Cover 3 College Football Podcast – Recruiting Show Summary

Episode Title: Jared Curtis, LSU’s Future & Texas A&M on Fire
Date: October 28, 2025
Hosts: Bud Elliott & Andrew Ivins

Main Theme

This episode of the Cover 3 College Football Podcast zeroes in on the state of high-stakes college football recruiting, quarterback flip rumors, coaching carousel fallout, and the transformative impact these dynamics are having on major programs like LSU, Vanderbilt, Houston, Texas, and especially Texas A&M. Bud Elliott and Andrew Ivins navigate through imminent signing day drama, shifting commitments among blue-chip prospects, LSU’s post-Kelly crossroads, and Texas A&M’s surging momentum under head coach Mike Elko.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Quarterback Flip Watch: Jared Curtis and the Vandy/UGA Saga

[03:04–08:59]

• Jared Curtis (5-star QB, committed to Georgia, considering Vanderbilt):
  • Curtis’s recruitment heated up after his visit to Vanderbilt and GameDay appearance, with local efforts to flip him from UGA.
  • “We have seen these high-profile arms in this name, image, likeness, era, kind of have a change of heart at the last second.” (Andrew Ivins, 05:54)
  • Mike Bobo (UGA OC) is actively recruiting Curtis, attending his games.
  • Curtis has deep ties to Nashville, and Vandy is pitching the chance to be an instant legend on campus, especially with Diego Pavia departing.
  • “If it's not Jared Curtis, then [Vandy] likely going to be looking in the transfer portal...he instantly becomes everything.” (Ivins, 08:13)
  • Comparison to previous late high-profile QB flips (Bryce Underwood, Dylan Raiola, Dante Moore).

2. Other Elite QB Recruits on Flip Watch

Keyshawn Henderson – Committed to Houston
[09:00–15:07]

• Henderson has emerged as a possible target for blue blood programs amid a strong Houston season.
• “That’s the type of talent you’re getting with Keyshawn Henderson… Jaden Daniels, Lamar Jackson.” (Ivins, 11:43)
• Houston is all-in, surrounding him with offensive playmakers, but programs like LSU, Texas, and possibly others may make a play if their situations change.
• Bud compares him to Randall Cunningham: “A guy's like a legit runner but he does want to be a thrower.” (Bud, 13:50)
• Henderson is noted as a “force multiplier,” drawing strong leadership praise at the All-American Bowl.

Diabell – Texas Commit
[15:07–17:57]

• Diabell is not on official flip watch but Texas’s instability with Steve Sarkisian rumors puts his commitment in question.
• “They seem to be all in on the Longhorns…but they’ve at least not shut the door on other schools. Notre Dame’s an interesting one… Florida State could potentially open.” (Ivins, 16:46)
• Diabell's skill set likened to Dante Moore: smooth, accurate, mobile.

3. LSU’s Coaching Change Fallout & Recruiting Crossroads

Brian Kelly fired; focus shifts to keeping top talent
[17:57–26:50]

• Five-star DL/Lineman Lamar Brown (top-5 national prospect) is the star LSU must retain.
  • “He’s got round one ceiling as an offensive lineman and round one ceiling as a defensive lineman.” (Ivins, 18:40)
  • Texas A&M is actively recruiting Brown, leveraging stability and recent head-to-head success.
  • “If you’re the new coach coming out, you just cannot afford to lose the kid in your backyard.” (Bud, 22:52)
• LSU’s D-line class is loaded (Richard Anderson, Trenton Henderson, DeAnthony Lafayette, Deuce Geralds)—the next staff’s retention ability is critical.
• LSU’s uncertain QB situation:
  • Lack of clear plans following misses on top targets, notably Bryce Underwood.
  • “How did this happen? Jaden Daniels won a Heisman Trophy…Joe Burrow has been there…” (Ivins, 26:50)
  • Bud argues Underwood’s commitment might have saved Kelly’s job.

4. Texas A&M’s Program Identity & Recruiting Operation

[32:39–41:22]

• A&M “under Mike Elko is building with identity—traits, culture, player evaluation and fit, not just recruiting stars.” (Ivins, 33:02)
• GM of the Week: Derek Miller recognized for balancing high school recruiting, portal, and roster cohesion.
• “I think they’re more excited about the guys at the bottom of the commit list than the guys at the top…A program that has it all together from an evaluation standpoint.” (Ivins, 33:46)
• High-level development of portal players (e.g., Casey Concepcion, TJ Searcy) praised.
• Colin Klein’s offensive creativity is highlighted; holding the coaching staff together will be key for A&M’s continued ascent.

