Pok’s Football Week in Review: 2026 Recruiting in Full Swing

The summer is in full swing, and the football season is right around the corner! However, we have not stopped here at The League Winners, and that continues with another edition of my weekly column!

The “Player of the Week” series continues, as we shift our focus onto prominent LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. Recruiting for the 2026 class is well underway, as Florida Atlantic, the USF Bulls, and the FIU Panthers have been extremely active in the summer months. We have some fun quotes from my most recent interview with FAU OL Braden Cunningham, and we have a loaded “Grab Bag” of notes from throughout the week.

It is a jam-packed week, and I cannot wait to dive into everything. So, without further ado, it is time for another edition of Pok’s Football Week in Review!

Player of the Week: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU

The quarterback evaluations continue! After covering Penn State’s Drew Allar last week, the latest entry of the “Player of the Week” series shifts down south to feature LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier.

In his first year of starting for the Tigers, the quarterback posted 3,740 yards and 26 touchdowns on a 63.5 completion percentage. Nussmeier had 21 big-time throws, an ADOT of 9.5, and only took 15 sacks. He also added three rushing touchdowns. However, the quarterback had 17 turnover-worthy plays, 11 interceptions, and lost five fumbles.

With a professional pedigree and aggressive mentality, I truly enjoyed watching Nussmeier on film. Over the course of four games from his 2024 college football season (South Carolina, Texas A&M, Alabama, Ole Miss), here are the positives from the LSU quarterback:

• Nussmeier is a fearless thrower of the football, especially in the face of pressure. He will let it rip into any window on the field without hesitation. 
• Nussmeier has very good accuracy, velocity, and placement over the middle of the field. He also makes plenty of big-time throws deep down the field, too. 
• He has high-level pocket movement. The QB always seems to buy himself enough time to make a play. 
• He displays high-level skill on the mental side of the position. Nussmeier uses his eyes and knows how to look off defenders after only one year of starting at LSU. 
• He has underrated escapability. His eyes are always downfield and can run when needed. 
• Nussmeier has a quick trigger and clean mechanics. 
• He has some pretty touch on his throws down the field. It shows up heavily down the seam and in the middle of the field.
• He has the ability to fit the ball in some tight windows and can maneuver around pressure and change his arm angle to do so.

Nussmeier had plenty of great traits and moments on film. However, he also displayed some negative sides to his game. In those same four games, here is the bad:

• Nussmeier displays some below-average and reckless decision-making when under pressure. It is sporadic, but it costs his team big-time when it occurs. 
• He can have some wild throws in between his great ones. At this point in time, recklessness and inconsistency are a part of his game. 
• He has the ball die on him when off balance and under pressure. 
• He needs to protect the ball better at times, especially when under pressure.
• Nussmeier tends to spin in the pocket. Sometimes it is smart, other times it is not. Nussmeier must work on spinning only when necessary. 

Despite being a bit of an older player at the position, his aggressive mentality in pushing the ball down the field and trying to make big plays is something to enjoy. Nussmeier consistently attacks the middle of the field and has the ability to “change speeds” with his throws; as he heads toward the NFL level, the LSU quarterback will already understand how to use different throws on different plays. Add in clean mechanics and a foundation of how to read defenses, and you have a player on the right trajectory at the position.

However, Nussmeier needs to rein in some of his decision-making and recklessness when under pressure. He must learn to live to fight another day on some plays, which is very similar to a few other quarterbacks in this class. Additionally, Nussmeier must continue to improve on his accuracy and pocket movement, specifically regarding his tendency to spin away from pressure.

I think Nussmeier is in store for a big year in 2025, as LSU has a much-improved group of weapons and overall offense around him. And if he can refine some of the negative aspects of his game, the he could very easily hear his name called in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft.

College Football Recruiting Roundup

With the transfer portal firmly in the rearview mirror, the 2026 recruiting cycle is once again full-speed ahead. And when it comes to FIU, FAU, and USF, there has been no shortage of developments.

FIU Panthers

FIU had a large chunk of their 2026 class on campus for their official visits this past weekend. Wideout Malik Penson, offensive lineman Sean Kentish, defensive back Jakari Johnson, and running back Justin Compere all posted about officially being in Miami at the university. Additionally, Penson posted a video of his highlights from a 7-on-7 event taking place on FIU’s fields during the weekend.

 

Outside of players already committed to the school, FIU had some other prospects on campus for the weekend. Offensive lineman Richard Thigpen, running back Qwantavius Wiggins, safety Eric Johnson, linebacker Demitris Mincey Jr., defensive lineman Micah Fils-Aime, and defensive back Za’Marion West were all on campus.

Wiggins has a plethora of offers from various programs, including P4’s such as Pittsburgh and Minnesota. Combined with Compere, the duo would add some serious juice to FIU’s long-term running back room.

