July is shaping up to be a busy month in the college football recruiting world with several highly rated prospects scheduling commitments throughout the month.
Since only June 20, 25 ESPN 300 recruits have announced a commitment. Ohio State went on a big run, landing three ESPN 300 receivers in Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss and Noah Rogers. Texas has also had a big few weeks, adding the No. 1-ranked player overall, quarterback Arch Manning, along with ESPN 300 recruits Johntay Cook II, Derek Williams and Jonah Wilson.
Still, there are 165 ESPN 300 prospects still uncommitted, and more announcements from highly ranked recruits are expected to come over the coming days.
Here is a look at some of the ESPN 300 recruits committing in July, and a prediction on which schools they might pick.
OT Francis Mauigoa
6-foot-6, 325 pounds
ESPN 300 rank: 5
Top schools: Alabama, Florida, Hawai’i, Miami, Tennessee, USC
Mauigoa is a five-star prospect and the No. 1 tackle in the class out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He visited each of the six schools in his top list in June and will announce his decision on July 4.
Though he has kept things pretty close to the vest without tipping his hat, Tennessee seems to have a good shot, especially because he has a friendship with Tennessee quarterback commit Nicholaus Iamaleava, who committed to the Vols back in March. But USC is also a school that could come out on top.
Prediction: Tennessee
DT Peter Woods
6-foot-3, 275 pounds
ESPN 300 rank: 9
Top schools: Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Jackson State
Woods is the No. 1 defensive tackle in the class from Thompson Public School in Thompson, Alabama. He is the No. 2 prospect in Alabama, behind five-star linebacker Jaquavious Russaw and just ahead of defensive lineman James Smith.
Woods narrowed his list down to four schools in Alabama, Clemson, Florida and Jackson State. He will announce his commitment on July 8, and has been one of the more sought-after defensive linemen in this class. Alabama has been after him, and the success the Crimson Tide have seen in the past along the defensive line could help them win Woods.
Prediction: Alabama
OT Cayden Green
6-foot-5, 310 pounds
ESPN 300 rank: 77
Top schools: LSU, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma
Green is the No. 8 tackle in the country and the No. 2 recruit in the state of Missouri, behind defensive end Chandavian Bradley. Green attends Lee’s Summit North High School in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and has narrowed his list down to LSU, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma.
He just recently took a visit to Missouri on June 26, LSU on June 13 and Oklahoma in the beginning of June. The Sooners have two offensive linemen committed in three-stars Joshua Bates and Heath Ozaeta, as well as ESPN 300 quarterback Jackson Arnold and ESPN 300 wide receiver Keyon Brown. Adding in Green would bring in another talented big body along the offensive line to beef up that offensive front.
Prediction: Oklahoma
QB Dylan Lonergan
6-foot-2, 210 pounds
ESPN 300 rank: 62
Top schools: Alabama, Ohio State, South Carolina, Stanford
Lonergan is one of only three ESPN 300 quarterbacks that have not committed to a school yet, along with Dante Moore, who is ranked No. 8 overall, and Avery Johnson, the No. 94 recruit in the country.
Lonergan has a top list of Alabama, Ohio State, South Carolina and Stanford and was originally planning to announce a commitment on July 5, but pushed it back to July 12. He recently took a visit to Stanford and was also at South Carolina in mid-June. The Gamecocks have been making some serious noise on the recruiting trail under Shane Beamer, and Lonergan could add to that momentum if he picks South Carolina.
Beamer has already brought in quarterback transfer Spencer Rattler from Oklahoma, as well as tight end Austin Stogner, receiver Antwane Wells Jr. and running backs Christian Beal-Smith and Lovasea Carroll through the transfer portal. Beamer signed ESPN 300 quarterbacks Tanner Bailey and Braden Davis, as well as three-star quarterback DeQuandre Smith in the 2022 class, so Beamer has immediately upgraded the quarterback room for the Gamecocks. Longeran would be another welcomed addition to the room if that’s his final destination.
Prediction: South Carolina
S Joenel Aguero
5-foot-11, 195 pounds
ESPN 300 rank: 21
Top schools: Florida, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State
Aguero is the No. 2 safety, behind Caleb Downs, who is the No. 14 recruit overall. Aguero is the top prospect in Massachusetts and has a top list of Florida, Georgia, Miami and Ohio State.
He has taken quite a few visits in June, seeing all of the schools on his final list. Miami got the most recent visit on June 24, but it seems as though Georgia has been trending for a while.
Kirby Smart’s success with defensive backs and recruiting high-end defensive recruits could factor in. Smart signed 11 ESPN 300 defensive recruits in the 2022 class and eight in the 2021 class, along with seeing five of his defensive players selected in the first round of this year’s NFL draft.
Aguero’s visits might end up changing that, but Georgia is the prediction for now.
Prediction: Georgia