St. John’s Coach Rick Pitino On NIL, Transfer Portal: ‘Complaining is of No Value’
Rick Pitino took St. John’s from being a team that was nowhere to be found in the NCAA Tournament conversation to a No. 2 seed in just two seasons. How did Pitino get the Red Storm to rise to prominence so quickly? Living in the reality of NIL and the transfer portal, rather than fighting […]
Rick Pitino took St. John’s from being a team that was nowhere to be found in the NCAA Tournament conversation to a No. 2 seed in just two seasons.
How did Pitino get the Red Storm to rise to prominence so quickly? Living in the reality of NIL and the transfer portal, rather than fighting it.
“I felt the change was here and quitting, resigning, complaining is of no value,” Pitino said about NIL on Wednesday’s edition of “The Herd.” “You have to win the day. You have to get the job done, and I just felt that ‘Okay, we’re going to use it to the best of our abilities at St. John’s.’
“So, we’re an urban school; we’re a computer school; we play in Madison Square Garden as our home court: How can we maximize our potential by embracing the NIL and the transfer portal? We went away from high school basketball players, although we have taken one or two to develop, but by and large we’ve gone after older players.”
Pitino also expressed that parents have never been more involved in the recruiting process than now.
On the basketball front, Pitino explained what his practices look like.
“We have player development sessions every morning, Monday through Friday, where we go three-to-four different sessions with four players, and we try to take players like a Donovan Mitchell, a Terry Rozier who maybe’s not ranked top-20 or 25 in high school, and they’ve got a little bit of a weakness. Donovan Mitchell had a weakness with the arc on his jump shot. Everybody’s got a weakness coming out that’s not top 10, so we try to take those player development sessions and make the players better,” Pitino said.
“Our practices, yes, are very difficult, but I will say this: They’re not long. We don’t go more than two hours, but we go hard for two hours. We’re up and down for two hours. If I make a comment or a correction, it’s going to be within 12 seconds, and then we’re moving on because conditioning is a gigantic part of our style of play.”
After going 20-13 in the 2023-24 season, Pitino and the Red Storm put together a 31-5 campaign highlighted by winning the Big East regular-season title with an 18-2 conference record, winning the Big East Tournament and claiming a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. While St. John’s was upset in the second round by No. 10 seed Arkansas, the 2024-25 season marked the first time in six years that the program had made the NCAA Tournament and the first time in 10 years that it had done so without having to play in the First Four round.
On the personal front, Pitino won the 2024-25 Naismith, AP and Big East Coach of the Year awards. St. John’s is Pitino’s sixth full-time men’s college basketball head-coaching gig, with the Hall of Famer previously coaching three seasons at Iona before leaving for Queens in March 2023.
St. John’s had a gargantuan transfer portal class this offseason, reeling in former five-star recruits and now sophomores Ian Jackson (previously of North Carolina) and Joson Sanon (previously of Arizona State), former Providence forward Bryce Hopkins, former Cincinnati forward Dillon Mitchell and former Stanford wing Oziyah Sellers, among others. 247Sports ranks St. John’s transfer class as the best in men’s college basketball.
While the Red Storm have minimal returning players, they have big man and 2024-25 All-Big East honoree Zuby Ejiofor back for his senior season. Next season, St. John’s will square off against SEC powerhouses Alabama and Kentucky, among other notable out-of-conference matchups.
Rick Pitino on the 2025 NBA Draft, Caitlin Clark’s Impact, Cooper Flagg
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Rajakovic talks 'shocking' Raptors restructure, shares insights on NIL's global impact
Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic discussed NBA-Euroleague relations, NIL’s impact, coaching pressures, and his philanthropic efforts. He emphasized mutual respect between leagues and staying grounded amid basketball’s evolving global landscape. Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports – Scanpix The heartbeat of European basketball echoed through Athens once again as the Euroleague Coaches Congress returned […]
Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic discussed NBA-Euroleague relations, NIL’s impact, coaching pressures, and his philanthropic efforts. He emphasized mutual respect between leagues and staying grounded amid basketball’s evolving global landscape.
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports – Scanpix
The heartbeat of European basketball echoed through Athens once again as the Euroleague Coaches Congress returned to Greece for the second consecutive summer.
Free throws this season
Held at the OAKA indoor arena, the high-level basketball seminar brought together some of Europe’s finest coaching minds for four days of knowledge sharing and networking.
