the rejection well but hey, they didn't give the same effort and it bit them.

Lol.....Oregon doesn't produce too many D1 college players on an annual basis - it does happen, but very rarely is it a WR. There aren't any legit D1 WRs on his HS team but no doubt, any exposure is good exposure.

It's a good situation in Pullman. Brand new coach, new staff, new facilities and likely a new, rebranded "Pac-12" with some heavy hitters forthcoming. Pretty exciting stuff!

Pretty darn sweet! A former Coug QB just went first in the NFL draft!

QB Hudson Kurland is a Coug; says WSU coaches' winning pedigree sold him

'The football there is amazing,' says QB

247sports.com

 

[General Malaise]

Well, it's official. Washington State landed their QB commit for 2026. Congrats to Hudson Kurland of Lake Oswego, HS.

Was it the pressure sales pitch or did he really feel that was the spot? What were the reasons for his choice?

I think it's a few things.

1. They rolled the red carpet out for him and made him feel like he was THE guy. Dog and pony show? Maybe, but the head coach hosted them at his house and really made the kid feel like he was their future. He was the only QB on that visit and from their lips to his ears, he's the one guy they want to be their QB.
2. Compare that to SDSU who has 'soft offered' several QBs and didn't make the same red carpet type of pitch that Wazzou did. And it rubbed him wrong that they 'offered' him a few weeks ago but told him NOT to put anything on social media.
3. This whole recruiting thing is exhausting, overwhelming and stressful. Every college coach that came to visit would have him throw for him. During school hours. Which meant having to find WRs on the team who would go throw for him. His dad (my co-worker) was paying these WRs cash money to show up and catch for his son. I'm sure this all sounds like first world problems, but deep down, I think the family just wanted this all to end and let him move on with his school life, being a kid, etc. RELIEF is what his dad said and I get that.
4. Washington State is in a tiny dot on the map in the middle of nowhere. Football is IT in Pullman. The whole east side of the state supports the Cougs and while it's a far cry from some of the massive progrums in the country, the stadium gets packed and the fans are passionate. Compare that to San Diego State that just doesn't seem to care about college sports. There's much to do in San Diego and college football is way down on that list. I think UCLA, Stanford and Cal suffer from this as well. The fans are just ho-hum about college football and the apathy shows up on Saturdays in the form of empty seats. He'll play in front of vociferous crowds in Pullman.

#2 as the kids say "that is sus". It would tell me as a recruit that you are really the back up plan to the back up plan and we don't want to upset our real targets.
#3 I get that for sure. The WR's... did they not see that might be there opportunity to get in front of coaches and maybe pull interest too? Or they just know that they aren't good enough?

Good for him! It is a big D1 school and to be QB there. People tend to focus on the "big" programs but I mean, getting to a D1 like that that is nationally known is a huge accomplishment just with that.

Sus for sure! His dad was on the phone with the OC at SDSU for half an hour explaining why his son chose WSU over SDSU. They did not take the rejection well but hey, they didn't give the same effort and it bit them.

Lol.....Oregon doesn't produce too many D1 college players on an annual basis - it does happen, but very rarely is it a WR. There aren't any legit D1 WRs on his HS team but no doubt, any exposure is good exposure.

It's a good situation in Pullman. Brand new coach, new staff, new facilities and likely a new, rebranded "Pac-12" with some heavy hitters forthcoming. Pretty exciting stuff!

Pretty darn sweet! A former Coug QB just went first in the NFL draft!

QB Hudson Kurland is a Coug; says WSU coaches' winning pedigree sold him

'The football there is amazing,' says QB

247sports.com

Years and years ago, my buddy and I took our oldest sons (not Hudson) to an infant swim class in Portland. Know who else was in that class with us? Drew Bledsoe! Former WSU great and another #1 overall pick in the NFL.

World is a funny place.

 

[The Longtime Lurker]

Charles Woodson Jr, 4 star prospect at safety gets an offer from Michigan. I hear his dad was ok at football, so no pressure there. This makes me feel old.

 

[Capella]

Charles Woodson Jr, 4 star prospect at safety gets an offer from Michigan. I hear his dad was ok at football, so no pressure there. This makes me feel old.

********. I’m cooked.

 

[Capella]

Let me start the new thread. It’s time.

 

[Capella]

Thread '2025 College Football Thread: SEC proposes 16 team playoff with 16 SEC teams'

Jun 5, 2025

• Capella
• Replies: 32
• Forum: Footballguys Free For All

• 

 

[Chadstroma]

LB Thomas Davis Jr. shuts down recruitment, reaffirms Notre Dame commitment​

Matthews (N.C.) Weddington linebacker Thomas Davis Jr. announced Wednesday afternoon that he is shutting down his recruitment.

The four-star prospect committed to Notre Dame last November but took an official visit to Georgia at the end of May. But after his official visit this past weekend, Davis decided to fully lock back in with the Fighting Irish.

“I’m locked in,” he told On3’s Hayes Fawcett. “This place is special, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. I’m excited for this journey. Go Irish!”

