2021 recruits

[Falcon Commander]

DB Willie Jones from Chicago, IL.

He had offers from Toledo, Ball State, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Kent State, and Miami. Big get.

Chicago Phillips
@PhillipsWildca1
2021 S
@WillieJ1616
Willie Jones has recommitted from Toledo and discusses his decision and next move here https://rvls.co/3gWNn48" target="_blank

I believe that’s DE-COMMITTED from that place...(best decision of his young life!)

[Schadenfreude]

We flipped a Toledo commit?

Nice.

[footballguy51]

We flipped a Toledo commit?

Nice.

https://youtu.be/pyiGHFGCf2U" target="_blank

[Flipper]

We did that in 1983 when I decided to return to BGSU after briefly going to UT....#beentheredonethat

[mbenecke]

Chase Whatton, a 3-star DE from Elizabeth, PA.

He had offers from: Air Force, Akron, Albany, Army, Ball State, Brown, Bryant, Buffalo, Colgate, Cornell, Dartmouth, Delaware, Duquesne, FIU, Fordham, Harvard, Holy Cross, James Madison, Lehigh, UMass, Navy, New Hampshire, Penn, Princeton, Richmond, Toledo, Western Michigan, William & Mary, Yale, and Youngstown State.

You'll notice a trend - lots of MAC, Ivy league, and Service Academy programs. Seems like a really good kid.

[BillyLP]

Chase Whatton, a 3-star DE from Elizabeth, PA.

He had offers from: Air Force, Akron, Albany, Army, Ball State, Brown, Bryant, Buffalo, Colgate, Cornell, Dartmouth, Delaware, Duquesne, FIU, Fordham, Harvard, Holy Cross, James Madison, Lehigh, UMass, Navy, New Hampshire, Penn, Princeton, Richmond, Toledo, Western Michigan, William & Mary, Yale, and Youngstown State.

You'll notice a trend - lots of MAC, Ivy league, and Service Academy programs. Seems like a really good kid.

I think this will be a name to remember. 6’5” 240lbs, great closing speed and a hard hitter. Great get.

[mbenecke]

BG just picked up a commitment from Julius SIms, a safety from Muskegon, MI with offers from Buffalo, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Toledo, and Cincinnati.

[mbenecke]

A 2021 Commitment Rundown, as we’re just under a month until the Early Signing Period:

Jacory Jordan; 3-star QB from Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, FL)

OFFERS - FIU, USF, Western Kentucky

Alex Padgett; 3-star OT from Avon Lake HS (Avon Lake, OH)

OFFERS - Akron, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Liberty, Toledo, Youngstown State

Dierre Kelly; 3-star DE from Merrillville HS (Merrillville, IN)

OFFERS - Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Miami, Northern Illinois, Toledo, Western Michigan

Tae’Shaun Johnson; 3-star WR from Toledo Central Catholic HS (Toledo, OH)

OFFERS - Akron, Army, Ball State, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Kent State, Miami, Toledo, Western Illinois, Western Michigan, Youngstown State

Jaylen Smith; 3-star WR from Mandarin HS (Jacksonville, FL)

OFFERS - FIU, Grambling State, South Alabama, UT-Martin

Zach Russell; 2-star TE from Johnson Central HS (Paintsville, KY)

OFFERS - Akron, Army, Austin Peay, Coastal Carolina, Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Michigan, Illinois State, Indiana State, Murray State, Ohio, Richmond, Southern Illinois, Western Michigan, Yale

Jaison Patterson; 3-star RB from Ed White HS (Jacksonville, FL)

OFFERS - Georgia State, Illinois, Liberty, Troy

Matt Kordas; 3-star S from Lincoln-Way East HS (Frankfort, IL)

OFFERS - Army, Eastern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Fordham, Holy Cross, Illinois State, Indiana State, Kent State, Montana State, North Dakota, North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Ohio, Southern Illinois, Western Illinois

Nate Pabst; 3-star OT from Archbishop Moeller HS (Cincinnati, OH)

OFFERS - Akron, Ball State, Kent State, Miami

Jamal Johnson; 2-star WR from Lincoln-Way East HS (Frankfort, IL)

OFFERS - Western Illinois

Willie Jones; 3-star S from Phillips Academy (Chicago, IL)

OFFERS - Toledo, Ball State, Central Michigan, Kent State, Miami, Western Michigan

Julius Sims; 3-star S from Muskegon HS (Muskegon, MI)

OFFERS - Buffalo, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Illinois State, Toledo, Western Michigan


The following 4 players are committed, but aren’t included in our 2021 class on 247 yet - when they sign, it will update to include them.

