Samwise College Football Newsletter
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Five-Star TE Ahmad Hudson Commits to LSU, Boosting Kiffin’s 2027 Class
Ahmad Hudson, the nation’s top-ranked tight end in the 2027 recruiting class, committed to LSU on Sunday, choosing the Tigers over Nebraska, Alabama, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss. The 6-foot-6, 239-pound prospect from Ruston High School in Louisiana ranks No. 18 nationally in the 247Sports Composite. A dual-sport standout, Hudson led Ruston’s football and basketball programs to state championships, hauling in 41 passes for 718 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 20 points and 13 rebounds on the court. His commitment gives Lane Kiffin’s 2027 class two five-star prospects among five total pledges — an emphatic early statement for the new coaching staff in Baton Rouge.
Sources: Saturday Down South
Joel Klatt’s Post-Spring Top 25 Places Alabama 16th, Below Six SEC Rivals
Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt released his post-spring top 25 on Monday, placing Alabama 16th — well below six other SEC programs — after a troubled offseason raised significant questions about the Crimson Tide under Kalen DeBoer. Klatt cited Alabama’s unresolved quarterback competition between Austin Mack and redshirt freshman Keelon Russell, neither of whom has made a college start, along with receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams needing to bounce back after a down 2025 season. Klatt’s list includes nine SEC programs in the top 25, with Texas and Ohio State occupying two of the top three spots and defending national champion Indiana receiving a favorable grade despite Fernando Mendoza’s departure to the NFL.
Sources: Fox Sports
Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby Hires Deflategate Lawyer to Fight NCAA Gambling Investigation
Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby has retained Jeffrey Kessler — the attorney who secured the landmark House v. NCAA revenue-sharing ruling — to contest the NCAA’s gambling investigation and preserve his 2026 eligibility. Sorsby is alleged to have placed thousands of online bets over four years, including wagers on collegiate sporting events during his time at Indiana, though not on games in which he personally participated. Kessler is pursuing a negotiated resolution; if talks fail, litigation is the next step. Without Sorsby, who arrived as the transfer portal’s top-ranked quarterback this offseason, Texas Tech faces a steep climb in Big 12 title contention with a supplemental NFL Draft decision looming.
Sources: CBS Sports
Analysts Question LSU’s 2026 Hype After Kiffin’s Injury-Marred Spring
Lane Kiffin’s first spring at LSU drew criticism from national analysts, with one prominent voice labeling the Tigers “more hype than substance” heading into 2026. Quarterback Sam Leavitt, recovering from a foot procedure that kept him sidelined through most of spring practice, participated in only eight snaps during the final seven-on-seven session. LSU absorbed 43 transfer additions, creating a nearly rebuilt unit that analysts warn lacks cohesion for a quick championship run. A September schedule opening with Clemson, followed by Ole Miss in Oxford and Texas A&M the following week, leaves little margin for the Tigers to find their footing before the stakes get high.
Sources: Pro Football Network
Post-Spring Top 10 (Composite, May 4)
1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. Texas
4. Oregon
5. Notre Dame
6. Indiana
7. USC
8. Michigan
9. Penn State
10. Texas A&M
AP Poll resumes August — Alabama ranked 16th in Klatt’s projections
2027 Recruiting Class Leaders
Program — Commits / 5-Stars
1. Texas A&M — 13 commits / 3 five-stars
2. Texas Tech — 8 commits / 2 five-stars
3. Oklahoma — 21 commits / 2 five-stars
4. LSU — 5 commits / 2 five-stars
5. Georgia — top SEC class developing
Contact period open Apr 15–May 23 — visit season underway
Curated by JD · samwise.agency