Among the elite speakers was Serbian coach Darko Rajakovic , head coach of the Toronto Raptors. Having carved out a notable path in the NBA, Rajakovic returned to the Euroleague event to engage in meaningful discussions about the game’s evolution, coaching philosophies, and the future of basketball both in North America and Europe. During his visit, he was also officially welcomed as a member of the Euroleague Head Coaches Board (EHCB).
Euroleague vs. NBA: Bridging Two Worlds
Rajakovic is one of the rare coaches to have deep roots in both European and American basketball.
While praising the NBA as the most elite league in terms of talent and resources, he believes the Euroleague deserves more respect.
“There’s still a big gap in mutual understanding between the two,” he told Athletiko’s Chirstos Tsaltas and Thanasis Asproulias. “Europe has great players, incredible coaches, and passionate fans. We all have a lot to learn from each other.”
By bringing his assistant coaches with him to the Congress, Rajakovic emphasized the importance of exchanging ideas and perspectives. “If someone in the audience learns even one new detail that enhances their coaching philosophy, it’s worth it.”
The Ujiri Shock and the Raptors’ Rebuild
The off-season saw a major shift for the Raptors with the departure of Masai Ujiri as President of Basketball Operations.
For Rajakovic, it was a jolt. “Masai is an amazing human and leader. He gave me this opportunity. His exit was shocking, but I understand this business. Everything runs in cycles.”
Despite the leadership change, Rajakovic remains optimistic. “We have a great young core, and strong support from ownership and the front office. We’re positioned for success.”
The State of European Basketball: Identity Crisis?
Asked about the increasing pace and game load in Europe, Rajakovic drew a sharp comparison. “Europe seems to be trying to copy the NBA model—faster pace, more games—but that’s not necessarily better.” He expressed concern about Europe’s failure to integrate young talent: “That’s the biggest issue. Young players rarely get chances in a league of veterans.”
He also questioned the sustainability of the basketball “product” in Europe: “A week after Panathinaikos won the Euroleague, they played Maroussi in front of 200 fans. What are we doing here?”
The Coaching Game: No Job Is Safe
Coaching in the NBA means living on the edge. “There are two types of coaches,” Rajakovic quipped. “Those who have been fired and those who will be fired. If you want security, get a job at the post office.”
He emphasized that longevity comes from alignment and patience within an organization. “The most successful franchises maintain continuity and understand their goals.”
Despite working in a league often dominated by media speculation and trade rumors, Rajakovic chooses to block out the noise. “I don’t use social media. I don’t read the news. I focus on what I can control.”
He trusts the Raptors’ front office to handle personnel matters. “They’re professionals. My job is to coach. If and when a trade becomes serious, we discuss it then.”
The NIL Effect: Europe vs. NCAA
The emergence of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) rights in the NCAA has opened new doors for young athletes—and new challenges for European basketball. More top prospects are now opting to play college basketball in the U.S., chasing both development and commercial opportunities.
Rajakovic sees this as a game-changer. “Talents are increasingly leaving Europe earlier. It’s reshaping the global basketball market.”
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Who has the highest NIL valuation on every preseason college football Top 25 team?
The 2025 college football season is right around the corner, and there is no shortage of highly-valued stars among the nation’s top teams. Name, Image and Likeness is paving the way for student athletes to build generational wealth before stepping foot on the field as a professional. And staying competitive in that space is critical […]
The 2025 college football season is right around the corner, and there is no shortage of highly-valued stars among the nation’s top teams.
Name, Image and Likeness is paving the way for student athletes to build generational wealth before stepping foot on the field as a professional. And staying competitive in that space is critical for programs in building the depth for a College Football Playoff run and ultimately a national championship.
Using ESPN’s post-spring Top 25 and On3 NIL valuations, here’s a look at each team’s leading player in NIL ahead of the upcoming season, excluding BYU, which has no available data.
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) / NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer holds an NIL valuation of $2.7 million.
How much do players make for being in College Football 26? EA Sports increases payout for 2025 video game
Excitement is building for College Football 26 with both fans of the video game franchise and the players who will appear in this year’s iteration. While all kinds of questions are swirling among fans about game play enhancements, which players and coaches won’t be in the game, the game soundtrack and much more, fans are […]
Excitement is building for College Football 26 with both fans of the video game franchise and the players who will appear in this year’s iteration.
While all kinds of questions are swirling among fans about game play enhancements, which players and coaches won’t be in the game, the game soundtrack and much more, fans are also curious how players will be compensated for being in the game.
