MWCConnection Recruiting Roundup 6-29-26: June OV recap.

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It’s another week of the Recruiting Roundup.

The whirlwind of June OVs is over, and though we are in the dead period, it’s clear this week was still the direct aftermath of a busy recruiting month, as players evaluated all their visits and made decisions to commit. Expect a few more to come in over July, but things should slow down compared to the breakneck pace it’s been.

This seems like as good a time as any to check in and see how each team is doing at compiling their 2027 class. We group Mountain West and Pac-12 teams into different categories based solely on the size of the class. This provides a general estimate of how much work is left to do between now and December, when it comes to adding more players.

That doesn’t mean the work is over, as teams will need to continue to keep these players committed, as other schools are sure to swoop in. Also, keep in mind that every team approaches recruiting a bit differently. Some schools like to have most or all of their class committed by the end of June, while others prefer to have players visit during a game weekend. Likewise, some players prefer to make a decision before starting their senior season of football, and others want to see what other offers come their way in the fall.

Regardless, here is where things stand currently. We will have our usual Mountain West and Pac-12 monthly rankings in the weeks to follow to provide other teams with a look at how teams are doing at about the halfway point of the recruiting cycle.

Most of the work appears to be done:

Fresno State, NIU, North Dakota State, San Diego State, UNLV

Not much work left to do:

Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, New Mexico, Oregon State, Washington State

Solid work so far:

Nevada, Texas State, Wyoming

Lots of work to do:

Hawaii, San Jose State, Utah State, UTEP

As mentioned above, commits continue to pile in, with a total of 60 new players finding homes in one of these two conferences. 16 teams secured a commit over the past week, with 13 of them having multiple. Like most of this month, a number of different teams could have found their way on the cover photo, including Air Force, Nevada, NIU, San Diego State, and Wyoming. But the Cowboys emerged to appear on the photo thanks to adding eight new players to their 2027 class.

Class of 2027 Cover Photo Total:

• UNLV: 3
• North Dakota State: 2
• Oregon State: 2
• San Diego State: 2
• Air Force: 1
• Fresno State: 1
• Hawaii: 1
• NIU: 1
• New Mexico: 1
• San Jose State: 1
• UTEP: 1
• Washington State: 1
• Wyoming: 1

Recruiting Calendar:

Starting tomorrow and going through the rest of the summer, we are now in a dead period. All in-person contact of any kind is off-limits. But that doesn’t mean recruiting stops; it just slows down as coaches focus on the start of the season. As always, it is okay for texts, calls, and DMs.

Next College Student Athlete says:

The most restrictive of all the recruiting periods is the NCAA Dead Period. During the dead period, coaches may not have any in-person contact with recruits and/or their parents. In other words, coaches are not allowed to talk to recruits at their college campus, the athlete’s school, an athletic camp or even the grocery store.

While the term “dead period” makes it seem like all recruiting stops during this time, that’s actually not the case. Athletes and coaches are still allowed to communicate via phone, email, social media and other digital communication channels. While NCAA Division 1 programs are prohibited from conducting any in-person recruiting, D1 college coaches can still contact student-athletes via digital forms of communication during the dead period.

Commitment Spotlight:

WR Gage Gibbons (Air Force)

“The connection I have with the coaching staff is amazing! The campus feels like home to me, and there is no better place than Colorado Springs! I feel that I can make an early statement on this football team!”

LB Carson Adams (Air Force)

“At the end of the day, it just felt like home. The coaches believed in me from the beginning, and the culture was exactly what I was looking for. The discipline, the leadership, the brotherhood, and the lifelong opportunities made the decision an easy one.”

EDGE Davian Whitener (Hawaii)

“I committed to Hawai’i because the “Braddahhood” culture and the people made it feel like the right place for me. The coaches, especially Coach Pu’u, built a real relationship with my family and me and showed they truly believed in what I could become. They have a clear vision for me as an EDGE, and I know they’ll push me to keep getting better on and off the field. Committing to Hawai’i made my dream of playing at the next level a reality, and it gave me a lot of peace knowing I made the right choice. I’m ready to keep working in my senior year, compete on day 1 when I arrive on the island, and do everything I can to help this program and Coach Chang continue to move towards that Mountain West title.”

DB Khalil Abdullah (Hawaii)

“The amount of genuine love I felt from the staff during the whole visit. The commitment from not only the players but even the coaches seems to be that everybody is dedicated to improving their craft. The staff was preaching development to the players, and they were vouching for it, telling me how they feel they’re getting better every day.”

