Committed Seniors Making Visits all Weekend
Those verbally committed college football prospects who did not sign with their program of choice in December, during the Early Signing Period, are marked recruits in the world of recruiting.
Many of them have seen an uptick in communication from other coaching staffs over the last few weeks, with the first in-person contact now legal following the January dead period that lifted Friday. Despite these long-tenured verbal commitments to School X, Program Y is getting their first visit out of the dead period in a trend that will only become more popular as more athletes take the recruiting process into their own hands.
Some of these pledges are taking trips elsewhere to help ensure their initial decision -- basically seeing if the grass is greener elsewhere with the intention of sticking with the primary program nearly regardless of what is seen at another campus. Some are truly open, though, verbally committed as almost a default attached to a name just for the sake of it. With the 22 new coaching staffs in place at the FBS level, some prospects are somewhat in the middle of the two fronts.
SI All-American runs down verbal commitments taking additional visits:
Malachi Wideman: The SI All-American wide receiver from Florida, who doubles as a legit high major hoops prospect, is seeing Tennessee this weekend ahead of a trip to Oregon next weekend. Florida State has held his verbal commitment since May but did not sign in December despite multiple outlets reporting he would. Wideman is looking to play football and basketball at his school of choice, part of the reason he is extending his decision into the New Year.
Broderick Jones: The longtime, in-state Georgia commitment on the offensive line is kicking off his visit slate at Arkansas. The Razorbacks are now led by the position coach he originally committed to in Sam Pittman. New Georgia assistant Matt Luke is working to keep the Bulldogs on his mind while Auburn, the top threat and another program with turnover with their O-line coach, sets up its own late visit.
Sedrick Van Pran: Another Georgia commitment (video above), Van Pran is also looking at other SEC options. He begins his January visit slate at Alabama this weekend and will see Florida before all is said and done. Van Pran, an Under Armour All-America Game selection, is arguably the top interior offensive line prospect still unsigned in the class of 2020.
Jayson Jones: Not long after Dave Aranda left LSU to be the head coach at Baylor, Jones confirmed official visit plans in Waco for this weekend. The longtime in-state pledge to Alabama has been considered one of the top two-way line prospects in the class at 6-foot-6, 320-plus pounds. Georgia Tech and Oregon are also potential landing spots for Jones should he leave his home state.
Kris Abrams-Draine: Another Alabamian technically committed but absolutely looking around is the Mr. Football runner-up. Abrams-Draine, a one-time LSU commitment, is currently on board with Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss but does not have a visit to Oxford on deck. Instead, he'll wrap up an official visit to Nebraska this weekend before official visits to Oregon and Florida State. Missouri is also in the mix for the versatile offensive weapon most project at wide receiver.
Donovan Kaufman: A longtime Vanderbilt defensive back commitment out of Louisiana, Florida State and new head coach Mike Norvell have him on campus this weekend. Ole Miss is positioning itself for a later trip from Kaufman, who already used his Vanderbilt official visit in December. Flip watch?
Additional committed prospects, like wide receivers Javon Baker (Alabama) and Leonard Manuel (Florida) are long-time pledges who will begin taking trips elsewhere next weekend. Baker is at Alabama this weekend and Manuel is participating in the Polynesian All-Star event in Hawaii. Colorado running back commitment Ashaad Clayton and Georgia Tech pledge Jahmyr Gibbs are among those expected to see the Florida Gators up close next weekend, too.
---
Follow SI All-American's college football and basketball recruiting coverage here on SIAllAmerican.com as well as on social media, @SIAllAmerican both on Twitter and Instagram.