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Five-star pass rusher Isaiah Gibson recently re-opened his recruitment following a decommitment from USC. One of the most prized prospects in the 2025 class, he’ll have his pick of the litter when it comes to accepting a college offer.
But while the defensive end searches for a new home, he’s experiencing some not-so-nice commentary surrounding one program in particular. He didn’t identify the school alluded to, but that hasn’t stopped followers from speculating!
Gibson is rated by 247 Sports as the nation’s top edge rusher. The Peach State native has an unlimited list of suitors, some of which he’s checking out via official visits.
He was recently in Columbus where he took a look at Ohio State. He’s already seen the campuses of Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Auburn, and Florida. He also has an OV lined up for Oklahoma this weekend, according to his 247 profile.
— Isaiah Gibson (@isaiahgibson99) June 21, 2024
The recruiting activity comes just days after that decommitment from USC, a program he’d made his original pledge to back in March.
“God’s plan,” he wrote in response to that change of heart. Now, the college football world waits to see what’s in store next.
“I’m looking for a real deal football program that fits me.”
-Isaiah Gibson
Typically, those college visits allow coaches to paint a positive picture of their own program and all that their universities have to offer. Sometimes, though, those coaches attempt to better market their team by putting others down.
Isaiah Gibson says every place he’s visited has mentioned one particular school.
Negative recruiting is nothing new, and it’s experienced by a number of players on the trail. Colorado signee Jordan Seaton revealed that programs actively recruited against Deion Sanders after his commitment, though it wouldn’t be enough to sway his decision to sign with the Buffs.
Other stars have received the same schtick, for one reason or another.
Gibson hinted at some negative recruiting seen on his college trips, saying that one team is consistently brought into the conversation.
Every time i go on a visit there is one particular school everyone has to say something about ..
— Isaiah Gibson (@isaiahgibson99) June 20, 2024
Who is it? He wouldn’t say!
The options are endless. Could it be the team he recently decommitted from? Or is it the projected favorite to land his services, Georgia? Maybe it’s another one of his many SEC suitors.
We don’t know!
What we do seem to know is that coaches don’t want to lose Gibson to the program being referenced, and they’re making it a point to step on that school while selling their own.
The team that does ultimately earn the defender’s commitment will likely land the headliner in its 2025 class. It doesn’t seem like he’s listening to the negative commentary. Instead, he’s searching for the best fit.