Pok’s Football Week in Review: Recruiting Updates & Surprise NFL Teams

It is time for another edition of Pok’s Football Week in Review!

Similar to the last few weeks, we have another fun Player of the Week in Penn State’s Drew Allar. There was plenty of recruiting news for the FIU Panthers and USF Bulls; while I had some great interviews from the past week. Additionally, we will take a look at three NFL teams set to take a leap into contention in 2025. And as always, we have my “Grab Bag” of other football notes from throughout the week.

It was an action-packed week, and it should be another great column as a result. So without further ado, let us dive into it!

Player of the Day: Drew Allar, QB – Penn State

More so than any of the other quarterbacks we have covered, Penn State’s Drew Allar is a very interesting case.

In his second full season as the starter, the Nittany Lions’ quarterback obtained 3,327 yards passing and 24 touchdowns. He had 21 big-time throws and an ADOT of 9.1. Allar also had eight interceptions, 10 turnover-worthy plays, and took 21 sacks. As a runner. Allar had 419 yards rushing, six touchdowns, 21 missed tackles forced, and 252 yards after contact.

As an overall player, Allar does a lot of fun things. Across a four-game sample size from 2024 (Ohio State, Oregon, SMU, West Virginia), here is what stood out:

• He has all of the physical tools necessary to succeed at the position.
• He is a gifted runner who makes smart decisions. Understands how to avoid contact in the middle of the field. 
• Really good as a designed runner and scrambler. I was surprised by how natural he looked moving on these plays. 
• Allar has the ability to throw some perfectly placed throws, no matter what area of the field it is. He can also throw from different arm angles.
• He’s lethal on one-read plays and half-field reads.
• His escapability is off the charts. Allar makes some of the most impressive plays I have seen from a college quarterback in the pocket. 
• Allar is always trying to make something happen down the field. 
• He makes a consistent effort to get through his reads, especially full-field ones. 

However, Allar arguably has some of the lowest lows from any of the quarterbacks I have watched over the summer. Over the same four-game sample, here are the negatives I saw from the quarterback:

• His dropback technique sometimes has him off balance, forcing sporadic and inaccurate throws.
• He’s iffy on full-field reads. Allar’s eyes sometimes lock onto his target in these situations. 
• I want him to hang in the pocket a bit more when the pressure is not there, as Allar can be skittish in the pocket. However, he likely needs more separation from WRs and better playcalling for this to happen.
• He has questionable footwork and throwing mechanics. It causes inconsistency in throws and accuracy. 
• Allar can have poor decision-making and sometimes struggles to see the field. On multiple occasions, he wanted to see the throw open first, which caused hesitancy.  
• The ball sometimes dies on him, which is directly linked to his inconsistent footwork and throwing mechanics. 

Allar is, to put it lightly, a rollercoaster of a player to watch. The highs are as good as any other potential quarterback in the 2026 class. Allar showed plus escapability, hit throws to every area of the field, and had running ability that enabled him to create plus plays down the field. Soley based on his highs, you could easily consider Allar a great candidate to go first overall in the 2026 NFL draft.

However, the highs are only one aspect of Allar’s game. There are many plays where Allar moves out of clean pockets or oddly fades away from his throws. He tends to have inconsistent footwork and struggles to repeat his throwing motion. This causes balls to sail on him or be extremely off target. Additionally, he can struggle to feel pressure or make full-field reads on certain plays. However, this could be attributed to poor wide receiver play on the outside for the Nittany Lions.

In 2025, Allar needs to take some big-time strides. I want to see a step forward in his overall mechanics and footwork, especially in terms of consistency. I want to see another step from Allar in his field processing and how he handles pockets, especially under pressure.

If he can combine those strides with the same upper-tier playmaking we saw in 2024, Allar truly will have a rocketship trajectory this season. But with a very tough schedule ahead of him, Allar will truly have to work to see those results unfold in 2025.