Diego Neri; 3-star LB from Northwest HS (Cincinnati, OH)

OFFERS - Central Michigan, Air Force, Akron, ball State, Eastern Michigan, Liberty, Miami, Navy, Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan

Chase Whatton; 3-star DE from Elizabeth Forward HS (Elizabeth, PA)

OFFERS - Air Force, Akron, Albany, Army, Ball State, Brown, Bryant, Buffalo, Colgate, Cornell, Dartmouth, Delaware, Duquesne, FIU, Fordham, Harvard, Holy Cross, James Madison, UMass, Lehigh, Navy, New Hampshire, Penn, Richmond, Toledo, Western Michigan, William & Mary, Yale, Youngstown State

Nick Mosley; 3-star Rb from Pickerington Central, HS (Pickerington, OH)

OFFERS - Akron, Ball State, Western Michigan

Dawson Hildebrand; no 247 data available, but I see him listed as a 6’4, 337 lb. OT out of Troy HS (Troy, OH)

[mbenecke]

Players with outstanding offers that I think we have a chance with:

Branden McDonald; 3-star RB from Archbishop Alter HS (Dayton, OH)

OFFERS: Ball State, Eastern Kentucky, Kent State, Liberty, Miami, Navy, Ohio, Penn, Toledo, Western Illinois

Josh Bryant; 2-star RB from Middletown HS (Middletown, OH)

OFFERS: Akron, Ball State, Kent State, Liberty, Marshall, Miami, Toledo, Youngstown State

George Gumbs; 3-star WR from Simeon HS (Chicago, IL)

OFFERS: Western Michigan

Elijah Hawk; 3-star DE from Pickerington North HS (Pickerington, OH)

OFFERS: Akron, Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Eastern Kentucky, Kent State, Liberty, Miami, Ohio, Western Michigan, Youngstown State

Connor Jones; 3-star LB from Hilliard Darby HS (Hilliard, OH)

OFFERS: Akron, Army, Ball State, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Miami, Navy, Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan, Yale, Youngstown State

Jayden Mayes; 3-star CB from Fairfield HS (Fairfield, OH)

OFFERS: Eastern Illinois, Kentucky, Marshall

[BillyLP]

Commitment from Perrysburg HS OL Cade Zimmerly. Listed as 6'4" 260 and was Ohio Northwest District Lineman of the Year. Previously committed to D-II University of Indianapolis and from what I can gather only had offers from other D-II and D-III programs, so he might be a PWO.

[mbenecke]

Commitment from Perrysburg HS OL Cade Zimmerly. Listed as 6'4" 260 and was Ohio Northwest District Lineman of the Year. Previously committed to D-II University of Indianapolis and from what I can gather only had offers from other D-II and D-III programs, so he might be a PWO.

I was thinking PWO, as well. Regardless, I like having the local kids around. Hope he develops and gets out on the field if he can help the team.

[Tswam]

Commitment from Perrysburg HS OL Cade Zimmerly. Listed as 6'4" 260 and was Ohio Northwest District Lineman of the Year. Previously committed to D-II University of Indianapolis and from what I can gather only had offers from other D-II and D-III programs, so he might be a PWO.

I was thinking PWO, as well. Regardless, I like having the local kids around. Hope he develops and gets out on the field if he can help the team.

Not a PWO. They offered a scholarship.

[BillyLP]

Commitment from Perrysburg HS OL Cade Zimmerly. Listed as 6'4" 260 and was Ohio Northwest District Lineman of the Year. Previously committed to D-II University of Indianapolis and from what I can gather only had offers from other D-II and D-III programs, so he might be a PWO.

I was thinking PWO, as well. Regardless, I like having the local kids around. Hope he develops and gets out on the field if he can help the team.

Not a PWO. They offered a scholarship.

Thanks for the clarification. Also, I misread and he's actually only 6'1" 260. Very short for a lineman, which is probably why he had so few offers, but he was named conference player of the year and named player of the year by The Blade, so he must be a hell of a talent for O-line. If he has good leverage and technique, could be a nice pickup even with his "small" size.

[fredthefalcon]

Another 2021 de-commit. This time it is the only QB thus far in the class. Jacory Jordan of Jacksonville FL . He originally committed in early April.

[mbenecke]

Another 2021 de-commit. This time it is the only QB thus far in the class. Jacory Jordan of Jacksonville FL . He originally committed in early April.

I understand the thought behind this one. McDonald has another 2 years of eligibility, and Keller/Melton both will technically have 5 after this year. Hard to break through in that crowded room, at the moment.

Still think we should definitely be looking to add a QB in this class, though. Jordan looked like a good one, and that's a tough loss to have.