So, the 2024 season’s curtains have dropped, right? Well, the war’s still on. Not for trophies this time, but for those prized recruits stirring things up. And let’s be real, when it comes to top recruits and throwing around legacy programs and NIL money, who does it better than SEC teams? Yet, in the race for a coveted 4-star WR, Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama and Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns are struggling to keep pace with the Big Ten runners. Right now, Mater Dei wideout Kayden Dixon-Wyatt is definitely bringing main character energy. The kid’s got over two dozen offers, 30 to be exact. He’s already narrowed it down and picked his frontrunners from that long list.

The four-star wide receiver from Mater Dei High School, on February 24, scheduled his five official visits. The lucky five to pursue Dixon-Wyatt are Alabama, Ohio State, USC, Texas, and Oregon. His trip begins with flying to Tuscaloosa on May 16, followed by Ryan Day’s Ohio State on May 31. Then, he’ll fly to USC on June 6th, and wrap up his visit spree with trips to Texas on June 13th and Dan Lanning’s Ducks on June 20th. Now this has to be hectic. After all, Dixon-Wyatt is the No. 5 wide receiver recruit in the country. He is the No. 9 player in California, and the No. 56 overall recruit regardless of position. No matter how many official trips he has to take, two programs have locked in his maximum interest.

The one who is heading towards the end line is Oregon. As Dixon-Wyatt told On3, “Oregon is leading for me. They are staying consistent and communicating…with me every day. I have been up there three times, and I will be back soon.” While in June he will be making the official visit, he was already there in Eugene for the Junior Day. And that was indeed a big one.

The Ducks have always been a top school for Dixon-Wyatt. However, recently they have started to get the edge over other programs. He then shared, “Coach Dan Lanning is a big part of that. Coach Ross Douglas came in and we have been communicating too. He seems like a good coach from what I have learned, but Coach Lanning is a big part of Oregon being on top.” Now who is the other one?

The Ducks already hold two commitments from Mater Dei recruits. Four-star offensive tackle Kodi Greene and four-star defensive lineman Tomuhini Topui. So in case they slip out on the next Mater Dei star, the chance will come to Day’s Buckeyes. After all, Ohio State churns out elite wide receivers like nobody’s business. Plus, in the past season, they boasted what was surely the best receiving corps in the country. You name them—Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka, and Carnell Tate. Plus, Dixon-Wyatt has a good relationship with Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline. While schools have to wait until July for his final commitment, he’s already caught the eye of a major sportswear brand with $25.3 billion in annual revenue.

Kayden Dixon-Wyatt is already a rising star in the NIL era

Dixon-Wyatt hasn’t even played a college game, but get this—he’s already an Adidas Football US brand ambassador. On February 17th, the German sportswear giant challenged him to a race against fellow ambassador and 5-star LB target Tyler Atkinson from Grayson. This all stemmed from Dixon-Wyatt’s IG post, where he was flexing his new Adizero running shoes.

Adidas’ comment, “Need to see a race between you and @16tyleratkinson,” definitely turned heads. Both Atkinson and Dixon-Wyatt are part of the Adizero 7 class, a group of high school athletes promoting the brand through NIL deals. Other recruits in the group include 4-star quarterback Madden Iamaleava, 5-star receiver Chris Henry Jr., and 4-star receivers Vernell Brown III, Winston Watkins Jr., and Madden Williams.

While the Mater Dei star boasts a solid high school resume, his off-field antics are just as notable. Kayden Dixon-Wyatt’s got a playful side. Back in January, when his teammate Henry Jr. posted pictures of his injury recovery on IG, Dixon-Wyatt, instead of offering sympathy, jokingly called him “Noob.” Now, he’s sure making the rounds, but who’s catching his eye for good?