Thigpen and West both have FIU listed as “warm” for their interest on 24/7 Sports, and they would both be huge additions to the Panthers. Thigpen, who hails from Nashville, is a massive offensive tackle who has garnered offers from programs like Georgia Tech, West Virginia, Tulane, and Mississippi State. West has received interest from Michigan State and currently has offers from Utah, Boston College, Georgia Tech, USF, and more.

Outside of this past weekend’s visits, the Panthers have had several other notable developments.

Class of 2026 offensive lineman Jelani Wilmer listed FIU in his top five schools alongside FAMU, South Alabama, Bethune-Cookman, and Troy. The following players also locked in official visits with the Panthers: ATH Kiyante Ingram, TE Mason Riddle, LB Mario Alloway, QB DJ Alexander, and TE Davis Brown. Alexander Jr., Riddle, and Ingram will be on campus from June 13- 15, while Alloway and Brown will be at FIU from June 20-22.

Alexander is the only player visiting who is currently committed to the school, as the quarterback made his decision back at the end of March. All four of the other players have yet to commit to a football program.

Riddle holds notable offers from Army and Air Force, while Brown has garnered looks from Maryland, USF, and JMU. Alloway holds offers from Jacksonville State and Alabama State, while Ingram has both Ivy League schools, such as UPenn and Princeton, and FBS schools, such as Charlotte and Sacramento State, pursuing him.

Wilmer had offers from Louisville and Mississippi State before narrowing down his top five, so his addition to FIU’s 2026 class would be massive for their trenches. Brown and/or Riddle would add size and speed to the tight end room, while Ingram and Alloway could both contribute to the defense in the long term for the Panthers.

Florida Atlantic

The Owls landed two impressive 2026 commitments off of their official visits.

The Owls landed DB/ATH Justin Weatherall and WR Nicsaint Joseph Jr. over the weekend, bringing their 2026 class to three players.

Weatherall, who hails from Pensacola, Florida, was a player I highlighted in last week’s edition of the column. The athlete has played both offense and defense, but is a standout cornerback. In his high school career, Weatherall has five pass breakups and three interceptions. He brings big-time potential to the Owls’ secondary going forward and will be a nice piece for them.

Meanwhile, Joseph Jr. is a Miami native who opted to stay home over some big-time schools. The wideout had offers from an impressive list of teams that included Syracuse, SMU, Indiana, UCF, Wisconsin, and more. Joseph is twitchy, smooth, and an overall upper-level athlete. He is a perfect fit as an outside wideout in Zach Kittley’s offensive scheme and, if he gets to campus, will be another great addition to an impressive wideout room.

In addition to the commitments, the FAU football program seemingly made a good impression on some other well-regarded 2026 recruits.

QB Cole Bergeron posted that Kittley is “doing big things in Boca!” and that “the staff he’s put together” was great. Meanwhile, wideout Xavier Stinson said, shared in a post from Christian Proscia on social media, that his favorite part of FAU was “the atmosphere of the workouts and players being together.” Defensive lineman Jvon Hatcher and defensive back Elijah Pendleton also shared positive thoughts on the school in their own social media posts.

As with Weatherall, I spoke about what Bergeron would mean for the Owls in the previous edition of my column. He has a great arm and can consistently push the ball to any part of the field. Bergeron has also showcased great touch and accuracy on all of his throws. It is easy to see him fitting into Kittley’s offense and elevate it to another level. If the Owls land him, it would truly be a boon for their offense.

Meanwhile, Stinson would bring a very high level of play to the wideout position. The Vero Beach product has everything you want in a receiver. He can separate with speed, lose defenders in the open field, has great spatial awareness, displays nice route running, and can make catches in traffic. It is no surprise that Michigan State and NC State are pursuing him heavily, as Stinson would make any college offense better.

Hatcher and Pendleton would both bring infusions of talent on the defensive side of the ball. Pendleton, who also thrived on offense in high school with explosive speed, racked up seven pass deflections and two interceptions in 2024. He has offers from Oregon, California, Arizona, Ole Miss, Syracuse, and more. Hatcher, who had six sacks in 2024, has offers from 15 schools, including Memphis and Wake Forest.

USF Bulls

The Bulls had a very eventful week of recruiting and have plenty more to look forward to this week.

USF saw cornerback commit Amarion Queen decommit from the school, marking the third loss to the program’s 2026 class. Racking up five pass breakups and three interceptions in 2024, Queen has the ball and coverage skills to be a difference maker at the next level. The cornerback still has offers from Purdue (whom he officially visited this past week), Florida, FAU, Pittsburgh, and UCF.

However, USF landed two commitments from their official visits on the offensive side of the football. The Bulls saw tight ends Damarcus Broughton Jr and Jalen Williams decide to come to Tampa after going on their official visits this past weekend.

