No Shortage of Storylines Heading into National Signing Day
On the eve of the traditional college football signing period, a.k.a. National Signing Day, there are plenty of big stories to track for us at SI All-American.
While the bulk of the class of 2021 already put pen to paper in December, during the Early Signing Period, there is still momentum to be had and big fish to reel in come the first Wednesday in February. The top 25 recruiting class debate will be settled, late-rising prospects will be rewarded with a Power 5 National Letter of Intent and you just know a surprise or two is on the way as well.
The stakes aren't the same for each program, especially considering the late coaching turnover at places like Texas, Auburn, Tennessee and elsewhere, but each of those programs could play a key role in the dominoes set to become official Wednesday.
[Class of 2021 Rankings Entering National Signing Day]
Any Threat to Alabama's No. 1 Class?
In a word, no.
However, there is a scenario where Alabama may indeed lose a verbal commitment from one of its 11 SI99 prospects, as buzz surrounding running back Camar Wheaton has bounced from UA to Oklahoma and even Texas over the last several days.
Wheaton admitted, as he announced for Alabama on December 23, how close and tough the decision was to leave the regional footprint to head to Tuscaloosa. Since, Alabama's offensive coordinator (Steve Sarkisian), area recruiter (Jeff Banks) and position coach (Charles Huff) have each departed the coaching staff, with Sarkisian and Banks now of course at in-state Texas -- which missed on Wheaton down the stretch. Whether it's flipping to UT or going with the program many expected him at, Oklahoma, there is chatter a signature isn't locked in for the national champs.
The Crimson Tide could counter with a new addition or two before the ink runs dry Wednesday, but even without it, the top class is all but secure. Ohio State, long No. 1 this cycle until December, would need to wrap up the class with two SI99 additions in JT Tuimoloau and Raesjon Davis (more on each later) to provide consideration for a jump up. We're not anticipating as much, especially by end of day Wednesday.
Pac-12 Will Splash
At least two Pac-12 programs, each jockeying for the top recruiting spot in the conference, are close to finalizing icing-on-the-cake signatures on Wednesday from recruits previously headed elsewhere. Should each add a notable prospect in the next 24 hours, both Oregon (currently No. 8) and USC (9) should hold firm in the top 10 of the SIAA recruiting rankings.
SI99 linebacker and longtime LSU commitment Raesjon Davis is poised to pick the hometown Trojans despite a late push and visit with Ohio State. The Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei star is technically selecting from a field of five, with LSU, Oregon and Arizona State grouped with USC and OSU. We're not betting against a program with as much recruiting momentum as any.
Oregon may miss on Davis, but its chances of snagging another elite on defense are better with Avante Dickerson. The nation's No. 5 nickel prospect on SIAA had been committed to Minnesota for much of the recruiting cycle before backing off on January 24. In-state Nebraska has long pursued the Omaha native but the Ducks have made as much or more noise in this race to date.
Potential Flips
Wheaton would be the biggest flip of the day, should he have a change of heart, but there will be some movement among others heading into the unofficial holiday currently committed to a particular program. Keeping the SEC theme, Tarvarish Dawson is worth mentioning. The longtime Auburn commitment is hearing from Texas A&M and Tennessee, with some ties to each option late in the process.
Notre Dame secured Louisiana running back prospect Logan Diggs on their commitment list back in July and there wasn't much drama around his college choice until early December, when the in-state LSU Tigers jumped in with an offer. He wouldn't sign during the early window and the chatter hasn't slowed down since. The Tigers do have a pair of backs already signed in the class in SI99 members Armoni Goodwin and Corey Kiner, for what it's worth.
A Group of Five prospect to watch may end up in the Power 5 after all. When South Alabama took the commitment of Mississippian Cayden Bridges in late January, it was a viewed as a strong evaluation and a nice sleeper acquisition for that new staff. Of course Wednesday is the first day he could sign an LOI and the SEC has been on him since, with Mississippi State and Auburn offering just last week.
SEC West, Texas Will Close Well
The most high profile uncommitted prospect set to end the process Wednesday is SI99 defensive tackle Tywone Malone, considering a large group of programs. There has been a southern feel in this recruitment, however, with Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Florida State holding most of the buzz for the football-baseball star. The Rebels have hosted the New Jersey native on campus twice and after Lane Kiffin and company's surge up the rankings in December, sitting at No. 15 overall, this could be his biggest recruiting win yet.
Speaking of LSU, Diggs isn't the only prospect in the crosshairs entering signing day. The top in-state wide receiver is still uncommitted in SI99 member Brian Thomas and the Tigers are looking to hold off Texas A&M down the home stretch. Another offensive lineman would be big for the Tigers class, too.
Auburn and its new staff, under Bryan Harsin, has been red hot on the trail since Saturday, adding a transfer prospect, junior college linebacker, 2021 offensive tackle Colby Smith and 2022 quarterback Holden Gernier. It should pick up there, particularly in the secondary. Even if it holds onto Dawson, the aforementioned Bridges, in-stater Juwon Gaston is leaning their way and Floridian Dontae Balfor has the Tigers in the mix as well. AU's defensive back numbers will be stronger in the next 24 hours, at a minimum.
Texas A&M surged into the top 10 of the team recruiting rankings with a banner December and February could look just as great on paper, too, even if it misses on Malone and/or Thomas. In-state running back LJ Johnson is set to end the process in the afternoon and junior college offensive lineman Jordan Moko has been talked about relative to a desire to play in the SEC and A&M is in the mix with LSU and Auburn for the Australia native.
Texas' new staff, under Steve Sarkisian, could make some Wednesday noise despite the short notice. While UT has been working well with 2022 recruits of late, adding running back Jaydon Blue Tuesday night, there is room to add to a top 20 class among seniors as well. One-time Notre Dame commitment and defensive lineman David Abiara is on the market and high on UT, the first big test for Bo Davis since taking his D-line coaching gig in Austin. They're also in play for Johnson and could also provide clarity on top cornerback talent Ishmael Ibraheem is he is signed into the class after all.
Wednesday Isn't the End of the 2021 Cycle
The top defensive prospect in the SI99 is J.T. Tuimoloau. The Washington two-way, two-sport star won't be making his choice on Wednesday and not during the rest of the month either. As he awaits the opportunity to take more visits, mainly to Ohio State, this will be as high profile a recruitment beyond the traditional signing day as we've covered of late as Alabama, Oregon, USC and Washington battle for the nation's top undeclared recruit.
The notable delay last cycle was running back Zach Evans, who was released from a letter of intent to Georgia before flirtations with Ole Miss and Florida before ending up at TCU, where he averaged 7.7 yards per carry in 2020. The most high profile delay more similar to Tuimoloau's may be that of Roquan Smith, who picked UCLA on signing day but didn't sign for nearly two weeks before flipping to Georgia.
Others will hold off beyond Wednesday, but still lock in decisions later this week or in February. One of note is Mississippi running back Jarquez Hunter, whose latest offers came in January via Auburn and Iowa, will make the call on Friday.
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