Calling My Shot: ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 schools feeling good in final stretch
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We’re coming down the stretch out West, with several schools adding to their recruiting board.
Today, we look at eleven key recruits from out West and call our shot on where we think they end up.
4-star OL Rashaun Lavata’i
Washington has seemingly been in the background for Lavata’i, doing an in-home visit in late May, but never really pushing for him. Then he was simply dominant at the Avery Strong College Showcase in front of Jedd Fisch and offensive line coach Michael Switzer, and they swarmed him, setting up an official visit with him. Being the hometown school certainly doesn’t hurt, and he just visited Utah while Washington State has also been a long and steady factor in this race. We actually wouldn’t count out the Cougs in this one, especially given the relationships with the coaches. But the Huskies getting the last visit and being so close to home may push them across the finish line.
Prediction: Washington
Confidence level: 30%
Biggest competition: Utah and Washington State
4-star OL Gecova Doyal
Washington and Oregon have been the two fiercest foes in this one and this is a classic Northwest battle between the two, who have no love lost. This is probably the most difficult one to call of all the recruitments out West. Washington is ramping up the hometown angle while Oregon has been on him heavily for three years. The Huskies get his last official visit this weekend and that could swing it their way, but going in to the visit, Oregon is still in a prime position to land him.
Prediction: Oregon
Confidence level: 20%
Biggest competition: Washington
3-star EDGE Troy Mailo
A good sign for a school is when an official visit the next week is canceled immediately after an official visit – which Mailo did with Washington following his Arizona State official. Still, we tend to lean Stanford here on this one – he is a sharp, well-spoken kid who is a terrific player, and we know he’s connected quickly with new head coach Tavita Pritchard, like Mailo, of Samoan descent. We know the Sun Devils made a big impression on him, but right now, we like where the Cardinal sit.
Prediction:Stanford
Confidence level: 30%
Biggest competition: Arizona State
3-star EDGE Josh Christensen
Like with Doyal, this is seemingly a Washington-Oregon battle, though Oklahoma has been a serious factor in this recruitment and Christensen will visit Cal this week. He already visited both Washington and Oregon, and has made numerous stops at both. Oregon is in-state, but Washington isn’t far from him, and they signed his teammate, Sam Vyhlidal, in 2026. The Huskies have been on him longer too. Can the Ducks keep him in-state or does he follow a stream of greater Portland area players who’ve migrated north in the last couple of classes? We’ll lean that way.
Prediction:Washington
Confidence level: 20%
Biggest competition: Oregon
3-star QB Brody Rudnicki
Rudnicki’s recruitment is unique – he’s planning to serve a one-year LDS mission, so he’s technically a 2028 recruit in this class. Utah got a quarterback commit in 2027 in Jonah Lubno and Cal got one in Dane Weber, while BYU technically has one in the 2027 class in Ryder Lyons, who signed in 2026, but is currently serving a one-year LDS mission. Rudnicki filled in admirably for Lyons last year when he was hurt in the state regional game, Rudnicki rallying Folsom (Calif.) to a win, and then the state title the next year. Would he follow Lyons again? We don’t think so. In fact, we think he goes the other way in the Holy War. But that’s before his BYU official visit, which is this coming weekend. Cal, though, looms, having hosted him over the weekend.
Prediction:Utah
Confidence level: 30%
Biggest competition: California and BYU
3-star OL DaJohn Yarborough
Washington gets the last official visit for Yarborough, but right now, Cal and Florida State, each who have hosted him, the latter this past weekend, sit out in front. Washington is in it for a ton of linemen, but in this case, we think the Noles and Bears have emerged for him. Of course, all bets are off with his official visit to Seattle looming. But we’re leaning Noles here.
Prediction:Florida State
Confidence level: 30%
Biggest competition: California and Washington
3-star OL Tye Kennedy
Washington has the history and legacy with Kennedy. His father, Lincoln, is one of the finest linemen the school produced and he was an All-American for the Huskies. Utah has been on him longer and more aggressively, and got the official visit first. But Washington has so much family history here, and now they host his last official visit. Nostalgia and legacy could win out for the Huskies, and this weekend’s visit could swing it their way, ever so slightly, but just enough.
Prediction: Washington
Confidence level: 20%
Biggest competition: Utah
3-star EDGE TK Cunningham
Cunningham looked like he was headed to Florida State, especially on the heels of his official visit to Tallahassee. But Purdue continues to linger and not go away. He canceled a scheduled visit to Kentucky last weekend and he’s still potentially visiting Washington this weekend, but the Boilermakers could end up pulling off a shocker given their opponents in landing Cunningham.
Prediction:Purdue
Confidence level: 30%
Biggest competition: Florida State
3-star ATH Taylan Patterson
Patterson just took his official visit to Utah over the weekend, the Utes emerging as a late contender, and getting him to take his official visit this past weekend. We think this one wraps up sooner rather than later, and he beats his teammates Cunningham and Yarborough to the finish line in a decision.
Prediction: Utah
Confidence level: 70%
Biggest competition: San Diego State
3-star DL Lemani Fehoko
Washington State and Boise State both put up good fights for Fehoko and neither can be counted out, especially the Cougs, which have always recruited Serra well. But Fehoko raved about his official visit to Minnesota over the weekend and the Gophers could be hard for him to pass up.
Prediction:Minnesota
Confidence level: 65%
Biggest competition: Washington State
3-star DL Nasim Eason
Eason was a surprise commit to San Diego State when he popped for them in the early winter. Arizona State is where his father played, and they had offered him early, but were never super aggressive. That all changed during the spring, when he looked good at the Higley Showcase and then ramped up even more when he sparkled at the ASU 7v7 Tournament, in front of the entire ASU coaching staff. They accelerated their recruitment of Eason and on Sunday, he decommitted from the Aztecs. Now, he’ll visit Arizona State this coming weekend. And this looks like another legacy playing out for the father’s alma mater.
Prediction:Arizona State
Confidence level: 75%
Biggest competition: San Diego State
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