While this was an expected development, it’s still a big one. Davis was a crucial Notre Dame target from the get-go and has been a lead recruiter for the Irish in the 2026 cycle. His flipping would’ve been a disaster scenario, but with this update from Davis, that won’t be happening.

There was some level of concern though with Georgia, especially considering that his father, Thomas Davis Sr., played for the Bulldogs. Also, it’s been several years since a Notre Dame commit took official visits elsewhere and then signed with the Irish.

It’s still possible that Davis could flip considering signing day is six months away, but it’s highly probable that he will buck the trend.

“It was awesome,” Davis told Blue & Gold about his Notre Dame official visit. “All of the guys bonded really well, and we had a great time. It felt great to be back at home, and I think the weekend will pay off and be successful recruiting-wise.”

Davis, who checks in as the No. 183 overall player and No. 11 linebacker in America according to the 2026 On3 Industry Ranking, had his recruiting hat on during the trip.

“We have a really good shot with the uncommitted guys,” Davis stated. “That was awesome — Kaydon Finley, Joey O’Brien, Devin Fitzgerald, Khary Adams — it was great.”

Notre Dame has one other linebacker pledge in the 2026 class, coming from Cincinnati St. Xavier’s Kobe Clapper.

More on Thomas Davis Jr.​

During his sophomore season in which he played a key part in Weddington winning the Class 4A North Carolina state championship, Davis totaled 92 stops (13.5 tackles for loss), 1 sack, 7 quarterback hurries, 1 interception, 8 pass break ups and 1 forced fumble across 16 games.

He put up a strong junior campaign last fall, posting 62 tackles (8 for loss), 10 quarterback hurries, 2 interceptions, 12 pass break ups and 1 fumble recovery in 13 contests. He’s already logged 185 career tackles.

Notre Dame sees Davis as a versatile linebacker who can play all over its defensive front.

“It seems like when the moment gets bigger, Thomas plays better,” Weddington head coach Andy Capone previously said. “Sometimes, he seems to be in the right place at the right time. … But he puts himself in those situations because of his instincts. He’s never shied away from making a big play.”

His father played 16 years in the NFL, mostly with the Carolina Panthers. He had a terrific pro career coming out of Georgia as a first-round draft choice, reaching the Pro Bowl three times and earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2015.

whew.... I was worried on this one. Love him turning down his Father's SEC powerhouse for us.

Notre Dame beats Penn State and Texas for commitment from 4-star OT Grayson McKeough

​

La Salle College (Pa.) four-star offensive tackle Grayson McKeough has committed to Notre Dame.

The four-star McKeough chose to play for the Irish over Penn State and Texas.

“I just feel that it’s where I fit in best,” McKeough told On3. “All those guys that surround the program feel like me and are people who I can surround myself with for the next couple years. You are who you surround yourselves with and aside from the great academic and football prestige that’s what they’ve got.”

McKeough took his official visit to South Bend over the weekend.

“The environment was really something to see,” McKeogh said. “From the beginning to the very end it was all about the tradition and energy of the program. Even all the players had that energy and had the idea of presenting the program that they believed in. The way Coach Freeman and Coach Rudolph can develop me is really exciting. “Playing alongside all those players and commits would be something I can see myself doing.”

Notre Dame puts together a terrific offensive line class​

The 6-foot-7, 280-pound McKeough becomes commit No. 17 for the Irish in the 2026 recruiting class. The On3 Industry previously ranked the class No. 4 nationally.

“It’s totally got what I’m looking for and the academic side of it really sticks out to me,” McKeough said.

On3 ranks McKeough as the nation’s No. 16 offensive tackle and No. 181 prospect overall. The On3 Industry slots him No. 21 and No. 278.
Notre Dame has put together one of the top offensive line classes in the country this 2026 cycle. McKeough joins a group that includes fellow four-stars in Tyler Merrill, Gregory Patrick, Ben Nichols and Sullivan Garvin.

Notre Dame got crystal ball picks for Grayson McKeogh, Khary Adams, Joey O’Brien and more​

Notre Dame football could be going on another commitment run, and if what has transpired over the last day is correct, it’s going to be happening.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Irish got multiple projections for top players to end up in South Bend. We covered the news of Arizona wide receiver Devin Fitzgerald trending to Notre Dame, along with canceling his official visit to North Carolina.

That wasn’t the only positive recruiting news for the Irish as Connecticut offensive tackle Charlie Thom, who just got his offer yesterday, is expected to join the class according to On3’s Mike Singer. Notre Dame is looking for another tackle in the 2026 class, and he’d be a great addition. Staying with that group of insiders, Steve Wiltfong also made a few Irish projections for offensive tackle Grayson McKeogh and cornerback Khary Adams, while also joining in on Fitzgerald.

The positive developments didn’t end there, as 247Sports also put in crystal ball picks for McKeogh, Adams, safety Nick Reddish, Fitzgerald and safety Joey O’Brien. It’s pretty safe to say that this past weekends official visitors trips were a huge success.

We will find out shortly if these projections hold true, but it’s looking like Notre Dame will be adding more than a few elite prospects over the next few months.

At the ND youth camp, the GM lead chants for each of those targets.