4-Star 2021 California LB Jonathan Flowe Begins Early Signing Period Excitement
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
The 2021 recruiting cycle has been unlike any since the invention of official visits. With unknowns swirling around 2020 high school football season nationally, and with many still yet to play, seniors-to-be began verbally committing during the spring grabbing a roster spot at a collegiate program that seemed like the best fit, even though many had never stepped foot on the campus. With the NCAA Dead Period still in play, no official visits have been allowed leaving the process on relationships built over phone calls and Zoom chats. On Wednesday, Dec. 16, those programs that have made an impression virtually will reap the efforts of their actions during the early signing period.
Just hours away from pen going to paper on National Letters of Intent, 22 recruits have verbally committed on Early Signing Period eve seemingly ready to fax in their paperwork on Wednesday. The attention grabber was 4-Star Upland linebacker Jonathan Flowe committing ready to join his older brother Justin on the campus at Oregon. Flowe (6-1, 200) picked the Ducks over 16 other reported offers from teams like Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, and USC. As is, Oregon will go into the early period ranked 6th nationally, tops in the Pac-12, with 16 4-Star commitments.
Giving great news to college coaches on Tuesday, handshakes and high-fives were going around the office as 11 3-Star recruits announced their commitments. Texas-San Antonio and Southern Miss made big leaps forward with each nabbing two 3-Star prospects.
Going the other way, 10 players decommitted on Tuesday, all 3-Star rated talents. The hardest hit was Tennessee, losing DB Edwin White (AL) and RB Elijah Howard (TN), and Louisiana-Monroe seeing both WR Richard Mays and CB Brendan Toles side up with Southern Miss.
Wednesday is sure to bring more excitement and last minute change of hearts all leading to which programs put together the best recruiting classes that will bring conference, and hopefully, a national championship to campus.
3-Star 2021 Commitments on Tuesday
LB Noah Mitchell – Pearl River JUCO (MS) – UTSA
DE Jimmori Robinson – Monroe JUCO (NY) – UTSA
DB Donovan Dreighton – Brennan HS (TX) – Incarnate Word
WR Corey Palmer – Camden (NJ) – Temple
DE Sam Carrell – Sandia HS (NM) – Washington State
WR Richard Mays – Ridgeland HS (MS) – Southern Miss – flip from ULM
CB Brendan Toles – Lafayette HS (MS) – Southern Miss – flip from ULM
DE Ethan Hassler – Collierville HS (TN) – Arkansas State
RB Martin Lucas – Abingdon HS (VA) – William & Mary
DT Robert Jackson – Archbishop Wood (PA) – Cincinnati
RB Elijah Howard – Baylor HS (TN) – Virginia Tech – flip from Tennessee
Tuesday’s Decommitments
DE Hayden Nelson – Brookfield Central (WI) – Syracuse
WR Xavier Franks – Magee HS (MS) – UCF
WR Jaden Williams – Columbia HS (FL) – Western Michigan
OG Makylan Pounders – Byhalia HS (MS) – Ole Miss
LB Navonteque Strong – MS Gulf Coast JUCO (MS) – Mississippi State
WR DJ Sims – Christchurch HS (VA) – Wake Forest
Photo credit: RNG; Jonathan Flowe