🐶DOGHOUSE TRAIL
⭐ TOP 5-STAR RECRUITS — #21 THROUGH #32
The back half of the Top 32 is loaded with future starters, pass rushers, offensive weapons and premium linemen. Oregon, Ohio State, USC, Oklahoma and LSU all came away with major pieces.
The Doghouse Trail keeps rolling, and this group from #21 through #32 proves how deep this five-star class really is.
Most of these players are already signed, which means the recruiting battles are turning into roster-building wins. Oregon grabbed another trio. Ohio State secured three future pieces. USC and Oklahoma each landed two. LSU added another offensive weapon.
Only one major name in this group is still on the board.
Here is the latest ESPN Doghouse Trail.
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#21 K.J. JONES — CB
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ZONE
6'0" | 208 LBS
SIGNED: 🦆 OREGON
Jones gives Oregon another big-bodied defensive back with the ability to fit naturally into zone-heavy coverages.
At 208 pounds, he has the size to handle bigger receivers, support the run and play aggressively underneath. In zone coverage, his value could come from route recognition, closing speed and taking away throwing windows rather than simply chasing receivers all over the field.
Oregon can use him as a dependable outside corner and trust him to be physical without sacrificing coverage responsibility.
DOGHOUSE IMPACT: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Potential Role: Starting outside CB / physical zone defender
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#22 SEAN BLUNT — LEDG
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | SPEED RUSHER
6'6" | 225 LBS
SIGNED: 🦆 OREGON
This is one of the highest-upside defensive signings in Oregon's class.
Blunt is 6'6" and built as a Speed Rusher. That combination of length and burst gives Oregon exactly the type of edge defender who can become a nightmare in obvious passing situations.
Early on, the Ducks may be able to simply turn him loose on third down.
As he adds strength and weight, though, Blunt could eventually develop into a complete every-down edge.
His ceiling is enormous.
DOGHOUSE IMPACT: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+
Potential Role: Featured pass rusher / future EDGE1
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#23 DILLON TOPPINS — HB
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ELUSIVE BRUISER
5'10" | 215 LBS
SIGNED: ✌️ USC
USC landed a back who looks built for heavy usage.
At 215 pounds, Toppins has enough size to run through contact, but the Elusive Bruiser archetype suggests he can also make defenders miss.
That's the dangerous part.
Defenses can't simply treat him like a straight-line power back.
USC could use him inside, outside, on counters and in the screen game while trusting him to finish runs physically.
DOGHOUSE IMPACT: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Potential Role: Three-down feature HB
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#24 MARQUEL — ATH/LB
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | LURKER
6'2" | 238 LBS
SIGNED: ⭕ OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma landed a potential user-defense monster.
At 6'2", 238 pounds, Marquel has true linebacker size, and the Lurker archetype gives him the kind of coverage value that can become extremely important in user games.
He can patrol the middle.
He can jump underneath routes.
He can spy mobile quarterbacks.
He can help against the run.
That versatility makes him the type of linebacker Oklahoma could build around.
DOGHOUSE IMPACT: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+
Potential Role: User LB / defensive centerpiece
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#25 CORTEZ SHERRILL — REDG
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | PURE POWER
6'6" | 229 LBS
SIGNED: ⭕ OKLAHOMA
Sherrill gives Oklahoma a completely different kind of front-seven weapon.
He's long.
He's physical.
And he's built around power.
At 6'6", he has the frame to become difficult for tackles to handle once he fills out physically.
Pair him with Marquel and Oklahoma has two five-star defenders arriving together who could eventually anchor the front seven.
DOGHOUSE IMPACT: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Potential Role: Power EDGE / long-term starter
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#26 HARVEY HALL — C
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | WELL ROUNDED
6'3" | 317 LBS
SIGNED: 🦆 OREGON
This may be one of Oregon's most important signings even if he never gets highlight reels.
Hall is a 317-pound center.
That's a foundation piece.
His Well Rounded archetype gives Oregon somebody who can potentially help in both the run game and pass protection without a glaring weakness.
A dominant center helps everything.
Inside runs become cleaner.
Pocket protection gets stronger.
Blitz pickup improves.
And the quarterback gets better control at the line.
DOGHOUSE IMPACT: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Potential Role: Multi-year starting center / OL anchor
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#27 JEREMY DENBOW — REDG
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | POWER RUSHER
6'6" | 242 LBS
SIGNED: ✌️ USC
USC added another major piece, this time on defense.
Denbow already has the size to look like a traditional edge defender, and his Power Rusher archetype gives him the ability to attack tackles directly instead of living off finesse moves.
At 6'6", 242 pounds, he has both length and strength potential.
If USC develops him correctly, he could become the type of edge defender who consistently collapses one side of the pocket.
DOGHOUSE IMPACT: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Potential Role: Starting EDGE / power-rush closer
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#28 ALEX HIGGINS — REDG
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | SPEED RUSHER
6'1" | 215 LBS
SIGNED: 🌰 OHIO STATE
Ohio State got speed.
Higgins is lighter than some of the other edge defenders in this group, but his Speed Rusher profile makes his purpose obvious.
Attack the outside shoulder.
Get around the tackle.
Get to the quarterback.
He could become especially dangerous in long-yardage situations where Ohio State doesn't have to worry about defending the run first.
DOGHOUSE IMPACT: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Potential Role: Pass-rush specialist / future starter
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#29 MATT REUBER — QB
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | POCKET PASSER
6'6" | 213 LBS
Leaning: 🍊 TENNESSEE
Reuber is the biggest remaining decision in this section.
At 6'6", he has prototypical quarterback size and a pure Pocket Passer profile.
Tennessee could build a vertical passing attack around him.