College Football Recruiting Roundup

It is firmly recruiting season for college football; whether it is camps or official visits, teams are busy trying to add to their 2026 recruiting classes or even scoop up a player or two from the transfer portal. USF, Florida Atlantic, and FIU have all taken different approaches this week in the midst of the recruiting frenzy.

USF Bulls

Recruits and Transfers

The Bulls had a very active week when it comes to laying the foundation for their 2026 recruiting.

USF saw two key players decommit from their 2026 class in edge rusher/athlete Rinaldo Callaway III and running back Qwantavius Wiggins. Callaway III was a top-100 player in Georgia and a top-100 edge rusher nationally. Instead of headlining the Bulls’ class, Callaway III will join Rutgers, as he committed to them on Monday. It is a big loss for USF, but does not change that their 2026 class is very strong.

Wiggins, whom I recently covered as an underrated piece of the Bulls’ 2026 class, has not posted about his decommitment on social media, but is listed as a one on 24/7 Sports

(Note: Wiggins is not listed as a decommitment on On3’s website. This is something to monitor going forward.)

Outside of USF, the running back has a nice variety of schools to choose from. Wiggins holds offers from Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Memphis, UNLV, FIU, FAU, and more. With great power, shiftiness, and above-average speed, Wiggins will be a great addition to whatever program he chooses to call home.

Official Visits

On the other hand, USF locked in three new official visits for the month of June.

QB/ATH Dream Rashad and RB/LB Kaden Catchings are set to visit Tampa on June 20. Meanwhile, edge rusher Peter Ramil will arrive on June 6.

All three players would be great additions to USF’s 2026 class in different ways. Rashad has a massive frame and great athletic ability as a player. He is listed as a quarterback and athlete, but my recent interview with him revealed that USF offered him as a tight end. With his massive frame and potential, the Bulls could have a steal at the position if they land him.

Catchings, who holds an offer from Ole Miss and Memphis, had 1,116 all-purpose yards, 16 touchdowns, and 46 tackles in 2024.

Ramil, an imposing edge rusher who is a top-50 player in Alabama, has 12 listed offers on 24/7 Sports, including Georgia Tech and Mississippi State. Both players would be great additions for the Bulls, especially for the upper end of their class.

USF also has a plethora of other visits set for Friday. According to 24/7 Sports, the Bulls will have 14 players on campus for their official visit on the sixth of June.

In terms of uncommitted football players, I am keeping an eye on Ramil, cornerback Kentral Mcrae Jr., running back Jayson Franklin, wideout Damarcus Broughton Jr., and athlete Jeremiah Roux.

As for committed players, I am intrigued to see if USF can sway Alabama commitment Chris Booker and Georgia Tech commitment CJ Gamble (if they even go on the visit, of course). With two more big recruiting weekends ahead this June, I would expect USF to pick up some more commitments soon.

FIU Panthers

Recruits and Transfers

The Panthers had a combination of football commitments and visits over the past week. Defensive lineman L’Cier Luter committed from the transfer portal, while running back Jayden “Mook” Ford committed from the high school.

Luter played one season at Ball State, appearing in four games and recording just over 50 snaps. The defensive tackle had four defensive stops, four tackles, and graded out as a very positive run defender. Most impressively, he had his best game against the University of Miami (FL), as he recorded a 71.6 run defense grade. With his overall skill set on the interior, Luter is in a prime position to help the Panthers’ run defense.

Ford, a running back from Miami Central, is the 66th-ranked running back in the country according to 24/7’s composite rankings and the 1,085th-ranked player in the 2026 class. Before committing to FIU, Ford had offers from P4 schools like West Virginia, Maryland, and SMU. He also received offers from G5 programs, including FAU, Temple, UNLV, and others.

Ford is as dynamic as it gets on the football field. As a runner, he has the breakaway speed, shiftiness, and ball carrier moves to make any play a big play. As a receiver, Ford is a major issue in space; more often than not, the running back will make someone miss and rip off a big play for his offense.