TE Talon Sosky (Nevada)

“Something special is going on in Reno. Choate and the rest of the staff had shown love throughout the entire process, and the official visit was amazing. On top of that, they truly believe in me and have an amazing development plan.”

OL Oscar Conchas (Nevada)

“I committed to Nevada for a lot of reasons. One of main reasons was the coaching staff. Coach BJ was the first one to reach out to me on how I can improve my game. Over that time period he would always check up on me and meet with me about things I needed to do and just advise that helped me out a lot. I love the physicality, the energy, and the environment that Nevada has. From the first time I walked on campus for my junior day I felt like this could be a home for me. Another reason was it’s close to home which has always been a big factor to me and my parents. The stadium only being an hour away is always nice. Over time the more I connected with the coaching staff and staff at Nevada I felt welcomed and wanted there.”

EDGE Armodd Alexander (New Mexico)

“Just the culture and the relationships, been genuine since they started recruiting me but by far they did whatever it took to get me locked in. I’m a big relationship guy and they’ve knocked it out the park thus far and that’s what sold me. I kind of had a thought early in the summer but once I took the visit there I was amazed and I knew that’s where I wanted to be!”

DB Mason Hitchcock (NIU)

“I really committed to NIU because I think they have a great program! The Defensive backs coach, Coach Bland, and I have a great relationship, and he really helped me through my recruitment process. NIU also has a great campus and great facilities. I want to go to NIU because I feel like it’s the right fit for me.”

DB John Ramella (NIU)

“I would say that there are three things that I loved most about NIU. First was the location, which was huge for me in my decision, as NIU is close to home and near a large city in Chicago. Second and third were that they are an accomplished program, and I believe that their coaching staff will do their best to help develop me as a player out of all the other offers I had.”

DB Eli Toms (Oregon State)

“From the get-go, as soon as I got to the hotel in Corvallis, the whole coaching staff was already there waiting to greet me and my family, and the energy and atmosphere felt uplifting. And I can definitely see the impact coach Shep was already making on the program, and I knew I wanted to be a part of that. Also, getting to connect with the players, I already felt a bond with them, and I know they will hold me to my standards and push me to reach my goals.”

OL Luis Dolphin (San Jose State)

“Once I got on campus for my official visit, it honestly felt like home right away. The energy, the people, and the environment all felt like the right fit for me. I also built a strong connection with the coaching staff and felt like they truly believed in me, which made my decision easy.”

QB Zachary Benitez (San Jose State)

“First and foremost, the cultural environment there was like a second home. They treated my family and I like we were already part of the program. And then my conversation with Coach Stutz, their OC, his knowledge and experience of the game is crazy. Being able to be coached and mentored by him is something I see fitting well for my development. Also my conversation with Coach Ken, their HC, he treated me as one of their players and made me feel wanted. From the jump I was their guy, but with the whole visit, it all felt right and felt like home.”

EDGE Jayden Bradford (Texas State)

“The main reason is the culture they are building. The coaches and the players seem to all be hungry and have a win now mentality.”

Azavier McDaniel (UNLV)

“I loved the environment and energy that the staff and players brought on my visit, also the way that they treated my family and me with the utmost respect really embedded their preaching of being a family-oriented program. I also get to stay home and close to family, which I think will definitely help with a quicker transition into the next level, by having less on my plate to learn a new city and find my way around. Overall, they checked all my boxes and laid out a clear path that they see me taking when I arrive on campus.”

DB Brett Smith Jr (UNLV)

“I committed to UNLV because of their great coaching staff. They showed my family and me a lot of respect and love on my visit. The coaches were constantly checking up on me, showing me that they truly wanted me. Dan Mullen is building a dynasty, and I want to play a big part in that.”

WR Malik Sika (Utah State)

“After my official recruiting visit at the beginning of June with Utah State and experiencing the environment, the culture that Coach Mendenhall is developing at Utah State, it feels like somewhere I want to be, to further my education & Football development. I was very impressed with the program that Coach Mendenhall is building there. Utah State invited my whole family up for the recruiting visit; my 3 siblings and my parents got to experience it with me. We all felt the same. I’ve also built a great relationship with Coach Ridley. They believed in me, and I feel like I will have a great opportunity at Utah State after my mission; not only to develop as a football player, but to develop as a young man who will contribute to society, prepare to be a husband and father, and achieve any goals that I have.”