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Schools will also see a payout for the company using their names, images and likeness, but the dollar amount will depend on how popular they are with users.
Here’s a look at the payouts to players and schools for College Football 26.
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How much money do players get for being in CFB 26?
EA Sports will pay college football players $1,500 in NIL money for their likeness to be used in the game — more than double the $600 offered last year — and players will receive a free copy of the game, according to The Athletic.
MORE: Why Ryan Williams, Jeremiah Smith were named College Football 26 cover athletes
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Are schools paid for being in CFB 26?
Schools will be paid for being in the game, but the payout is not a set amount. Royalties will be distributed based on how often schools are used in gameplay, according to Cllct. This means that the more popular teams are with users, the more money they will earn.
MORE: College Football 26 early access: How to play NCAA video game before 2025 release date
College Football 26 release date
College Football 26 will officially release on Thursday, July 10. Those who pre-order an edition of the game that comes with early access will be able to play three days earlier on Monday, July 7.
MORE:CFB 26 trailer, new features, and more to know about 2025 video game
Hugh Freeze explains how House settlement has impacted Auburn, ability to recruit
Tuesday marked the start of a new era in college athletics as the House v. NCAA settlement took effect. Revenue-sharing officially arrived, and Hugh Freeze said the new cap has an impact on recruiting. Under the settlement, schools can directly share up to $20.5 million with athletes through rev-share. That figure is expected to increase […]
Tuesday marked the start of a new era in college athletics as the House v. NCAA settlement took effect. Revenue-sharing officially arrived, and Hugh Freeze said the new cap has an impact on recruiting.
Under the settlement, schools can directly share up to $20.5 million with athletes through rev-share. That figure is expected to increase annually under the 10-year agreement. The first payments came down this week.
But with the cap, Freeze said Auburn had to worry about retaining players on the roster rather than signing a larger high school class. He added the Tigers are following their interpretation of the settlement as they focus on retention, particularly at positions such as wide receiver.
“It’s quite different,” Freeze said of the new landscape. “First of all, you want to make sure you are operating with what the settlement says, and we think we are. We’re going by what we believe to be the accurate interpretation of it. It’s not really to our advantage to what we’re doing right now because others, I think, are operating in a different manner. But the main thing that I don’t think people understand is retaining your current roster. It used to not affect high school recruiting. You were going to sign your 20-25 guys. But now, with the salary cap, you have to look at a room like our wide receiver room where on paper, we’re not losing a single kid, and we’ve got to retain those guys because I like that room a whole lot.
“So you don’t have the means, so to speak, to go after the number of high school receivers that you would normally go after because you can’t really – again, on paper, we’re not losing anyone and I don’t want to lose one. I really like that room. I love our young d-linemen. It’s kind of difficult. You’re sitting here trying to sign a class when you really don’t know what your current roster will be in January. So that’s a challenge, but you have to operate within the manner of what the settlement really says and the interpretation that we’ve received, and that’s what we’re doing.”
Hugh Freeze: Roster retention is ‘main thing’
Freeze has seen success on the high school recruiting trail since he took over at Auburn in 2024. The Tigers had the nation’s No. 8-ranked class in both 2024 and 2025, but the 2026 cycle is off to a slower start with just seven commitments.
Still, Hugh Freeze expects Auburn to climb back up the recruiting rankings once National Signing Day comes around in December. But he still noted how rev-share makes it more “challenging” to balance player retention vs. filling open spots.
“We’re talking about a staff that’s put together two Top-10 classes, and here we are, we’re really not in that realm right now,” Freeze said. “Do I think we will be in December? I do. I believe that wholeheartedly. We had over 50 visits in June and I thought most families felt like, ‘Man, this is a great place to be.’ But we’ve got to figure all this other [stuff] out. I know John [Cohen] is going to talk more in depth about the parameters to which we’re operating.
“It is more challenging, for sure, but the main thing to me is retaining our current roster and then filling the gaps with, obviously, elite talent from whether it’s the portal or high school recruiting. But retaining that roster does affect the way you approach recruiting, and that’s new. That used to not be the case. I mean, you were going to sign some kids and figure out the numbers on the back end. But you can’t do that and when you have to be under the revenue-sharing cap.”