Once Ford is officially signed, he will be a massive addition to their offense. Combined with the power of fellow running back Justin Compere, FIU could have a very fun RB duo of the future in its 2026 class.

Official Visits

FIU had four players on campus on May 30t and has two more set to visit on June 6. Two of the more notable names that visited were linebacker Michael McClenton and cornerback Masiyah Limehouse.

Limehouse is a recent USF commitment and also holds an offer from Sacramento State; if FIU manages to flip him, it would be a great addition to their secondary.

McLenton recently decommitted from UCF and holds offers from schools such as Tulane, UConn, and Wake Forest. Coming off of a monster season in which he is listed as having 219 tackles and 46 tackles for loss (self-reported stats), he would be an instant impact contributor for the Panthers in every sense of the word.

On June 6, the Panthers will be hosting offensive line commit Sean Kentish and uncommitted cornerback Za’marion West.

West is listed as having offers from 19 schools, with Boston College, FIU, and Jacksonville State listed as the favorites. With his measurable skills, West would be a great addition to the Panthers’ defense for their 2026 class.

Florida Atlantic Owls

Recruits and Transfers

FAU landed a JUCO football product on the defensive side of the ball and have some visits set for this upcoming weekend. The commitment on defense was Jackson Forté, who played for the College of the Canyons last season. The edge rusher racked up 31 tackles, three sacks, and a fumble recovery in 11 games played in 2024. Forté brings experience and upside to the edge rusher position for the Owls, providing them with a key piece for both the present and the future.

Official Visits

FAU is set to welcome ATH Justin Weatherall, quarterback Cole Bergeron, and defensive lineman Kaleb Morris.

Weatherall has played both offense and defense but is a standout cornerback; in his high school career, the athlete has five pass breakups and three interceptions.

Meanwhile, Morris recently committed to Mississippi State and is the 126th-ranked defensive lineman in the country. It is uncertain if he is still taking his visit to Boca, but it would be big for the Owls to have him on campus.

The most intriguing player to visit this weekend will be Bergeron. Ranked as the 28th-best quarterback in the country, the Louisiana native has offers from Colorado, Georgia Tech, Indiana, UCLA, and more. He has a strong arm and can consistently push the ball to any part of the field. Bergeron has also showcased great touch and accuracy on these throws.

I am fascinated to see if the Owls and head coach Zach Kittley can get Bergeron onto campus and sell him on playing in what should be an extremely fun offensive scheme. It may be a long shot, but if FAU can land the quarterback, he would instantly be slotted in to be the Owls’ quarterback of the future.

2025 NFL Season: Three Teams Set to Take a Leap

Just as we did last week, let’s take a look ahead to the 2025 NFL season!

Moving beyond individual players, we will take a look at three football teams poised to make a leap. Taking a leap can mean a few different things; some teams could leap into contention, while others will take the next step in their rebuild. Not every team is on the same timeline, and this section will illustrate that to the fullest extent.

Chicago Bears

If you read last week’s edition of the column, you would know that I am very high on Caleb Williams this season. In a much improved offensive situation, I think that the USC product is set to take a major leap in year two. And off that aspect alone, I expect the Bears to improve their record by at least two games. The improvement will not stop there, though.

Under Ben Johnson, I think the Chicago Bears will be more organized and focused. I feel that their defensive scheme under Dennis Allen will be more successful and utilize a talent-laden unit to the best of their ability. And, most of all, I feel that the Bears will finally get some bounces of the football to go the right way.

Similar to Dan Campbell’s first year with the Detroit Lions, I see Johnson’s Bears being a tough out in every single football game they play in 2025. They will not be an immediate title contender, but they will improve to have 7-9 wins this season and potentially challenge for a wild-card spot. With great progress in 2025, 2026 will be the first season in a long time that Chicago is in a position to be a contender.

Tennessee Titans

Not every team taking a leap in 2025 is becoming a contender in the process. In my opinion, the Tennessee Titans are one of those teams.

