Cover 3 College Football – National Signing Day Outlook: Key Decisions, Jared Curtis, Chris Henry Jr. (November 25, 2025)

Hosts: Bud Elliott, Andrew Ivins
Theme: A comprehensive breakdown of the fast-approaching National Signing Day, highlighting key recruiting battles, potential flips, program strategies, and the seismic shifts influencing top college football classes this cycle.

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the drama and moves leading up to National Signing Day, focusing on battles for the No. 1 recruiting class, high-impact recruits like Jared Curtis and Chris Henry Jr., and the status of major programs amid coaching changes and NIL-driven recruiting. Hosts Bud Elliott and Andrew Ivins demystify how certain programs are building or holding their ground, which recruits might flip, and what broader trends are redrawing the recruiting landscape.

Race for the No. 1 Recruiting Class (03:39–07:52)

• Main Contenders:
  • USC: “They are in the driver's seat coming down the stretch, right? … Could be the first time they finish number one in the 24/7 Sports era.” – Andrew Ivins (03:52)
    • Boasts a large class (35+ commits), led by new GM Chad Bowden.
    • Potentially a landmark for the Big Ten as it’s not an SEC team, signaling a diversification of talent.
  • Oregon: “Oregon … one of the strongest recruiting classes out there. They don’t have 35 guys … but they got a lot of blue chip.” – Ivins (05:02)
    • Could leapfrog USC by flipping Mater Dei’s elite WR duo, Chris Henry Jr. and Kaden Dixon-Wyatt, from Ohio State.
  • Texas A&M: Mathematically possible if they flip several high-profile targets, including Lamar Brown (committed to LSU), Booby Feaster (USC), and Jace Matthews (Auburn), but seen as less likely.
• Notable Moment: Both hosts praise the 24/7’s class calculator: “It’s almost like the NBA trade deadline calculator.” – Bud Elliott (07:05)

Big Ten’s Rising Recruiting Depth (07:52–09:33)

• Programs to Watch:
  • Washington: The hosts continue to praise what Jed Fisch and Matt Doherty are building, especially with Florida flip targets and offensive skill talent (QB Traden Messenger, WR Xavier Stinson).
  • Iowa: Recognized for its defensive recruiting consistency, now augmenting with perimeter offensive skill.
  • Indiana: Leveraging recent on-field success for a higher-caliber talent haul, including notable Florida imports.
• “We’re seeing an influx of talent [to the Big Ten], offense and defense … Washington, Indiana, Iowa—monitor those classes.” – Ivins (09:04)

Jared Curtis: The Five-Star Quarterback Saga (09:33–13:10)

• There’s renewed, credible momentum for Vanderbilt flipping Jared Curtis (No. 3 player nationally) from Georgia.
• “Tom Loy … is calling his shot. He thinks Jared Curtis … is going to sign with Vanderbilt.” – Ivins (10:06)
• Why Vandy Makes Sense: Easier path to playing time vs. Georgia, local stardom, and the need for a program figurehead in Nashville.
• “If Jared Curtis ends up at Vanderbilt, go ahead and put him on the Mount Rushmore of Commodore quarterbacks.” – Ivins (12:45)

The Quarterback Carousel and Class of 2026 Challenges (13:10–17:34)

• This QB class is unusual: “Of the 20 quarterbacks at the Elite 11 finals, I think 10 of them are injured.” – Ivins (13:37)
• Programs may scramble for high school QB commits as transfer portal rules and injuries create hesitancy.
• Flip History: Last three years, a five-star QB has flipped schools late (Dante Moore, Dylan Raiola, Bryce Underwood).
• LSU’s Dilemma: Likely heading to the portal for a QB with no commitments in this class or last.

Flip Watch: LSU’s Key Targets (17:34–23:29)

• Lamar Brown, Richard Anderson, Bryson Martinez—three blue-chip, in-state linemen—are being pursued by other schools but will likely stick with LSU, making the job attractive to coaches.
  • “The best in the boot are going to stay in the boot.” – Ivins (18:10)
• Richard Anderson is described as a prototypical “war daddy”: “Let’s just put a photo of Richard Anderson [next to the definition]” (19:58).
• Bryson Martinez: A 280-lb tackle who played QB out of necessity—another example of unique recruit backgrounds; Lane Johnson and Titus Howard cited as similar transitions.

