Northeast Spotlight: Four programs that surprised in recruiting

The 2024 football season is in full swing and programs across the country are working to close out the 2025 recruiting cycle on a high note. Here are four programs that punch above their weight or are surprising when it comes to recruiting from the Northeast.

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I don’t think anyone would be shocked if a program with Auburn’s resources does well in recruiting, but the Tigers are one of the hottest teams on the route for the 2025 cycle. Head coach in particular Hugh Vries and the company have ventured out of the region on a few occasions, bringing in some of the top talent in the Northeast.

Auburn has secured commitments from some of the most sought-after players in the Mid-Atlantic, including four-star cornerback and top-50 overall prospect Blake Woodby. The Tigers also have a 2025 commitment from four-star outside linebacker Bryce Deas, Woodby’s teammate at Saint Frances Academy.

In the 2026 cycle, Auburn has a third Saint Frances commit in high three-star defensive back Wayne Henry. Another 2025 Panthers prospect to keep an eye on is current Tennessee defensive tackle Darrion Smith, who the Tigers appear to want to flip.

Auburn currently has a total of 24 commits in the 2025 cycle, and could add more. The Tigers are ranked fourth nationally.

Maryland

It’s not necessarily surprising that prospects in the state of Maryland or the DMV area would want to commit to the Terrapins, but it’s impressive that Maryland has been able to keep the top talent at home.

Quarterback commit Malik Washington is a four-star recruit who received offers from across the country and was an Elite 11 finalist, but he chose to commit to the Terps because he believes in the head coach Mike Locksley and the trajectory of the program. Washington also believes his class can be the catalyst to take Maryland to the next level.

Additionally, Maryland has five other four-star commitments outside of Washington – all from the DMV area – in offensive tackle Jaylen Gilchrist, athlete Zymear Smith (who was previously committed to Alabama), linebacker Carlton Smith, defensive tackle Bryce Jenkins and athlete Messiah Delhomme.

Maryland is currently ranked 29th in the national team rankings, and if that number holds or improves, it will be the Terrapins’ highest-ranked recruiting class since at least the 2021 cycle (20th).

Rutgers

Perhaps no program across the country had a more surprising and monumental summer on the recruiting trail than Rutgers. Things certainly look very different Greg Schiano’‘s second stint in Piscataway compared to much of the Scarlet Knights’ history in the Big Ten, and the program appears to be on the rise both on and off the court.

The Scarlet Knights made a big splash in June by turning four-star linebacker DJ McClary from Penn State and keeping him in New Jersey. The program also features commitments from three other four-stars in the state: linebacker Kamar Archie, running back John Forster and offensive tackle Jaelyne Matthews.

Rutgers currently has a total of 29 commits in its 2025 class and is ranked 22nd in the nation. The Scarlet Knights have a shot at their first top-25 ranking since the 2012 cycle (24th).

Stanford

Going to the other coast to land good talent is no easy feat, and the fact that Stanford already has seven commits from the Northeast in the class of 2025 is certainly an eye-opener. Now that he’s a member of the ACC, that may become more common for the Cardinal (the team also signed six Northeast recruits in the 2024 cycle).

Biggest recruiting win in the Mid-Atlantic for head coach Troy Taylor and his staff includes four-star defensive tackle Kole Briehler – who has collected about 30 scholarship offers – from The Hun School of Princeton in New Jersey. High-three-star defensive end commit Adam Shovlin is another standout from the Northeast.

The Cardinal also has area commitments from three-star cornerback Omari Gaines, three-star athlete Liam Thorpe, three-star cornerback Lonnie McAllister, three-star offensive guard Joshua Williams and three-star outside linebacker Mickey Vaccarello.

Stanford currently has 20 commitments in the class of 2025 and is ranked 38th in the country, but the Cardinal have certainly made waves in the Northeast.