Last Minute Gifts: Uncommitted Seniors

We are somehow on the verge on New Year's Eve and 2026. Feels like we were just wrapping up the summer camp cycle a few weeks ago, but here we are. Another season in the books, a senior class full of athletes ready to sign to their verbal commitments, but also a deep group of athletes who are still on the open market. Seniors who were late bloomers or coming off of injury or simply flying under the radar. Whatever the case may be there are so many athletes for coaches to add to their recruiting classes as last minute gifts to really put the cherry on top of their 2026s classes. This is a great group too. So much talent and tape to verify it. So let's hit play on that tape and note down what we see. Coaches, come get those last minute gifts!    Tyler is a dominant LB recruit with FBS level traits. The senior ILB plays so fast and violent. He truly checks every box of an LB. Instinctually, Tyler plays like he was in the offensive huddle pre snap. He knows where the ball is going and as soon as he reads he reacts. Tyler plays the run like he is shot out of a cannon. You will see him fly through gaps and flex his power to run through OL on his way to the ball. His range is elite, easily meeting RBs out on the edge. That athleticism allows him to also blitz from depth or drop into coverage. The senior is one of the best at his position. It is great to see he has an offer from Michigan State, but equally shocking he has no other offers reported. Get on this kid.     Neeko is a monster in the middle of the defensive line. He has legitimate D1 talent and projects best in pass rushing situations. The 270 lbs athlete is so explosive and can turn that explosive athleticism into power. Power that allows him to be disrupt the pocket or burst into the backfield and get after the QB. Neeko's nimble feet and balance allow him to maximize his ability to change pad level on his path to the QB. I can't stress enough how impressive the senior DT is coming off the line. He is so quick through the line and has elite range to chase down the ball in the backfield. This kid has so much potential as a rotational guy to give a defensive front extra explosive athleticism.     Luke is a fun athlete to watch. He has built a powerful frame that could have him project as a S/LB hybrid at the next level. The senior safety already makes big time plays as a run supporter, showing he can close the gap from depth quickly and devastate ball carriers with his physical tackling. Having Luke's athleticism in that hybrid role gives the defense a guy who can also be utilized in coverage. Especially in the short passing game where he can get physical with a TE at the line. This Swiss Army knife of a defender is well worth a deep dive.     Tommy had been committed to Illinois State, but the senior RB is back on the market. That is a gift for OCs at the next level. Tommy is a versatile athlete. He has years of evidence that he doesn't fear the physical side of the position despite playing at 170 lbs. He has handled a huge workload over the years and delivered strong performances on a weekly basis. A major factor towards that is Tommy is excellent at never taking big or direct hits. He is so elusive that defenders never get clean shots on him. His agility allows him to face a lot of arm tackles that he can break with his surprising lower body strength. Tommy can attack a defense inside and outside. His long speed can get him the edge and beat angles downfield. He is so dangerous with the ball in his hands. We just need to see an OC find ways to get it to him in space.     This is the type of kid you love to have on your roster. Extremely talented, yet completely selfless. I have watched Brock play at every level of the defense over the years while Bay Port was making multiple trips to State. Whatever was needed Brock could deliver. At the next level his home is at LB, a position he can shine at. The 210 lbs athlete has athleticism that allowed him to play safety, strength that allowed him to dominate on the edge vs the run as an OLB and DL. As an off-ball LB Brock can lean on that athleticism and his high level football instincts to roam the second level and trenches, meeting the ball at the line of scrimmage or getting pressure on the QB. This kid is a must watch. Very talented and a future pillar of the culture you are building.     This is a kid that you get excited about. Nick spent every year of his career getting consistently bigger, better, and more productive. It culminated in a season that had him as one of the state's leaders in sacks with 15.5. Nick checks in at 6'3" 240 lbs. That frame is loaded up with an explosive burst off the line, powerful hands, and deep bag of pass rush moves. Nick is great at getting after the QB. He seems to always have a plan and the motor to counter off initial moves and chase down the QB. Nick's flexibility and ability to bend around the edge make him such a tough target to block because he gives the OT such a small target to hit. I'm a huge fan of this steal and can't sing his praises enough.     Tanner is a bully along the interior of the OL. The 6'3" 270 lbs senior overwhelms his opponents as soon as he gets hands on. He is particularly dominant in the run game where he can clamp those powerful hands onto his man and run his feet. That lower body bulldozes IDL off the line of scrimmage. The big man has that tenacious mentality where he is going to drive his man until he can bury them in the dirt or the whistle blows. Either way he is going to be violent and open up holes. Tanner is going to be a great addition for a team. He is a legitimate target for the D2 and D3 levels.     Jackson is a powerful receiving weapon still on the open market. The big man has a big frame at 6'4" 195 lbs and could honestly continue to grow himself into more of a move TE who can line up all over the field and provide mismatches. The big target shines in every scenario where he can utilize his size and strong hands to box out or moss smaller DBs downfield or in the redzone. Jackson is too strong for the majority of DBs at the high school level, but he also is fluid enough to succeed with his route running. This would be a fun weapon for an OC to work into a game plan over the coming years.     The Mississippi Valley Conference Lineman of the Year is a very talented recruit who could play either side of the trenches. Not many athletes have his versatility. Jagger is a big, powerful recruit at 6'2" 260 lbs. The senior has an outstanding ability to play with power and agility. He is so nimble of his feet, while still being ready to unload his full power into an OL or DL at any given moment. That powerful lower body abuses DL when he run blocks. He has devastating hands that deliver powerful initial punches. This would be a great last minute gift for a team's 2026 recruiting class.

We are somehow on the verge on New Year's Eve and 2026. Feels like we were just wrapping up the summer camp cycle a few weeks ago, but here we are. Another season in the books, a senior class full of athletes ready to sign to their verbal commitments, but also a deep group of athletes who are still on the open market. Seniors who were late bloomers or coming off of injury or simply flying under the radar. Whatever the case may be there are so many athletes for coaches to add to their recruiting classes as last minute gifts to really put the cherry on top of their 2026s classes. This is a great group too. So much talent and tape to verify it. So let's hit play on that tape and note down what we see. Coaches, come get those last minute gifts!