Two recruiting targets for the Missouri Tigers decided to commit to other options over the weekend, as Alabama prep three-star defensive end Jamari Payne chose Purdue University and four-star running back Johann Cardenas of Houston, Texas announced a verbal commitment to Vanderbilt University.
Payne, hailing from Loachapoka, Alabama, made an official visit to Purdue from June 23-25 and ultimately chose the Boilermakers over several other schools including Mizzou, Ole Miss, Indiana, Mississippi State, and Memphis.
During his junior season, Payne had an impressive performance, tallying 61 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks. His standout performance earned him second-team All-State honors for his contributions on Loachapoka’s defensive line in 2022.
With the addition of Payne, Purdue’s recruiting class now stands at 20 commitments. The Boilermakers currently have the 18th-ranked class in the nation and the sixth-best class in the Big Ten, according to the Rivals 2024 team recruiting rankings.
Vanderbilt football made a significant addition to their 2024 recruiting class with the Cardenas commitment. Cardenas, who stands at 6 feet tall and weighs 215 pounds, announced his commitment on social media. He hails from St. Thomas High School and had offers from schools like Missouri, Kentucky, Oregon, Colorado, and Georgia Tech before choosing Vanderbilt. Reports last week had indicated that Cardenas’ final choice came down to Missouri and Vanderbilt.
The Commodores have had a productive recruiting period in June and July, with their 2024 class now consisting of 20 commitments. They currently hold the 35th ranking nationwide and the 12th ranking among SEC programs for the 2024 class. Vanderbilt has managed to secure a larger class than most SEC teams, with the exception of Georgia.
