Grace Raynor

Recruiting and College Football Reporter at The Athletic

College football/recruiting reporter for @TheAthleticCFB. [email protected].

Articles

Five-star Ryder Lyons, top uncommitted QB in Class of 2026, picks BYU over Oregon

3 days ago | nytimes.com | Grace Raynor

Five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons entered Tuesday as the highest-rated uncommitted quarterback prospect in the country. Now, he’s heading to BYU. Lyons, a Folsom, Calif. native, made the announcement on “The Pat McAfee Show” in what will go down as one of the biggest recruiting moments in BYU football history. “To be honest, I’m just so blessed,” he said on McAfee’s show. “I’m so blessed, but I’m just appreciative. It’s been incredible. It’s been a long journey.
Trump travel ban, new revenue-sharing model create uncertainty for international college athletes

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Justin Williams |Grace Raynor

Moses Jean-Pierre is the son of two Haitian immigrants. He grew up near Boston, where his mother would cook for any child in the neighborhood who looked hungry, regardless of whether the family knew them. His parents were the “cornerstone” of their West Cambridge, Mass. community, Jean-Pierre said, and so before his parents died in 2017 and 2019, he promised them he would honor their roots and continue giving back to Haitian communities.
Alabama finds its QB; Ryder Lyons is set to announce: What I’m hearing on recruiting trail

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Grace Raynor

June official visits are more than halfway over, and the dominoes are starting to fall on the recruiting trail. Nearly half of the nation’s top 100 prospects have issued a commitment, and more announcements are coming this week. So what’s going on across the recruiting landscape? Here’s what you need to know, as well as what I’m hearing.
These 10 roster moves shaped the Big 12 football offseason

2 weeks ago | sltrib.com | Grace Raynor

If the newest era of college football has taught us anything, it's that roster management is now the most critical task for a coaching staff. From the transfer portal to recruiting, it's a constant numbers game for coaches hoping to strike the perfect balance to field the most competitive team possible. The Athletic is examining 10 key roster developments that shaped the offseason in each Power 4 conference. Up today: The Big 12. Let's dive in.
Quarterback Brady Quinn impresses Notre Dame on unofficial visit

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Grace Raynor

Brady Quinn was on Notre Dame's campus on Monday afternoon to spend some time with head coach Marcus Freeman and his assistants. He felt great being back in South Bend, having last visited in early April. And when he picked up a football to show off his arm in front of the coaches, Quinn felt as confident - and as accurate - as ever. "(Quarterbacks) coach Gino (Guidugli) said I killed it," Quinn said.
Ten roster moves that shaped the Big 12 football offseason

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Grace Raynor

If the newest era of college football has taught us anything, it's that roster management is now the most critical task for a coaching staff. From the transfer portal to recruiting, it's a constant numbers game for coaches hoping to strike the perfect balance to field the most competitive team possible. The Athletic is examining 10 key roster developments that shaped the offseason in each Power 4 conference. Up Monday: The Big 12. Let's dive in. 1.
'We hit the jackpot with him'

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Grace Raynor

When Bear McWhorter was in the third grade, his mother, Vanessa, and father, Josh, sat him down alongside his sister to discuss an important family matter. The McWhorters had two happy and healthy children and a nice life in Cartersville, Ga., about 40 miles northwest of Atlanta. But the more Vanessa and Josh thought about the future - leaning into their faith for clarity - the more passionate they felt about the possibility of adding to their family.
Travis Hunter or Vince Young for the top spot?

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Grace Raynor

Ask any college football coach and - even with the transfer portal dominating this era of the sport - odds are high they'll tell you that high school recruiting is still a critical component of the job. A five-star prospect can change a program's trajectory. The ability to identify and evaluate talent will never go out of style. The 2000s have given us plenty of star power on the recruiting trail.
Clemson's surge, QB dominoes, New York's elite prospect

4 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Grace Raynor

It may be the heart of the offseason for college football, but recruiting never stops. And starting Friday, things are about to get fun. Welcome to June official visits. Outside of December, June is the most chaotic, exciting month of the year for recruiting as prospects across the country head off to official visits and start to narrow down their lists. Commitments are coming. Dominoes are falling. And the drama is just getting started.
Are they any good?

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Grace Raynor |Manny Navarro

Bill Belichick has a new book, a 24-year-old girlfriend drawing lots of attention and a new football team he's coaching this fall. His roster is in flux, with more than 70 players from last year's team gone and 30-plus additions via the transfer portal. General manager Michael Lombardi said recently he's trying to make North Carolina look like an SEC team. The Tar Heels went 6-7 in Mack Brown's final season and have struggled on defense for several years.