National powers are vying for 2025 QB Michael Tollefson

This summer was a busy one for San Juan Capistrano (Calif.) San Juan Hills quarterback Michael Tollefson. The 6-foot-1, 185 pound signal-caller attended camps at Georgia, Miami, Tennessee and Texas A&M.

“My summer trips were really beneficial to me,” Tollefson told On3. “I went to those four schools and I came home with all four of the offers, so I think it picked up my recruitment too and then just feeling the culture. Football’s so big out there.”

Tollefson, who currently holds 10 offers, already knows what he is looking for in a program. A strong culture and the opportunity to develop are two important factors that will go into his decision.

Even though the California native has a long time left in his recruitment, he likes where he is in the process. According to Tollefson, the best is yet to come.

“It’s a good position to be in as far as recruiting,” Tollefson said. “On the football side, I’m only a sophomore, so it’s still a lot of growing and just getting better at playing football. But from a college and recruiting standpoint, I feel like I’m in a good spot right now to keep growing.”

Tollefson is interested in multiple ACC and SEC contenders

Miami offered Tollefeson before he attended the Hurricanes’ camp over the summer. When he arrived in Coral Gables, he could quickly sense the program’s new culture under head coach Mario Cristobal.

“I just remember right when I showed up, just a lot of energy from the coaches on the visit,” Tollefson said. “Cristobal (was) talking to my dad, more like on a personal level. They said when they bring people in to visit, into their program, it’s like family. So I felt that family vibe.”

Another school that impressed Tollefson was Tennessee, who notched a huge win over Alabama on Oct. 15. The Volunteers got a visit from the quarterback on June 26, who was quickly impressed by Tennessee’s coaching staff.

Tollefson specifically pointed out offensive coordinator Alex Golesh and quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle. Through their first six games, the Volunteers have the highest total offense (551 yards per game) and second-highest scoring offense (47.7 points per game) in college football.

“Their offense is fast, good for the quarterback,” Tollefson said. “(Hendon) Hooker is putting up a lot of numbers right now. You see that program on the rise and through my three years I have left of high school, (I want to) see how they continue to grow.”

Nine days earlier, the California native was in College Station. His trip to Texas A&M made a long-lasting impression.

“The facilities, the stadium, (head coach) Jimbo (Fisher) has a great personality, at the field, at the camp, just coaching us around,” Tollefson said. “He was great to be around. They got the golf carts out there with the leather. Everything’s nice out there.”

Regarding Georgia, Tollefson has already thrown in front of the Bulldogs multiple times. In addition to attending a camp in Athens, Georgia’s coaches came to see him in California.

Tollefson’s trip to the Bulldogs gave him a first-hand look at the program’s mindset. He noticed that the program is striving for greatness day-in and day-out.

“I watched them practice and went in their meetings and just seeing how everyone there is an alpha-male,” Tollefson said. “Everyone there’s a guy and just seeing that the culture there, they expect to win. They expect to win every game, the national championship. It’s a great culture.”

Tollefson is impressed by USC’s direction under Lincoln Riley

Tollefson has yet to be offered by USC. However, it is hard for him to ignore the Trojans’ success under head coach Lincoln Riley.

Heading into the weekend of Oct. 22, USC is ranked No. 12 in the AP Poll. Tollefson shared that he is considering visits this fall to the Trojans and UCLA, who is also off to a successful season.

“I think it absolutely changes opinion(s) too because he’s changing the culture,” Tollefson said of Riley. “You see more and more fans starting to get into that stadium. That’s really been the thing about West Coast, Los Angeles football. USC and UCLA haven’t really been able to pack the stands, but you see him changing the culture and fans getting in there. Obviously, what he’s done with quarterbacks and Heisman winners, you see that program changing and shifting around a lot.”