The recruiting wire is starting to heat up again.
We saw the initial flood of commitments for top prospects in the class of 2028 when their recruiting window opened on Sept. 9. We've covered these players extensively and have updated our commitment database accordingly.
And after a brief cooldown period when not as much recruiting news was breaking, there have been some big recent commitments that have been announced over the last few weeks, including some additions from the NCAA's newest Division 1 program.
Let's dive into some takeaways.
Archer Erwin to Saint Joseph's
Erwin (Montgomery, Vt.) pledged to the Division 1 program earlier this week. The dynamic two-way midfielder did it all for Holderness this past spring as a sophomore. He's an effective dodger who can score on the run and in transition but is just as effective on the defensive end of the field. Erwin also had a strong summer on the club tournament circuit with 4Leaf. He's the 10th Saint Joseph's commitment as Division 1 programs begin to round out their classes.
Specialty position players land commitments
Some prep coaches told me at the beginning of the recruiting window for the '28s that the specialty positions might be most affected by new NCAA eligibility rules. Because incoming recruiting class sizes are becoming smaller, some coaches hinted at the idea of these positions being recruited on a more limited basis. But these commitments reveal that there is still tremendous value in being an elite defensive midfielder.
Brady Yoo (Newton, Mass.) committed to Michigan earlier this week. Yoo is a tough short-stick defensive midfielder who delivers thunderous checks. He's an elite on-ball defender who keeps the opposition in front of him and plays reliable defense. Yoo plays at Belmont Hill.
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And last week, Nate Cooper (Wayland, Mass.) committed to Vermont. Cooper is a faceoff specialist at The Groton School and is one of the most dominant players at that position in his class. He was 241-for-351 (69 percent) this past spring as a sophomore in prep, en route to an All-ISL Honorable Mention.
And as an aside, I'd expect America East programs to add a few more players in the coming months. Cooper was Vermont's seventh commitment. Meanwhile, a school like UMass Lowell has yet to land a '28 commitment, and NJIT only has one. This data is from Inside Lacrosse.
Staples star chooses Sacred Heart
Last month, Finn Edwards (Westport, Conn.) committed to Sacred Heart. The Staples High LSM/defender was All-FCIAC this past spring as a sophomore, posting 34 caused turnovers and 32 ground balls. What stands out the most about the 5-foot-9 Edward is his speed. He can quickly chase down opponents in transition and is very tactical with his checks. He is only the latest FCIAC player to commit to a Division 1 school.
Holy Cross lands Deerfield Academy defender
Sam Peake (New Canaan, Conn.) committed to Holy Cross late last month. The Deerfield Academy '28 utilizes all of his 6-foot-1 frame to wreak havoc defensively. He has a strong stick and plays exceptional on-ball defense while also being effective in transition due to his speed and awareness. His play style should translate well to the college game, and I'd look for him to have a big junior campaign in the prep ranks.
SMU recruits inaugural class, flips pair of local '28s
When SMU announced it would launch a Division 1 men's lacrosse program in 2028, the groundbreaking news sent shockwaves around the sport. A program joining the Division 1 landscape is always big news. But SMU entering the fold --- which had already raised $15 million toward a $25 million goal when the announcement was made last month --- brought an extra layer of excitement to the first Division 1 college lacrosse program coming to Texas.
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Since then, the program has already announced its first class of signings from the transfer portal. The class included 13 players, including New England natives Peter Grandolfo (Fairfield, Conn.; Bucknell) and Matt Tully (Foxboro, Mass.; Cornell). I mentioned Tully as a player to watch to join SMU when the news initially broke. The timing of their introduction to the landscape perfectly aligns with graduate students seeking a fifth year of eligibility with the new rules. And since Ivy League rules don't allow players to compete in a fifth year, it wasn't surprising to see nine of the 13 players in the class come from the Ivies.
And SMU has already started recruiting in the high school ranks, even though the first season won't be until 2028. Its first commitment in the class of 2027 just so happened to be Loomis Chaffee goalie Rhett King, who was initially committed to Denver. The 6-foot-2 King, a left-handed netminder, is among the best goalies in prep.
SMU also flipped West Simsbury, Conn. native Gavin Bulger, who was previously committed to Holy Cross. The Westminster midfielder had a big junior year and should be an exciting player to watch this spring. Inside Lacrosse reflects nine players in the class of 2027 who have committed to SMU, but none from 2028 as of now. It will be interesting to keep monitoring SMU's recruiting trail and how it impacts players in New England.