The Titans had a solid offseason in multiple ways in 2025. In free agency, they added key pieces on both sides of the ball, such as linebacker Dre’Mont Jones and offensive lineman Kevin Zeitler. They added a franchise quarterback in Cam Ward, multiple weapons in Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor, and trenches help in edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo and guard Jackson Slater.

I am also a fan of the Titans’ coaching staff, whether it is head coach Brian Callahan, offensive line coach Bill Callahan, or defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson. Many of the coaches have a track record of getting the most out of their players, and I expect that to continue in 2025.

Between the talent of the roster improving and the ability of the coaching staff, I see the Titans getting back on the right track in 2025. They will not be a playoff team, but Tennessee will be on track to compete in 2026 and beyond.

New England Patriots

I do not know how big the leap will be, but the New England Patriots are my last pick to take a leap in 2025.

Every area of the team has improved in one way or another. Quarterback Drake Maye is primed to take another step in year two, especially when he is surrounded by additions like running back TreVeyon Henderson and wideout Kyle Williams. The defense was bolstered with defensive lineman Milton Williams, cornerback Carlton Davis III, and safety Craig Woodson, among other players. And that is not even factoring in the hire of Mike Vrabel, who should instantly raise the floor of the entire roster in 2025.

An extremely tough AFC makes it difficult to fully gauge the type of leap the Patriots will take. I could see them being a very frisky 7-8 win team, and I could also see them reaching 9-10 wins if certain things break correctly. But regardless of where they fall, I definitely would circle the Patriots as a team taking a leap in 2025.

College Football Quotes of the Week

Unlike previous editions of this section, I will not be covering press conference quotes. Instead, I will be providing some of the best quotes from my interviews with college players and prospects from throughout the summer.

Arguably one of my favorite interviews in the past calendar year, FAU linebacker Tyler Stolsky gave an awesome quote describing how head coach Zach Kittley helped bring back his love of football. If you have not yet, make sure to check it out below!

Additionally, I had the opportunity to interview FIU commits Jakari Johnson and Justin Compere, as well as USF commit Demetrius Geathers Jr.

Johnson and Compere spoke very highly of FIU’s culture. Compere said that the coaching staff showed him “so much love,” while Johnson emphasized “love the people who love you.”

Meanwhile, Geathers spoke about being a part of USF’s 2026 class, saying that “the way the coaches brought the players together” and “how they watched film together” drew him to the school. He also discussed how to approach attacking offensive linemen as a pass rusher and shared his favorite move.

“I have two, because they go hand-in-hand. I would say a long-arm, and then a long-arm to a ghost move. When you see me, you expect a lot of speed. So when I hit you with power, I am hitting you off your feet because you are not expecting it. And then on the next play, I am hitting you with speed and ghost, and I am getting right around you. I love those two moves; they go hand-in-hand.”

Grab Bag: Other Football Notes from the Week

As always, here is my grab bag of other notes from throughout the week!

• In the midst of watching Drew Allar, a player by the name of Nicholas Singleton kept catching my eye. He is so dynamic, explosive, and can do everything on the football field. I am so excited to watch him thrive once again in 2025.
• Lions’ center Frank Ragnow retired from football at the age of 29. One of my favorite offensive linemen to watch in the NFL, Ragnow was a key piece of Detroit’s offensive success. I am fascinated to see how the Lions attempt to replace him.
• Saquon Barkley was named the cover athlete for Madden 26, and the first trailer for the game and College Football 26 dropped. I hope they are good games, as I need to firmly drop MLB The Show and a slipping Diamond Dynasty mode.
• USF Athletic Director Michael Kelly is reportedly set to take over as Navy’s Athletic Director. It’s a very big loss for the Bulls. I am very interested to see the type of hire they make at the AD position.

And that wraps up another edition of Pok’s Football Week in Review! I will see you next week for another jam-packed edition of football coverage. Until then, have a great day!