Keep him protected.
Let him read the field.
Let him drive throws from the pocket.
If Tennessee closes this recruitment, Reuber could become the most important player in the Volunteers' entire class because quarterback affects everything else.
DOGHOUSE IMPACT: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+
Potential Role: Future QB1 / franchise centerpiece
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#30 CLYDE STUBBS — FS
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | HYBRID
6'0" | 195 LBS
SIGNED: 🌰 OHIO STATE
Ohio State landed a safety who can do a little of everything.
The Hybrid archetype gives Stubbs flexibility.
He can play deep.
He can rotate down.
He can help in coverage.
He can support the run.
That makes him extremely valuable because Ohio State doesn't have to show exactly what he's doing before the snap.
A versatile safety can make the whole defense harder to read.
DOGHOUSE IMPACT: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Potential Role: Starting FS / defensive chess piece
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#31 CLIFF AVRIL — RT
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | PASS PROTECTOR
6'6" | 281 LBS
SIGNED: 🌰 OHIO STATE
Ohio State added one of the most important offensive positions on the board.
At 6'6", Avril has tackle length, and his Pass Protector archetype gives him a clear job.
Keep the quarterback clean.
With all the elite speed rushers entering the Doghouse, offensive tackle becomes even more valuable.
If Avril develops strength while keeping his pass-blocking ability, Ohio State could have its right tackle for multiple seasons.
DOGHOUSE IMPACT: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Potential Role: Multi-year starting RT
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#32 DIEGO CRESPO — ATH/HB
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | BACKFIELD THREAT
6'0" | 195 LBS
SIGNED: 🐯 LSU
LSU closes the Top 32 with one of the most versatile offensive players on the board.
Crespo isn't necessarily the kind of back who needs 20 carries.
His value may come from movement.
Screens.
Motion.
Routes out of the backfield.
Slot snaps.
Outside runs.
Checkdowns.
If LSU uses him creatively, he could become one of the hardest players in the class to match up against.
DOGHOUSE IMPACT: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Potential Role: All-purpose offensive weapon
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📊 ESPN DOGHOUSE TRAIL — #21 THROUGH #32
Rank Player Position Status
21 K.J. Jones CB SIGNED Oregon
22 Sean Blunt EDGE SIGNED Oregon
23 Dillon Toppins HB SIGNED USC
24 Marquel ATH/LB SIGNED Oklahoma
25 Cortez Sherrill EDGE SIGNED Oklahoma
26 Harvey Hall C SIGNED Oregon
27 Jeremy Denbow EDGE SIGNED USC
28 Alex Higgins EDGE SIGNED Ohio State
29 Matt Reuber QB Leaning Tennessee
30 Clyde Stubbs FS SIGNED Ohio State
31 Cliff Avril RT SIGNED Ohio State
32 Diego Crespo ATH/HB SIGNED LSU
🚨 DOGHOUSE TRAIL — WHO WON THIS GROUP?
🦆 OREGON KEEPS STACKING
Oregon secured:
#21 K.J. Jones
#22 Sean Blunt
#26 Harvey Hall
That's a corner, an edge rusher and a center.
Three five-stars.
Three different position groups.
That's excellent roster construction.
Jones strengthens the secondary.
Blunt gives Oregon a quarterback hunter.
Hall gives the offense a massive centerpiece inside.
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🌰 OHIO STATE CLOSED STRONG
Ohio State also grabbed three:
#28 Alex Higgins
#30 Clyde Stubbs
#31 Cliff Avril
That's pass rush, secondary and offensive line.
Higgins can attack quarterbacks.
Stubbs can disguise coverages.
Avril can protect the offense.
Ohio State didn't just collect stars here.
They added three players who solve three completely different roster needs.
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⭕ OKLAHOMA BUILT THE FRONT SEVEN
Oklahoma landed:
#24 Marquel
#25 Cortez Sherrill
This pairing could be nasty.
Marquel controls the middle.
Sherrill attacks off the edge.
If both develop, Oklahoma could eventually have two defensive centerpieces arriving from the same class.
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✌️ USC GOT POWER ON BOTH SIDES
USC added:
#23 Dillon Toppins
#27 Jeremy Denbow
One gives them an offensive workhorse.
The other gives them a defensive closer.
Toppins could control games with touches.
Denbow could close games by attacking quarterbacks.
That's a strong two-player haul.
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🐯 LSU ADDS ANOTHER WEAPON
Diego Crespo may be ranked #32, but his versatility makes him more dangerous than the ranking suggests.
LSU can move him around and manufacture touches.
That's the kind of player who can become much more valuable than his raw ranking once the games actually start.
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🍊 TENNESSEE STILL HAS THE BIGGEST UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Everyone else in this section is mostly locked in.
Tennessee still has to finish the job with Matt Reuber.
And that's a huge one.
A five-star quarterback can change a program more than almost any other position.
If Tennessee gets the signature, this entire group suddenly ends with one of the biggest recruiting wins of all.
📰 ESPN DOGHOUSE TRAIL — FINAL WORD
The biggest takeaway from #21 through #32 is how much premium-position talent was available this deep into the rankings.
This wasn't a group filled with projects.
It had corners, pass rushers, a center, an offensive tackle, a quarterback and versatile backfield weapons.
Oregon and Ohio State both came away with three five-stars.
Oklahoma and USC each landed two.
LSU grabbed another dynamic offensive piece.
And Tennessee still has a chance to land a potential franchise quarterback.
That means the back half of the Top 32 could end up having just as much long-term impact as the players at the very top.
The stars are signed. Now comes development.
Because in the Doghouse, recruiting gets you noticed.
Turning five-stars into BIGDOGS is what wins championships.