It was midseason, as Jackson Vaughn remembers it, and he began thinking about reclassifying up. He was handling the physical play in the New Jersey’s highly competitive Big North well, and he was already the right age and academically far enough along to make it work.
After more discussions with college coaches — particularly, during spring visits — and his family, the four-star edge rusher moved from the 2028 class into 2027 and saw his recruitment accelerate.
The destination unveiling is Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET, which is when the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Vaughn will announce his college choice.
Auburn, LSU, Miami, Notre Dame and South Carolina are the finalists, and he will make his pick live on the CBS Sports College Football YouTube channel.
“I started thinking about reclassing maybe mid football season,” said Vaughn, who is the No. 15 edge rusher and No. 105 player in the 2027 class. “Honestly, playing as a freshman and feeling like I was a little advanced — and the whole O-line was seniors this year, so we got a bunch of young guys now and, honestly, not wanting to be comfortable. Just keep pushing. Keep staying uncomfortable.
“I thought, mentally, I was in a good place — and, physically, I know I’ll get there just being in a college program in January.”
That freshman season ended with 16 tackles and eight sacks.
Vaughn finished his sophomore season with 35 tackles, including 6 1/2 sacks and 10 1/2 tackles for loss. Six of those sacks came against the two toughest teams on the schedule in East St. Louis (Ill.) High and Montvale (N.J.) St. Joseph.
Vaughn made a handful of visits to Notre Dame and is coming off a trip to South Carolina early this month.
As he readied to make a decision, he said it went beyond on-field usage, but that was a part of it.
“Just the people in the building, seeing how they interact with the players,” he said. “Another thing is life after football. Will going there set me up for 40 years, 50 years down the line and then schematically, and does it fit the way I play?”
Vaughn turned 17 earlier this spring, which means he will be 18 during his first college season. He knows he has to add strength and mass to his frame, but he also understands how he will accomplish it.
“If you stay focused and do what those guys get paid to do and you listen to them, they will set you up for success by putting on the weight you need and getting you strong,” Vaughn said.
