College football’s early signing period closed with several top-100 prospects still officially uncommitted. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re undecided.
Nine of the nation’s top 100 prospects according to composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports.com are listed as uncommitted, but the majority of them plan to announce their college decisions over the next two weeks.
Cornerbacks Kelee Ringo (ranked No. 8 overall) and Dontae Manning (No. 76), tight end/athlete Darnell Washington (No. 10), wide receivers Gary Bryant Jr. (No. 57) and Xzavier Henderson (No. 59) and running backs Zachary Evans (No. 14) and Daniyel Ngata (No. 80) are scheduled to make announcements at high school all-star games. The Under Armour All-America Game is Jan. 2 and the U.S. Army All-American Bowl is Jan. 4.
“It’s just an opportunity to do it on national television and just sort of make a moment out of it,” said Barton Simmons, the director of scouting for 247Sports.
While exhibitions have long served as showcases for elite recruits to reveal their intended college destinations, the arrival of the early signing period two years ago created a new wrinkle because it left open the possibility a player could officially sign with a school and try to keep it quiet until he announces his decision on television.
Simmons said the all-star game announcements could provide good news for Georgia and Oregon because both schools are still contending for a number of top players, including Manning and Ringo. Georgia also is a contender for Evans and Washington.
Clemson closed the early period ranked atop the team recruiting rankings after landing seven of the nation’s top 29 prospects, but Alabama was close behind. Those two were followed in order by Ohio State, Georgia and LSU, but the traditional signing period doesn’t start until February.
“Alabama could absolutely top Clemson depending on whether they can figure out a surprise here in January,” Simmons said, “but I think Georgia is probably the team that is most dangerous for Clemson.”
Southeastern Conference teams filled six of the top eight spots in the 247Sports composite rankings, with No. 6 Texas A&M, No. 7 Auburn and No. 8 Florida joining Alabama, Georgia and LSU. By contrast, the Pac-12’s highest-ranked team was Washington at 14th.
In the Atlantic Coast Conference, Georgia Tech has opened some eyes by producing a class ranked 24th after going 3-9 this season in Geoff Collins’ debut as head coach. The Yellow Jackets have never finished in the top 40 in the history of the 247Sports composite rankings, which date to 2008.
Worth noting is that Collins took over the Yellow Jackets after they spent 11 seasons under the direction of Paul Johnson, whose option-oriented scheme led to him recruiting based on specific needs rather than acquiring players who might be highly rated by scouting services, at least on offense.
The tougher job might be for coaches who have taken over since the end of the regular season, such as Mike Norvell at Florida State, though the Seminoles – with a history of success before recent struggles – were 21st. The SEC’s Eli Drinkwitz (Missouri), Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss) and Sam Pittman (Arkansas) had classes outside the top 40, but none had more than 17 players committed, according to 247Sports.
“The best anyone has done among the new coaches is just to hold things together,” Simmons said. “That’s sort of what Mike Norvell has done. Sam Pittman has climbed in the rankings a lot, but only because there was nowhere to go but up. Lane Kiffin probably lost more than he’s gained. Given the nature of the early signing period, we haven’t seen any of the new coaches really blow it out of the water.”