With the college football recruiting dead period complete, spring practices underway and top prospects participating on the 7-on-7 circuit, March is a busy month on the recruiting trail. That was particularly evident over the last weekend as numerous blue-chip prospects took key steps forward in their decision-making processes by conducting unofficial visits, scheduling more trips for the months to come and narrowing down their lists of top schools.
Clemson continued to make strides with four-star safety Tae Harris and received a 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction to land the defensive back. Alabama, meanwhile, picked up another early commitment in its 2025 class — the first under new head coach Kalen DeBoer — when four-star wide receiver Derick Smith pledged to the Crimson Tide.
Many other high-profile programs enjoyed fruitful starts to March. 247Sports recruiting analysts Blair Angulo, Mike Roach and Allen Trieu detailed the developments at those schools on Monday’s episode of
Kalen DeBoer’s debut haul at Alabama got stronger with the addition of a new class headliner: four-star wideout Derick Smith from nearby Selma (Ala.) Southside.
Angulo: “One of the best players in America. A top-10 wide receiver in this 2025 class. We know our scouting team loves the multi-sport profile on Derick, who also plays baseball and basketball. He averaged over 32 yards per reception last season, 16 yards per carry. Absolutely crazy production, and he’ll bring that with him to Tuscaloosa.”
Tae Harris picked up an offer from Clemson back in January and just days later withdrew his commitment to Georgia. All things point toward the Tigers, but he has a full slate of visits set for the coming months.
Angulo: “We’re not sleeping on the talent at Clemson, but the pathway to early snaps is a bit more crowded at Georgia. Harris could be a day-one impact safety, and I think he sees that. He just debuted in the Top247 last week, and his stock continues to trend upward.