How 2024-25 CFP Would’ve Looked Under Proposed Expansion Formats
The College Football Playoff will almost certainly expand again in 2026, going from a 12-team format to a 14- or 16-team format. While we don’t know which of these it’ll be, it’s always fun to think about what things could look like. In the most recent episode of “The Joel Klatt Show: Big Noon Conversations,” […]
The College Football Playoff will almost certainly expand again in 2026, going from a 12-team format to a 14- or 16-team format. While we don’t know which of these it’ll be, it’s always fun to think about what things could look like.
In the most recent episode of “The Joel Klatt Show: Big Noon Conversations,” Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti broke down how discussions over the CFP expansion are going, as he holds a key role. He also shared that he’s seeking more meaningful games in the CFP expansion and believes that a 16-team format could help accomplish that.
“Bigger is better,” Petitti said. “I think 12 is not enough teams given the size of the teams that are competing. You look at professional leagues, they [have] somewhere between 40% and 50% of their teams qualifying for the postseason. We’re way below that, even at 16. I think we want to be really careful.”
As Petitti potentially seeks a 16-team CFP, the determination of which 16 (or 14) teams would qualify is still up for debate. Automatic qualifiers would likely be involved in some form or fashion.
So, let’s see how the proposed formats for the CFP expansion could have impacted last year’s field, with the consideration that the CFP has already gone to a straight seeding model after last year.
4+4+2+2+1+3 format
In this format of the 16-team model, the Big Ten and the SEC would’ve received four automatic bids to the CFP, while the ACC and Big 12 each would’ve received two. There also would’ve been an automatic spot for the highest-ranked Group of 5 conference champion and three at-large bids. With the idea of a conference championship weekend being thrown out there as an extension to the CFP expansion, we used the standings for the four major conferences to help determine which teams would have received those automatic qualifying spots.
In the Big Ten, both Oregon and Penn State would’ve received an automatic bid, as they had the two best conference records in the regular season. The other two games in the Big Ten during conference championship weekend would have been Illinois (No. 6 in the Big Ten standings) at Indiana (No. 3 in the Big Ten standings) and Iowa (No. 5 in the Big Ten standings) at Ohio State (No. 4 in the Big Ten standings). The winner of those two games would’ve received the two automatic bids. In this practice, let’s presume that Indiana and Ohio State win their respective games.
In the SEC, both Georgia and Texas would’ve received an automatic bid, as they had the two best conference records in the regular season. The other two games in the SEC would’ve been South Carolina (No. 6 in the SEC standings) at Tennessee (No. 3 in the SEC standings) and LSU (No. 5 in the SEC standings) at Alabama (No. 4 in the SEC standings). Just like the Big Ten, the winners of those games would’ve received the conference’s two other automatic bids. So, let’s presume the favorites of those games win, meaning Tennessee and Alabama advance.
As for the ACC and the Big 12, it isn’t exactly known what their conference championship weekends would look like. The ACC recently mentioned an idea where it could have its regular-season conference champion get a bye that week, meaning the second- and third-place teams in the regular-season standings play for the conference’s other automatic berth.
For the sake of this exercise, let’s send the two teams who finished No. 1 and No. 2 in the regular season standings for the ACC and Big 12 to the CFP. That would mean SMU and Clemson would advance out of the ACC, while Arizona State and Iowa State would’ve advanced out of the Big 12. Boise State was the highest-ranked Group of 5 conference champion, receiving the No. 9 ranking in the final CFP poll. That was an easy one to figure out.
As for the three at-large spots, that’s where things might get a little tricky. Notre Dame was ranked fifth in the final CFP poll, meaning it would’ve likely occupied one of these at-large bids. If we went by the rankings, Miami (Fla.) and Ole Miss would’ve received the final two at-large spots. However, neither of those teams would’ve played in conference championship weekend during this exercise, leading to some potential murkiness with assembling the field. For now, let’s send Miami and Ole Miss to the CFP.
Here’s how that 16-team field would’ve looked under that format, using the final CFP rankings:
Oregon
Georgia
Texas
Penn State
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Tennessee
Indiana
Boise State
SMU
Alabama
Arizona State
Miami (Fla.)
Ole Miss
Clemson
Iowa State
First two teams out: South Carolina, BYU
One of the ideas being thrown out there for the 16-team CFP is for the top two seeds to get a double bye and a play-in round between the No. 13-16 seeds. That would mean Miami would host Iowa State, which was the Pop-Tarts Bowl matchup this past season, and Ole Miss would host Clemson. As for second-round matchups, Ohio State would’ve hosted Alabama and Notre Dame would’ve hosted Arizona State. Oregon also would’ve avoided Ohio State in the quarterfinals thanks to the straight seeding.
