Just saw the ESPN under-the-radar list drop for each top 25 team and you already know I clicked the USC link before my finger even left the mouse. This dead period has been brutal for content so I'll take any crumb they throw us. But here is what gets me fired up about this specific list and why it matters more than people realize for our OV weekend coming up.
ESPN flagged a player from our roster that most casual fans probably haven't locked in on yet and that is exactly the kind of buzz we need to be generating right now. When recruits come in for their OVs this summer they want to see a program that is developing talent not just collecting stars. Having a guy on this list who is flying under the radar nationally but fixin' to break out tells those visitors that our coaching staff knows how to identify and elevate players. That is the kind of message that wins recruiting battles against Oregon and their five 5-stars.
I have been watching the crystal ball projections for this weekend and the buzz around campus is real. Sources close to the program say we have multiple high priority targets coming in and the energy around these official visits is going to set the tone for the rest of the year. The 247 composite is going to look very different after this weekend if we can lock in a couple of these guys who have been soft commits to other programs.
What I love about this ESPN list is it validates what we already knew about our roster construction. We have young talent that is developing behind the scenes while everyone is focused on the flashy portal additions elsewhere. The dead period means nobody can visit and nobody can flip but the momentum we build this weekend with these underrated players getting national recognition is going to carry straight into the sumer surge.
Ohio State and Michigan are loading up. Oregon is throwing NIL around like candy. But give me a program that develops its under-the-radar guys into draft picks every single time. That is how you build sustained success. That is what these OVs need to showcase.