5. Texas A&M’s Quarterback Pipeline & Closing Power

[36:26–40:15]

• Marcel Reed’s emergence as a dynamic playmaker despite being undersized (“the definition of a hard gainer”) is compared to Jaden Daniels’ early college body type.
• A&M’s QB future is solid: Hellman Kasuga (2026 commit, mobile playmaker), J.C. Johnson (2027, compared to Lenora Sellers).
• “What they’re doing, I think they got an identity and that’s a big reason why they’re likely going to be playing for an SEC championship and potentially a national championship.” (Ivins, 40:15)

6. Texas A&M’s Shot to Dominate the Close

[43:39–47:01]

• With early signing day (Dec. 3) and the coaching carousel in full spin, A&M is poised to capitalize while others face uncertainty.
• Targets include Tank Jones (edge, AL, Oregon commit; “closest thing to Reuben Bane in this cycle”), Braylon Womack (5-star safety, MS), plus strong positions at the “point of attack.”
• “They are going to parlay this on-field success into success in the living rooms of top recruits.” (Ivins, 46:37)
• Aggies also leveraging LSU’s chaos for in-house and cross-border steals.

7. Evaluation of the Week – KJ Duff (Rutgers Receiver)

[47:01–50:29]

• Duff: 6 rec/241 yds/1 TD vs. Purdue, leads the Big Ten in receiving. Once considered a “tweener” and lightly recruited, now a transfer portal hot commodity.
  • “Shame on all of us for overthinking it with KJ Duff. And just an awesome kid to see kind of blossom in one of the big two conferences.” (Ivins, 50:17)
• Expect major power programs to try and poach Duff if he enters portal, but Rutgers will fight to keep him.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Vandy’s Pitch to Jared Curtis:
  “If it’s not Jared Curtis, then [Vandy’s] likely going to be looking in the transfer portal…he instantly becomes everything. When you mention Vandy, it’s going to be Jared Curtis.” (Andrew Ivins, 08:13)
• On High-Profile QB Flips:
  “Last cycle was Bryce Underwood…ends up in Michigan. The year before that was Dylan Raiola…ends up at Nebraska. And then Dante Moore…[to] UCLA. We have seen these high-profile arms…have a change of heart at the last second.” (Ivins, 05:54)
• On Keyshawn Henderson’s Magnetism:
  “He is a gravitating personality…holding court for 15 minutes…broke down every receiver on the roster with a full detailed scouting report.” (Ivins, 14:09)
• On LSU’s Conundrum:
  “You just can't lose this kid, right?...The new coach coming in has got to say, hey, whatever it takes, back up the Brinks truck, let’s just get this one done.” (Bud Elliott, 22:52)
• On Texas A&M’s DNA:
  “They play with their hair on fire…height, weight, speed across the board…They are getting the most out of the players they have.” (Ivins, 33:02)
• KJ Duff on the Portal Watch:
  “These big bodied X’s, they carry a ton of value in the transfer portal. So kudos to Rutgers for not overthinking it… Shame on all of us for overthinking it with KJ Duff.” (Ivins, 50:17)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Jared Curtis/Quarterback Flips: 03:04–08:59
• Keyshawn Henderson/Diabell – Flip Watch: 09:00–17:57
• LSU Recruiting Crisis/Brian Kelly Fallout: 17:57–26:50
• LSU Quarterback Outlook: 26:50–32:39
• Texas A&M Identity, GM of the Week: 32:39–36:26
• A&M QB Pipeline, Marcel Reed: 36:26–40:15
• A&M’s Closing Power: 43:39–47:01
• Evaluation of the Week – KJ Duff: 47:01–50:29

Final Thoughts

With five weeks until the early signing period, the hosts stress the intensity and volatility of the recruiting landscape: blue bloods are in flux, Texas A&M is surging, late QB flips are becoming the norm, and new head coaches will need to win press conferences and living rooms alike.

Ivins’ final advice:
“Everything is moving fast, right?... A&M is gonna close strong...Keep an eye on Oregon, Miami...Ohio State making the best senior season evaluations out of any operation in the country." (51:11)

Bud Elliott: “Man, five weeks to signing day. I am absolutely pumped. This is, this is a whole lot of fun. We'll do it again next week.” (50:29)

For recruiting fans, this episode delivers deep context, sharp insights, and plenty of actionable names to watch as the pre-signing day drama intensifies across college football.