Who is the sleeper recruit of this cycle?
VanHaaren: Safety Xavier Nwankpa, ranked No. 154, wasn't talked about enough. He committed to in-state Iowa, so there might be some regional bias there in the amount of coverage he received, but I think he's going to have an excellent career with the Hawkeyes, whose stifling defense came up with 25 interceptions and 50 pass breakups this past season. Nwankpa has the talent to add to an already successful secondary. It wouldn't be surprising if he ends up as an all-conference and All-American for Iowa.Haubert: South Carolina finished outside the top 75 a year ago but put together a top-20 class. Among their signees are some three-stars to keep an eye on, including WR Landon Samson. Former five-star QB Quinn Ewers' top target back in 2020 at Southlake Carroll High School, Samson had over 70 catches for 1,200 yards. He's a polished route runner with a good blend of speed and quickness, and his high school coach told us he is a smart football player who thinks like a quarterback. Samson could be a quick contributor and overall highly productive player in Columbia that ultimately outperforms his three-star ranking.
Luginbill: Indiana QB Brendan Sorsby. He was wildly missed throughout the recruiting process, and it is tough to figure out why. Give credit to Tom Allen and new offensive coordinator Walt Bell for doing their homework on Sorsby, who is a terrific prospect and talented passer who was extremely productive at a high level in Texas during his career.