WR Maxwell Nichols (UTEP)

“I chose UTEP to be a part of something new. I saw how everybody interacted and talked about how the program is going to turn around, and you could feel the belief. And I want to be a part of that flip.”

LB Samuel Weary (UTEP)

“I chose UTEP because the whole staff felt like family. I think I could go in and make an impact as a freshman on and off the field. And if i were to get injured at UTEP i would 100 percent still love to be there, its a great area to live.”

EDGE Garrison Manzanarez (Wyoming)

“There are several reasons why I decided on Wyoming. The coaching staff is awesome! Really love their coaching philosophy and who they are as men. The facilities are amazing! The entire state of Wyoming supports what they do. And the opportunity to be part of something special! Challenge myself at a very high level and against great competition.”

OL Noah Reid (Wyoming)

“I knew Wyoming was the place for me the second I got to Laramie. The passion the whole state has for the school creates an incredible family environment. I love the culture there and want to be a leader from day one. I’m committed to taking this program to the next level and building a powerhouse that opponents dread playing, with all of Cowboy Nation cheering us on. We have what it takes, and with a mightily receptive culture, I am going to create a legacy that not only I, but everybody else there wants to protect and grow beyond a dominating program.”

DB Cache McFadden (Wyoming)

“I believe Wyoming will be able to develop me both as a player and as a man, it just felt like the right fit.”

Visit Recap:

Recruiting Updates:

Offers:

• Air Force: 2
• Boise State:
• Colorado State: 2
• Fresno State:
• Hawaii:
• Nevada:
• New Mexico:
• NIU: 1
• North Dakota State:
• Oregon State: 1
• San Diego State: 2
• San Jose State:
• Texas State: 1
• UNLV: 2
• Utah State: 2
• UTEP:
• Washington State: 4
• Wyoming:

Visits

Commits:

• LB Dave Taffo: Air Force
• OL Jackson Comer: Air Force
• WR Gage Gibbons: Air Force
• WR Lowery Asel: Air Force
• LB Carson Adams: Air Force
• DB Jayden Bradley: Boise State
• WR Bayon Harris: Fresno State
• QB Colter Tannehill: Fresno State
• DB Khalil Abdullah: Hawaii
• EDGE Davian Whitener: Hawaii
• DE Suniafinau Fangupo: Hawaii
• OL Mason Eck: Nevada
• RB Jayce Wilson: Nevada
• QB Ryan Rakowski: Nevada
• LB Connor Strand: Nevada
• EDGE Caleb Jordan: Nevada
• OL Oscar Conchas: Nevada
• OL Ilias Williams: New Mexico
• DB Benjamin Wiepert: New Mexico
• LB Hudson Clarksean: New Mexico
• DB Dontae Moore: New Mexico
• OL Riley Budde: NIU
• DB Mason Hitchcock: NIU
• DB John Ramella: NIU
• TE Lee Camel: NIU
• DB Ziere Altston: NIU
• P Evan Wozniak: North Dakota State
• TE Hudson Harbuck: Oregon State
• DB Eli Toms: Oregon State
• RB Deron Foster: Oregon State
• DT Tymon Meeks: Oregon State
• QB Thaddeus Thatcher: Oregon State
• OL Tyson Seidman: San Diego State
• EDGE Iyan Bosket: San Diego State
• WR Travon Garrison Jr: San Diego State
• K Vince Santucci: San Diego State
• DB Caysen Badawi: San Diego State
• OL Luis Dolphin: San Jose State
• LB Zion Cadet: San Jose State
• QB Zachary Benitez: San Jose State
• LB Kyle Horde: Texas State
• EDGE Jayden Bradford: Texas State
• OL Laseth Bryant: UNLV
• LB Cam Pettijohn: UNLV
• TE Jaylen Fitzgerald: UNLV
• LB Samuel Weary: UTEP
• DB Patrick Oliver Jr: UTEP
• DE Joshua Ochelli: UTEP
• OL Rashaun Lavata’i: Washington State
• P CJ Jones: Washington State
• DB Jay Harris: Washington State
• WR Levi Rillos: Wyoming
• DB Cache McFadden: Wyoming
• OL Noah Reid: Wyoming
• EDGE Garrison Manzanarez: Wyoming
• OL Chase Garber: Wyoming
• DB Jimmel Champion: Wyoming
• DT Brett Singler: Wyoming
• DB Freddie Burke: Wyoming

Decommits

• DB Jay Harris: Fresno State
• DB Robenson Duclona: North Dakota State

Follow @Mike_SBN on Twitter for all the latest recruiting news and updates.

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