Samwise College Football Newsletter
Saturday, June 27, 2026
5-Star OL Albert Simien Commits to Notre Dame
Five-star interior offensive lineman Albert Simien has committed to Notre Dame, choosing the Fighting Irish over LSU, Texas A&M, Nebraska, and Ole Miss. Simien, from Sam Houston High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana, made his announcement live on ESPN SportsCenter on Friday. Ranked No. 20 nationally, No. 10 in the Rivals300, and No. 2 among interior offensive linemen in the 2027 class, Simien becomes Notre Dame’s fifth offensive line commit in the 2027 cycle and its third five-star in the trenches, joining offensive tackle Oluwasemilore Olubobola and edge rusher Abraham Sesay. Head coach Marcus Freeman and OL coach Joe Rudolph led the recruitment.
Tennessee’s Ty Redmond, Wendell Moe Jr. Earn Athlon Preseason All-America
Two Tennessee Volunteers earned spots on the Athlon Sports preseason All-American teams ahead of the 2026 college football season. Defensive back Ty Redmond, a Georgia transfer who earned third-team All-SEC recognition in 2025 with 43 tackles, 25 solo stops, and three interceptions, headlines the pair. Offensive lineman Wendell Moe Jr., an Arizona transfer who earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2025, joins him. The recognition signals strong preseason expectations for Josh Heupel’s Volunteers. Per Kalshi prediction markets, Georgia leads the 2026 SEC Championship race at 39 percent, followed by Alabama at 27 percent and Texas at 23 percent.
Sources: Saturday Down South Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Committed OT Olubobola Recaps Notre Dame OV, Sees Championship Potential
Five-star offensive tackle Oluwasemilore Olubobola, already committed to Notre Dame, shared his official visit recap on Friday, describing the Fighting Irish’s emerging 2027 offensive line class as having championship potential. Olubobola made his official visit June 19 and reflected publicly on June 26. The 2027 Notre Dame class has assembled multiple five-star commits along the offensive line, including interior lineman Albert Simien, who chose the Irish on the same Friday. Olubobola expressed confidence in Notre Dame’s recruiting momentum under head coach Marcus Freeman and offensive line coach Joe Rudolph, calling the trench unit a potential foundation for a championship run.
4-Star S Junior Tu’upo Commits to Texas Over Alabama, Auburn
Four-star safety Junior Tu’upo has committed to Texas, choosing the Longhorns over Alabama, Auburn, Oregon, and Indiana. Tu’upo, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound prospect from Thompson High School in Alabaster, Alabama, made his announcement on the Rivals YouTube channel Friday. He becomes the first safety commit in Texas’s 2027 recruiting class. Safeties coach Blake Gideon and defensive coordinator Will Muschamp led the recruitment. Tu’upo cited Texas’s plan to use him across all five secondary positions as a key factor. He is ranked No. 256 overall, No. 22 safety, and No. 13 in Alabama in the Rivals Industry Ranking.
Oklahoma Adds 4-Star ATH Bode Sparrow Over Oregon, BYU
Four-star athlete Bode Sparrow from Kaysville, Utah, has committed to Oklahoma, choosing the Sooners over Oregon, BYU, and Utah. Sparrow, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound two-way standout, is ranked No. 2 among athletes and No. 76 overall in the 2027 Rivals300. He posted 1,218 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns on offense last season while adding seven interceptions on defense, turning two into touchdowns. Sparrow narrowed his finalists in May before committing to head coach Brent Venables on Friday afternoon. The commitment brings Oklahoma to 26 commits in its 2027 class, now ranked fourth nationally behind Texas A&M, Notre Dame, and Miami.
Sources: Saturday Down South Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Tyler Fryman Decommits from Louisville, Commits to Kentucky
Four-star wide receiver Tyler Fryman has committed to Kentucky, backing out of his pledge to Louisville earlier in the week before choosing the rival Wildcats. Fryman, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound prospect from Beechwood High School in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, chose Kentucky over Louisville, Notre Dame, and Cincinnati. He is ranked No. 210 overall and No. 30 among wide receivers nationally in the 2027 class. As a junior, Fryman caught 45 passes for 1,023 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also plans to play baseball in college. The commitment is Kentucky’s 25th in the 2027 class under first-year head coach Will Stein.
Sources: Saturday Down South Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Off-Season Snapshot — June 27, 2026
2026 SEC Championship Odds (Kalshi): Georgia 39% · Alabama 27% · Texas 23% · Oklahoma 17% · LSU 11% · Texas A&M 10%
2027 Recruiting Class Rankings: #1 Texas A&M · #2 Notre Dame · #3 Miami · #4 Oklahoma
Transfer Portal: 3,677+ in portal as of mid-June 2026 · 2,777+ committed
Note: AP Top 25 poll resumes preseason in August. Rankings above reflect prediction markets and recruiting services.
Curated by JD · samwise.agency