5+11 format
This is probably the easiest of the five formats to understand. In this format, the five highest-ranked conference winners plus the 11 highest-ranked at-large teams would’ve received a berth into the 2024 CFP.
Here’s how that would’ve looked like:
Oregon
Georgia
Texas
Penn State
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Tennessee
Indiana
Boise State
SMU
Alabama
Arizona State
Miami (Fla.)
Ole Miss
South Carolina
Clemson
First two teams out: BYU, Iowa State
In the possible scenario that there’s a “play-in weekend,” we would’ve seen two conference matchups taking place. Miami would’ve hosted Clemson after the Tigers won the ACC Championship Game, while Ole Miss would’ve hosted South Carolina. This format would’ve really only changed the last two seeds from the previous format, with South Carolina taking Iowa State’s spot in the field. That would’ve left the Big 12 with just one team in the tournament.
4+4+2.5+2.5+1+2 format
This format is similar to the first format we mentioned. The only difference is that there would’ve been one more automatic bid for an ACC team or the Big 12 would receive a third automatic bid, depending on which conference’s third-place team is ranked higher. As a result, there would’ve been one fewer at-large spot.
For the sake of brevity, let’s assume that the same eight teams from the Big Ten and the SEC in the first format receive the eight automatic bids between the two conferences in this format. Let’s also assume SMU, Clemson, Arizona State and Iowa State also receive the first two automatic bids from their respective conferences, the ACC and the Big 12.
That would leave Miami and BYU as the two third-place teams from the ACC and the Big 12 seeking the other automatic qualifying spot. Miami was the higher-ranked team of the two (No. 13 to BYU’s No. 17 ranking), meaning the Hurricanes would advance to the CFP. But if the CFP really wanted to get creative, it could have the third-place teams in the ACC and the Big 12 go head-to-head for this spot.
Again, Boise State was the highest-ranked Group of 5 conference champion, so it would’ve received a spot in this format. Notre Dame was ranked fifth in the final CFP poll, so it likely would’ve been given one of the last at-large bids. Ole Miss would’ve been the second-highest ranked non-automatic-qualifying team, likely giving it a berth in the CFP.
Cam Ward and the Miami Hurricanes would’ve almost certainly made the College Football Playoff if it was a 16-team field, regardless of the format. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Here’s what the 16-team field would’ve looked like in this format:
Oregon
Georgia
Texas
Penn State
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Tennessee
Indiana
Boise State
SMU
Alabama
Arizona State
Miami (Fla.)
Ole Miss
Clemson
Iowa State
First two teams out: South Carolina, BYU
This format would’ve produced the exact same 16 teams and seeds as the first format we mentioned. The big difference is that the slight tweak would’ve given Miami an automatic bid, as none of the other formats would’ve given the Hurricanes a guaranteed spot in the field last season. It also would’ve given some more stability to the ACC or the Big 12, as their respective conferences’ third-place team typically isn’t ranked in the top 10 of the final CFP poll.
4+4+3+3+1+1 format
In this proposed format, the ACC and the Big 12 would each get three automatic qualifiers, while the Big Ten and the SEC would still get four. There would also be an automatic qualifier for the highest-ranked Group of 5 conference champion to go along with one at-large bid.
As with the other two examples where the Big Ten and the SEC get four automatic qualifiers, we’ll assume the same eight teams make it into the field via the conference championship weekend. How the ACC and the Big 12 would determine their three automatic qualifiers in this scenario is anyone’s guess, but the simplest way would be to have the top two teams in each conference in the regular season occupying two of those spots, while the third would be determined through a play-in game. If the higher-ranked team won those games, we’d have SMU, Clemson and Miami representing the ACC, while Arizona State, Iowa State and BYU would get the Big 12’s three automatic qualifiers.
Jalen Milroe, Kalen DeBoer and Alabama could’ve made the College Football Playoff last season in an expanded field. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Again, Boise State would be the Group of 5 representative and Notre Dame would likely occupy the lone at-large spot.
Here’s how the field would’ve like in this scenario:
Oregon
Georgia
Texas
Penn State
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Tennessee
Indiana
Boise State
SMU
Alabama
Arizona State
Miami (Fla.)
