Flip Watch: Ten prospects who could make a difference on National Signing Day

As the hours tick by until National Signing Day, the pressure to select the country’s top prospects from among the bluebloods is mounting. Many decisions have been made and confirmed, but many are still open as of Wednesday.

Rivals national recruiting analyst John Garcia Jr. looks at 10 of the top-rated recruits considering a possible change in commitment when pen meets paper.

Situation: Committed to Tennessee; considering Ohio State

The country’s top-ranked offensive tackle has looked rock-solid for the Volunteers since he publicly came aboard, but the Buckeyes made a big splash about his services late in the season.

Sanders took a multi-day trip to Columbus in late November, and it has been back-and-forth ever since.

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Situation: Committed to LSU; taking into account Miami, Oregon, Georgia

The Rivals250’s No. 1 athlete was back in Baton Rouge over the weekend and said all the right things about the Tigers, but neither rival program will end quietly here.

Pickett has family ties to Miami, the program most view as LSU’s biggest threat, especially after Miami lost to a five-star sophomore in Hylton Stubbs just yesterday. Georgia got a late visit and Oregon was trending before initially choosing the Tigers.

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Situation: Commitment to Oklahoma; considering Texas, Texas A&M

The big tackle from Texas has been with the Sooners since the summer months, but he spent the last two weekends with the SEC programs in his home state. OU has a no-visitation policy for its committed prospects, but this apparently does not apply to Fasusi as he remains on board as of this writing.

The Longhorns might end up being the more likely destination, but coaching changes may still impact this game.

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Situation: Committed to Alabama; considering Colorado

At the start of the 2024 season, it looked like there would be a lot more to this two-team race, but Carroll continued to return to Alabama – including last weekend for the Iron Bowl – and his commitment has seemed strong ever since.

Still, Colorado hosted a visiting weekend late in the season with several teammates from Carroll’s IMG Academy in tow. Two of them have already turned over Deion Sandersso there could still be a chance for the Buffs in this race.

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Situation: Committed to Ohio State; considering Auburn, Oregon

Alabama’s top prospect surprised many when he chose Ohio State early in the offseason and has said all the right things about Buckeye status ever since. However, he was one of the busiest recruits on the trail, especially on four game days at Auburn alone.

Given the amount of time spent on the Plains and the proximity to home compared to other contenders, the Tigers appear to be a legitimate threat Ryan Day‘s program.

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Situation: Committed to the State of Florida; considering LSU, Florida

Thomas’ final three visits this season came to Florida, LSU and Florida State in that order, as the Rivals250 No. 1 guard really allowed each finalist to paint a picture of their college career.

Florida State has kept its promise for nearly a year and still has the benefit of the doubt, but the lack of an offensive line coach looms large in Tallahassee. Both Florida, the closest program, and LSU have taken advantage of this, seemingly trading momentum for what many expect to be a move to SEC country.

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Situation: Committed to Auburn when thinking of Texas

Despite the five-star rating and a previous transfer from Michigan to Auburn, Marshall had been relatively quiet in recruiting until he showed up at Texas two weeks ago.

It would be his last known visit of the season, and many are curious as to how legitimate the interest in the Longhorns may have become. Auburn’s status appeared to be as strong as any of the other commitments on the list before its somewhat surprising visit to Austin.

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Situation: Committed to Texas; taking into account Florida, Miami

The Hurricanes seem a bit of a long shot late on this list, but Florida is a legitimate threat to pull off the shock and keep Ffrench in his home state.

Texas was confident in keeping the star wideout for most of the cycle, especially after returning to Austin in late November, but Ffrench has seen two of his teammates (QB Tramell Jones, DB Hylton Stubbs) and close friends take flips from others programs to Florida and there’s no doubt they want him to complete the trifecta so they can repeat it at the college level.

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Situation: Committed to Auburn considering Ole Miss

This one has had its own back and forth feel over the last month. Knight transferred from Notre Dame to Auburn a few months ago, and everything seemed right that he might be the one Hugh FreezeAs soon as he steps on campus in January, he will become an offense.

But then Ole Miss hosted Georgia and finally pulled off the upset with Knight in attendance, and the talk hasn’t let up since. Knight made two more trips to AU and then capped off his season schedule with the Egg Bowl in Oxford.

Combine that with a signing day announcement without college logos, and it looks like Knight is working on a final decision.

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Situation: Committed to Oregon, with Florida and Miami in mind

At one point, Miami appeared to be the biggest threat Dan Lanningis UF’s program, but Florida’s season-long rebound continues and back-to-back visits to the Swamp in November have positioned UF as the team to watch.

Wilson said all the right things about the Ducks, and few would bat an eyelid at a top prospect staying with the top team in the country, but Florida is the hottest program in America for a reason – they’re not to be underestimated this late in the game.

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