Broughton is a wide receiver who is transitioning to tight end. And, according to Rivals, he just started playing the sport. However, he possesses the size and speed potential needed to succeed at the next level of football. With 14 offers from a variety of different schools, it is evident that USF is potentially landing a steal at the position in the 2026 class.

The same could be said for Williams, who also has a massive frame and the athletic ability to thrive at the next level. Between these two players, USF continues to add top-tier athletes for a very fun vertical offense.

Additionally, USF had some other recruiting developments and is set to welcome more players to Tampa this weekend.

2026 WR/CB Jordan Francis narrowed his schools to a top nine that included USF. Outside of the Bulls, the Georgia native listed LSU, Louisville, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Mississippi State, Southern Miss, and Charlotte as the other schools remaining.

Peter Ramil, a player I mentioned as a potentially great get for the Bulls ahead of his visit last week, shared positive feedback from his visit on social media. “Had an amazing [official visit at USF]! Great hospitality, can’t wait to keep building my relationship with the coaching staff! Thank you to the amazing recruiting staff for a great time!”

Ahead of his impending decision, it is very good for USF to have had a great visit with the edge rusher. 

In terms of visits, the Bulls are set to have plenty of them again this weekend. One standout to watch is cornerback Dariyon Gordon, a product of Ocoee, Florida. Gordon recently posted that he is locked in for a visit on June 15. The cornerback has offers from plenty of P4 programs, including Georgia, Michigan State, and Florida State, and is coming off of a season in which he had two pass breakups and an interception. If the Bulls can land Gordon, it would be a huge get for their 2026 class.

Additionally, I am keeping an eye on these four uncommitted players: Edge rusher Xander Prosper, offensive tackle Karon Spencer, cornerback Jase Rhodes, and wide receiver DeShawn Spencer.

Quotes of the Week

FAU OL Braden Cunningham on the transition to Zach Kittley’s offense: “The transition has been great. Coach Kittley and his staff have done a great job coming in and putting an emphasis on making it feel like a family. I think my favorite part about this spring has been the growth in my play, the bonds I created, and how much fun we had.”

Cunningham on his favorite part about the scheme: I love it. I think my favorite part of it is that it just wears defenses out. We run some up-tempo plays, get on the ball quickly, and run plays quickly. It really wears defenses out, so it feels good to get up there quickly, be efficient, and just go.”

Grab Bag: Other Football Notes from the Week

If other weeks have not lived up to this name, then this week most definitely will. It is time for the “Grab Bag,” also known as my other football notes from the week!

•  Quick LSU offense note: Caden Durham is a baller. Between his contact balance, vision, and athleticism, the running back is a player I am excited to watch develop in his second full season of college football.
• The House settlement officially was, well, settled this week. Players will now be paid by schools starting July 1, and roster limits will soon go into effect after that date. The ripple effects will soon arrive.

• Private equity is already making headway into college sports. Considering that it ruins everything else it touches (especially media and journalism), this is bad news. I hope this does not become a trend, especially in college football.

• FAU and USF seem ready to attack the challenges of the new age of college athletics.
  • USF provided a statement on social media where they said that “We’ve already taken meaningful steps to support our student-athletes and build a model that reflects where the industry is headed.”
  • FAU also provided a statement and launched the “Competitive Excellence Fund”, which is designed to “allow Florida Atlantic to provide a premier student-athlete experience where the Owls can compete at the highest level and win championships. Additionally, it lets FAU Athletics be strategic in directing the funds to address the department’s priorities of greatest need.” To add to this, FAU announced that they had an all-time high in fundraising for 2025, reaching $26.1 million.

• Not to be outdone by their in-state counterparts, FIU revealed that they are one of the fastest-growing brands in college football. The Panthers have over 66,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter), have the second-best Instagram follower growth in the nation, have maintained at least a 25 percent growth rate over the past three years, and have the highest growth rate in the state of Florida from 2024 to 2025. In short, FIU is becoming a bigger brand off the field and is set to be in a great position to have on-field success in 2025.

• Ahead of the 2025 season, Lindy’s Sports has named multiple USF players to the Preseason All-AAC Team
  • First Team: RB Cartevious Norton, LB Mac Harris
  • Second Team: DL Josh Celiscar, LB Jhalyn Shuler, OL Zane Herring, WR Keshaun Singleton, K Nico Gramatica.

• WWE revealed its latest NIL Class, and it has some fun members on the football side of things. UCF linebacker TJ Bullard, son of Titus O’Neal, is a prominent member. As is Brock Rechsteiner, son of WWE’s Scott Steiner. Additionally, Oklahoma’s Jacob Henry, son of the legendary Mark Henry, is a part of the class.

And that, folks, is a wrap for the week. Thank you for reading along, and I will catch up with you next time! Enjoy your week, stay safe, and have a great day!