Clemson
Iowa State
BYU
First two teams out: Ole Miss, South Carolina
The big difference in this format is Ole Miss wouldn’t qualify for the CFP because it didn’t finish in the top six of the SEC, nor was it the highest-ranked remaining team for an at-large spot. A potential play-in weekend in this scenario would’ve featured two ACC-Big 12 battles, while the top 12 seeds remain consistent with the other three formats we’ve gone over so far.
14 team format: 4+4+2+2+1+1
While it seems unlikely, a 14-team format is still on the table for the latest round of CFP expansion. The most common format for a 14-team playoff features four automatic bids for the Big Ten and the SEC, while the ACC and the Big 12 get two apiece. The highest-ranked Group of 5 conference champion would also get an automatic bid, while there would be an at-large bid for the highest-ranked remaining team.
This format is comparable to the first format we mentioned; it just has two fewer at-large bids. So, the four teams representing the Big Ten and the SEC would remain the same in our practice scenario. The same goes for the ACC (SMU and Clemson) and the Big 12 (Arizona State and Iowa State), but as we mentioned earlier, it’s unclear what each of those conferences would likely do for a conference championship weekend if it had two automatic bids.
Big Ten commisioner Tony Petitti could help his conference receive four automatic bids in the next round of College Football Playoff expansion. (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Just like the other formats, Boise State (highest-ranked Group of 5 champion) and Notre Dame (highest-ranked at-large team) would also make the field.
Here’s how a potential 14-team CFP format would’ve looked like last season:
Oregon
Georgia
Texas
Penn State
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Tennessee
Indiana
Boise State
SMU
Alabama
Arizona State
Clemson
Iowa State
First two teams out: Miami, Ole Miss
The top 12 seeds in this format would’ve remained the same compared to the other four formats, but this is the first format that doesn’t include Miami.
A play-in weekend also wouldn’t be possible in a 14-team format. Oregon and Georgia would’ve received first-round byes as the other 12 teams duked it out. Some of those first-round matchups would’ve included a game between former Big 12 foes (Iowa State-Texas), Clemson making the trip up to Happy Valley to take on Penn State and Alabama facing Ohio State.
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Assessing Ohio State's 2026 Class in the Trenches, NIL Approach in Recruiting As Jamir …
Even as so much has changed about the landscape of recruiting, one thing that remains as consistent as ever for Ohio State is its Glenville High School pipeline. The Buckeyes flipped defensive tackle Jamir Perez from Florida on Friday, adding a 330-pound body to a defensive line room in need of true nose tackles. While […]
Even as so much has changed about the landscape of recruiting, one thing that remains as consistent as ever for Ohio State is its Glenville High School pipeline.
The Buckeyes flipped defensive tackle Jamir Perez from Florida on Friday, adding a 330-pound body to a defensive line room in need of true nose tackles. While only a three-star prospect according to the recruiting services, Perez has the frame to mold into a real space-eater and a built-in love for Ohio State as an in-state prospect from Cleveland.
One player who won’t be joining Perez in Columbus is five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo, who committed to Texas Tech on Friday. With it came a big payday for the marquee prospect, with varying reports indicating that Ojo could make anywhere from $775,000 to $1.7 million a year in Lubbock.
Ojo’s recruitment speaks to the modern era of recruiting, and Ohio State remains averse to engaging in pure bidding wars for prospects. While the Buckeyes need to land more top recruits at premier positions like offensive tackle and defensive end, the Buckeyes’ strategy of prioritizing roster retention and spending in the transfer portal rather than promising big money to recruits proved fruitful in 2024, part of the reason it won a national championship.
But Ojo’s commitment to the Red Raiders leaves the Buckeyes still needing one more quality offensive lineman in the 2026 class, with Darius Gray being Ohio State’s last shot at landing a five-star prospect in the cycle. The biggest hole left in the class is at defensive end, where Ohio State is searching for a quality partner to Khary Wilder.
Dan Hope and Andy Anders of Eleven Warriors break down Perez’s commitment, Ojo’s move elsewhere, Ohio State’s approach to NIL in recruiting and the state of its 2026 class on a new episode of Press Coverage, which you can watch in the video at the top of the page.
The full rundown for the episode:
0:00 Jamir Perez Gives Ohio State A True Nose Tackle to Develop
7:51 Ohio State Misses Out on Another Five-Star Offensive Tackle
12:16 Why Ohio State is Cautious About Big-Money Offers in Recruiting
24:06 Top Remaining Priorities for Ohio State in 2026 Recruiting Class