Five most impactful July football commitments

In what was a wild month of July, there were a number of commitments that had the most impact.

Choosing the most impactful could be seen as the toughest task in a month that had more than 250 commitments. That is not the case in the 2022 cycle.

Most impactful commitments fall into a number of categories. Such as making national headlines, a major geographical upset or a flip.

Jordan Hudson, WR, Garland High (TX)

When Hudson committed to SMU July 4, it received national attention. The one-time Oklahoma verbal and Texas target turned down two of the top offensive coaches in college football. The massive DFW impactful win was another feather in the cap for SMU assistant coach Ra’Shaad Samples. Samples, the son of Duncanville head coach Reginald Samples, has been making waves on the recruiting trail. Hudson’s verbal was followed by four-star safeties Chace Biddle and Pierre Goree in July. Samples also had a hand in the recruitment of four-star DL Michael Ibukun-Okeyode.

Kelvin Banks, OT, Summer Creek (TX)

Banks’ commitment to Oregon July 4 certainly set off fireworks of sorts in the Lone star State. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound pass pro machine turned down both Texas A&M and Texas in heading west. With Banks at the top of the tackle board for both programs, this was a big loss for the Aggies and Longhorns. And it was a huge win for Mario Cristobal and staff, as the Ducks are targeting Texas in the 2022 cycle. Banks’ verbal capped off a terrific three days in the Lone Star State. Oregon beat out USC and Notre Dame for four-star wide receiver Nicholas Anderson (Katy High) July 1. And did the same July 1 beating out Texas and Miami for four-star OT Cam Williams (Duncanville High).

Darren Agu, EDGE, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (GA)

Safe to say this was an impactful flip for Vanderbilt. Nothing grabs momentum for a first year staff like flipping a commitment from Notre Dame to Vanderbilt. In flipping Agu, Vanderbilt beat out a blue blood and several SEC and ACC foes to make headlines. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound edge prospects flip came on the heels of a number of July defensive verbals by Clark Lea and staff. The flip of Agu was yet another early feather in the cap for Commodores assistant Jovan Haye.

Sebastian Cheeks, LB, Evanston Township (IL)

Any questions remaining if Mack Brown has the Tar Heels back in the national picture in recruiting can be put to bed. In winning out for four-star Cheeks July 28, Brown delivered a nationally recruited prospect outside the Atlantic Coast region. Not only did Brown beat out Michigan and Oregon, but also Texas. Make no mistake, beating out the Longhorns for Cheeks was personally impactful for Brown.

Jeremy Patton, LB, Tenaha (TX)

The 6-foot-1, 220-pound athletic linebacker privately committed to multiple schools in recent weeks. But it was Baylor that finally won out July 31. Beating out Texas and Michigan is particularly impactful for Dave Aranda and staff as the Bears. With a future in limbo due to Texas and Oklahoma heading to the SEC, the Baylor staff has a more difficult sell. That makes this win incredibly enjoyable for the Baylor staff, and fan base.

Also considered

Anto Saka, EDGE, Loyola Blakefield (MD) – Northwestern commitment

Keahnist Thompson, EDGE, Lakeland High (FL) – UCF commitment

Nicholas Anderson, WR, Katy High (TX) – Oregon commitment