Where some of the top college football 2025 defensive recruits have committed, so far

When it comes to college football recruiting, August was a busy month for the Class of 2025, as several of the top players in the country decided to go off the board and commit to programs.

Eight players, four offensive players and four defensive players, all ranked in the top 20 by major recruiting sites, ultimately committed to the team, so let's break down their situations and what each player will bring to their next team.

Here are some notable defensive talents who committed this month:

5-star OLB Jonah Williams | Texas

Among the most recent commitments is five-star outside linebacker Jonah Williams heading to Texas, which marks a big win for head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns.

With many of Texas' top prospects transferring to other schools, including five-star cornerback Devin Sanchez (Ohio State), five-star wide receiver DaCorine Moore (Oregon) and five-star tackles Michael Fasci (Oklahoma) and Ty Haywood (Alabama), Williams is a needed in-state recruit for the Longhorns.

Considered an off-beat athlete at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Williams has the ability to play safety, giving him great position versatility at the next level. Additionally, the five-star recruit is expected to play baseball as a two-sport athlete at Texas.

The five-star recruit is currently the centerpiece of the Longhorns' strong freshman class, which also includes five-star, in-state receiver Kalik Lockett, four-star, in-state defensive end Lance Jackson and four-star outside linebacker Elijah Barnes.

Williams is expected to start at safety for the Longhorns given the team's safety depth, with the option to add weight and move to linebacker if that ultimately proves to be a good fit.

5-Star DL Iose Epenesa |Iowa

Five-star defensive lineman Iose Epenesa has continued the family tradition by following in his older brother AJ Epenesa's footsteps and committing to the Iowa Hokies.

A top-20 player in the 2025 class, Epenesa is a 6-foot-3, 265-pound lineman who is considered the top defensive end in the cycle. It was a big win for the Hokies, who have a proven track record of producing NFL players like his older brother, A.J.

Earlier this summer, the five-star recruit visited Iowa, Miami, Missouri and Utah, ultimately committing to the Hokies before the start of the high school season.

Epenesa is Iowa State's biggest recruit in the Class of 2025, with four-star tight end Thomas Meyer, also from the state, the next ranked top 250 player.

Epenesa, who will be attending Edwardsville High School in Illinois this year, recorded 122 tackles and 15 sacks over his three years at high school. With a college commitment under his belt, he'll look to finish the year strong and maintain his five-star status.

5-STAR EDGE JARRED SMITH | Auburn

Five-star recruit Jared Smith, one of the top edge rushers in the 2025 class, committed to Alabama and the Auburn University Tigers earlier this month.

Smith's win was a big one that capped off a very successful week for coach Hugh Freeze and Auburn University following a major freshman recruiting weekend on July 27.

After receiving interest from numerous top programs, Smith chose Auburn over his other finalists, the University of South Carolina, the University of Mississippi, the University of Georgia, Florida State and the University of Southern California.

The 6-foot-7, 235-pound five-star recruit boasts elite length and good burst off the edge, which is why Auburn coveted him as a pass rusher in the 2025 class.

Auburn's recruiting class is currently considered one of the top five in the country, with 23 recruits in the class, 15 of whom are ranked at least four stars and the majority of whom are considered top 100 recruits by major recruiting services.

At Auburn, Smith will be paired with high school teammate An'Quon Fegans, who is ranked No. 36 by ESPN as a prospect and No. 2 in the country.

5-star S Trey McNutt | Oregon

The top safety in the 2025 class also went unselected this month, with five-star Trey McNutt joining the Oregon Ducks and head coach Dan Lanning.

McNutt, a top 20 player in the nation according to Rivals, is a product of Ohio State, but had narrowed his search down to Texas A&M and Oregon before joining the Ducks this month.

The five-star recruit, who played on both sides of the ball in high school, recorded 61 tackles, three tackles for loss, 12 pass breakups and two forced fumbles in 2023. He also recorded 611 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns on offense.

The 6-foot, 180-pound McNutt, who is expected to play safety at the next level, is viewed as Oregon's No. 2 recruit in the 2025 class behind five-star wide receiver DaCorine Moore, who is a top-five recruit this cycle.

McNutt received interest from across the country during his recruiting process and received offers from 37 schools, but chose to focus on just a few schools, ultimately deciding between the University of Oregon and Texas A&M University.

With the addition of McNutt, Oregon now has at least five top-100 players in the 2025 class, with 15 total players having committed so far.