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RecruitingGroup of Six

THE BOARD: South Florida Football

Brian Hartline's first full recruiting class has 18 commits — ranked No. 65 nationally and No. 3 in the AAC. The six highest-graded commits are all skill and coverage players.

Tim Stephens

Tim Stephens

The number

18 — Eighteen commits, ranked No. 65 nationally and No. 3 in the AAC. The class averages 3.25 stars with a 66.2 average Profile grade and a 0.733 average PRO score. Brian Hartline left Ohio State — where he served as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach during a 37-4 run that included the 2024 national championship — to take over in Tampa in December 2025, replacing Alex Golesh after Golesh left for Auburn. USF finished 10-3 in 2025 with a Hawaii Bowl victory and a win over No. 13 Florida in Gainesville. Hartline inherited a program with momentum. His first full recruiting class is built on the Florida pipeline — nine of 18 commits are from the state, five from Central Florida.

The fit

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The top of this class is speed and coverage. The six highest-graded commits play wide receiver, cornerback, quarterback, nickel and safety. No linemen. No linebackers. Hartline made his name developing receivers at Ohio State — Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr. all came through his room. His first class in Tampa reflects that pedigree.

Sheldon Isaac (6-2, 170, McComb, Miss.) leads with an 82.35 Profile grade, 22 offers and a 0.839 PRO score. Larry Morgan (5-10, 175, West Boca, Boca Raton, Fla.) grades at 82.12 with 27 offers and the class's highest PRO score at 0.911. Kevin Verpaele (6-2, 190, Merritt Island, Fla.) is the top quarterback at 78.63. Brian Dillard (5-11, 160, The First Academy, Orlando, Fla.) is a nickel with 25 offers and a 77.45 grade. Austin Busso (5-11, 175, Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J.) is the second wide receiver at 77.36 with 23 offers.

Terrell Pinkney II (6-3, 190, Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, Fla.) is a safety at 75.59 with 12 offers. Between Morgan, Dillard, Pinkney and Jaiziah Battle (5-11, 170, The First Academy, Fla.), Hartline has four defensive backs in an 18-man class. Dillard and Battle both come from The First Academy in Orlando — two players from the same high school signals a pipeline.

The offensive line has three interior linemen. Bray'don Davis (6-3, 290, Central, Tuscaloosa, Ala.) has 28 offers — the most in the class — with a 0.804 PRO score. That offer count from a prospect who chose a Group of 6 program is the board's most notable number. Lawson Bentley (6-4, 305, Calvary Day School, Savannah, Ga.) grades at 62.56 with 16 offers. Allens Alexandre (6-4, 280, Key West, Fla.) rounds out the group. Drew Follett (6-3, 235, Bishop Moore Catholic, Orlando, Fla.) is a tight end at 69.12 with 25 offers and a 0.844 PRO score. Jaxon Rawls (6-6, 265, Monticello, Ark.) is the second tight end with 20 offers — at 6-6, 265, he has the frame to block.

Two quarterbacks in an 18-man class. Verpaele is the higher-graded prospect at 78.63 with 17 offers. Brody Brenneman (6-1, 200, Lakeland Christian, Fla.) comes in at 62.97 with 21 offers. Abram Hilton (6-0, 200, Screven County, Ga.) is the lone running back at 66.74 with 15 offers.

The defensive front has three commits. Kindrid Outland (6-3, 290, Mandarin, Jacksonville, Fla.) is a defensive tackle at 70.78 with 14 offers. Christian Stowe (6-4, 230, Crest, Boiling Springs, N.C.) is a defensive end with 18 offers. Kelsey Rose Jr. (6-3, 250, Jackson Christian, Jackson, Tenn.) is the edge rusher. Khori Faulkner (5-11, 220, Baylor School, Tenn.) is the lone linebacker.

Half the class from Florida. The other half from seven states. Hartline is building from the state out.

The commits

Sheldon Isaac — WR, 6-2, 170, McComb HS, McComb, Miss. Profile grade: 82.35. Offers: 22. Highest-graded commit in the class.

Larry Morgan — CB, 5-10, 175, West Boca HS, Boca Raton, Fla. Profile grade: 82.12. Offers: 27. Highest PRO score (0.911) in the class.

Kevin Verpaele — QB, 6-2, 190, Merritt Island HS, Merritt Island, Fla. Profile grade: 78.63. Offers: 17.

Brian Dillard — SKL, 5-11, 160, The First Academy, Orlando, Fla. Profile grade: 77.45. Offers: 25.

Austin Busso — WR, 5-11, 175, Bergen Catholic HS, Oradell, N.J. Profile grade: 77.36. Offers: 23.

Terrell Pinkney II — SAF, 6-3, 190, Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, Fla. Profile grade: 75.59. Offers: 12.

Kindrid Outland — DT, 6-3, 290, Mandarin HS, Jacksonville, Fla. Profile grade: 70.78. Offers: 14.

Drew Follett — TE, 6-3, 235, Bishop Moore Catholic HS, Orlando, Fla. Profile grade: 69.12. Offers: 25.

Abram Hilton — RB, 6-0, 200, Screven County HS, Ga. Profile grade: 66.74. Offers: 15.

Brody Brenneman — QB, 6-1, 200, Lakeland Christian HS, Fla. Profile grade: 62.97. Offers: 21.

Lawson Bentley — IOL, 6-4, 305, Calvary Day School, Savannah, Ga. Profile grade: 62.56. Offers: 16.

Jaxon Rawls — TE, 6-6, 265, Monticello HS, Ark. Profile grade: 59.89. Offers: 20.

Jaiziah Battle — SKL, 5-11, 170, The First Academy, Fla. Profile grade: 59.41. Offers: 15.

Bray'don Davis — IOL, 6-3, 290, Central HS, Tuscaloosa, Ala. Profile grade: 56.90. Offers: 28. Most offers in the class.

Kelsey Rose Jr. — Edge, 6-3, 250, Jackson Christian HS, Jackson, Tenn. Profile grade: 56.47. Offers: 9.

Christian Stowe — DE, 6-4, 230, Crest HS, Boiling Springs, N.C. Profile grade: 53.37. Offers: 18.

Khori Faulkner — LB, 5-11, 220, Baylor School, Tenn. Profile grade: 52.38. Offers: 7.

Allens Alexandre — IOL, 6-4, 280, Key West HS, Key West, Fla. Profile grade: 47.25. Offers: 7.

The targets

Eighteen commits in the fold. This board is updated as commitments become public. Check back for the latest.

Sources: Profile (primary), 247Sports, gousfbulls.com, ESPN

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Tim Stephens

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Tim Stephens has spent nearly 40 years at the intersection of sports and technology — from small-town newspapers to leading day-to-day newsroom strategy for CBSSports.com. He founded Diehard Sports Network to cover the programs the industry forgot.

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