The Mater Dei Receivers: Chris Henry Jr. & Kaden Dixon-Wyatt (23:29–25:59)

• Both are long-term Ohio State commits, but Oregon is pushing hard.
• Brian Hartline’s Future: If the OSU WR coach moves on, it could influence their decisions.
  • “Hartline is the best at fine tuning wideouts … squeezes the most out of them.” – Ivins (24:20)
• “Ohio State has really just drafted at the wide receiver position … much of the same, or is there a chink in the armor?” – Ivins (24:44)
• Hosts ponder if late NIL deals and shifting coaching landscapes could cause surprises.

Other Top 247 Flip Watch Names (27:05–32:05)

• Carter Gooden (UCLA): Four-sport Canadian athlete, could flip to Vanderbilt or Tennessee.
• Jaden Petit (Wisconsin): Explosive WR; Oklahoma and Washington sniffing around.
• CJ Brona (Florida): Speedy CB, former Nebraska commit; Ohio State pushing, and Florida’s coaching situation is noted as precarious.
• Matt Sieg, Terry Wiggins (Penn State): Potential late action, particularly if coaching changes persist.
• Jordan Clay (Baylor): On watch due to broader coaching/portal volatility.

Program Building Philosophies: Oklahoma’s “Stars and Scrubs”? (32:05–36:15)

• Jim Nagy’s NFL-Inspired Approach: Oklahoma is focusing on a few top talents (Hatton, two top-100s), lots of three-stars with major upside.
  • “Are they trying to go ‘stars & scrubs’? … take shots on multi-year kids, pepper the board, see who pops.” – Bud Elliott (32:18)
  • “I think it’s more: what is working in the NFL? … the backbone of the roster is where you’re getting the value.” – Ivins (34:06)
• Winning helps attract talent—even undervalued ones—especially in the SEC.

Uncommitted Prospects & Coaching Carousel Chaos (36:42–39:11)

• “It’s just changing because … what if Lane Kiffin stays at Ole Miss? What if Florida and LSU pivot?” – Ivins (37:15)
  • Any major job change could trigger major decommitments.
• NIL contracts now sometimes “don’t allow them to visit elsewhere”—some include payback provisions if recruits do.
  • “Some of these schools have kind of unofficial NIL deals that really have their teeth in them.” – Elliott (39:01)

Signing Day Strategies & Market Trends (40:34–43:34)

• Traditional February signing day has lost steam, but more top kids may wait, adopting a “best available” mentality—especially at premium positions.
  • “If you decide not to sign early … your value is going to be the highest it’s ever been.” – Ivins (41:12)
• Potential legal rulings (5-for-5 injunction) could free up extra transfer eligibility for dozens of upperclass players, shaking up the transfer market.
• Juco recruiting is back: With portal attrition, stocked JUCOs are again valuable for depth and upside.

Memorable Quotes

• “If Jared Curtis ends up at Vanderbilt, go ahead and put him on the Mount Rushmore of Commodore quarterbacks.” – Andrew Ivins (12:45)
• “Brian Hartline is the best at fine tuning these wideouts … Right. He gets the guys that have the biggest upside, have the highest floor, but he squeezes the most out of them.” – Ivins (24:19)
• “Oklahoma … not like SEC standards, not a real impressive looking class. I think 2027 is the cycle for them.” – Ivins (33:44)
• “With the NIL, now you’ve got a lot of agents out there—why would you allow your client to sign a contract where there’s not some out if there’s a coaching change?” – Elliott (39:11)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 03:39 – Who’s really No. 1? USC, Oregon, Texas A&M scenarios
• 07:52 – Big Ten recruiting depth: Washington, Iowa, Indiana
• 09:33 – Jared Curtis to Vandy? Breaking down the rumors
• 13:10 – The QB class of 2026: Injuries, movement, and late flips
• 17:34 – Flip watch: LSU and its in-state trench stars
• 23:29 – Mater Dei WR duo drama: Chris Henry Jr., Dixon-Wyatt
• 27:05 – Five top-247 prospects who may flip late
• 32:05 – Oklahoma’s recruiting philosophy: NFL logic, high-bust/high-reward three-stars
• 36:42 – How the coaching carousel & NIL contracts impact flips
• 40:34 – Late-signer strategy, transfer market chaos, and juco resurgence

Closing Thoughts

Both hosts emphasize the unprecedented complexity and intrigue surrounding the upcoming Signing Day: "Teams are going get better—they are going to put themselves in position to, to be in that College Football Playoff conversation. At the same time, I think there's gonna be some schools and programs we're wondering if … what direction this whole thing's headed." – Ivins (44:56)

Don’t miss the Cover 3 National Signing Day live coverage on CBS HQ and YouTube, Wednesday 10am–2pm ET.