All-American Games Bring Commitments from Top 5- and 4-Star Recruits
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
When the early signing period wrapped up on Friday, Dec. 22, the blue-blood programs in college football got talent-richer while some other programs were left wondering what had happened. Still, there was an abundance of top talent that did not sign opting to make their commit during the All-American games giving a few teams that needed extra push up the collective rankings as National Signing Day nears on Wednesday, Feb. 5.
Over the last two days, two five-star players, 11 four-stars, and one three-star recruit have committed. The team that has gained the most ground since mid-December has been Georgia. The Bulldogs have pushed their class from No. 6 in December to third in the nation adding two five-stars and two four-star players. The big additions over the weekend have been five-star tight end/defensive end Darnell Washington of Desert Pines High School in Las Vegas and five-star cornerback Kelee Ringo out of Saguaro High School in Scottsdale (AZ).
The Oklahoma Sooners have settled in at ninth overall, tops in the Big 12, with 17 total commits consisting of 12 four-star players. The latest to commit was four-star Texas dual-threat QB Chandler Morris (5-11, 178); the son of Auburn offensive coordinator Chad Morris. Another team making noise over the weekend was Wisconsin securing four-star New Jersey running back Jalen Berger out of Don Bosco Prep. Berger had 30 offers to choose from with UCLA making a late run on him in the process. The Badgers hosted him on Dec. 13 effectively sealing the deal.
After finishing the 2019 recruiting haul ranked 44th in the nation, the Colorado Buffaloes are making money moves in the 2020 class. The 2019 grouping had 26 total commits with one four-star prospect. This year’s run has 23 commits with three four-stars jumping up to 33rd overall, sixth in the Pac-12.
Staying in-conference, the Oregon Ducks continue to bring top talent from around the country to Eugene. The 2019 efforts finished seventh nationally with one five-star and 11 four-stars, and this class has a similar flavor. The Ducks now have two five-star players in linebacker Justin Flowe (CA) and Noah Sewell (UT), both signed in the early period. The class got even stronger pulling four-star Missouri cornerback Dontae Manning out of Kansas City on Thursday. Manning visited the Ducks on Nov. 16 with other official visits to Georgia and Arizona State. Oregon has the top-rated class in the Pac-12, ranked No. 13 in the country.
One team needing some “wins” on the recruiting trail has been USC. The Trojans went into the early period ranked 80th and have moved up to 56th after landing four-star receiver Gary Bryant. Bryant is the second four-star for USC pushing their total commits and signees to 12. Staying in the Pac-12 and California, Arizona State got another big-time recruit out of the Golden State landing four-star LV Bunkley-Shelton on Saturday. The Sun Devils are now ranked 24th, fourth in-conference. For ASU, they have landed four four-star receivers Elijhah Badger, Chad Johnson Jr. Johnny Wilson, and now Bryant out of Southern California.
One player the Pac-12 missed out on was four-star corner Darion Green-Warren. Warren, out of LA area Narbonne High School, verbally committed to Michigan on Saturday. Green-Warren gives the Wolverines 27 players to the 2020 class, ranked 11th.
Georgia was not the only SEC team to pad their class over the weekend, Kentucky, LSU, Texas A&M, Florida, and Arkansas joined in on the action. LSU stole one from A&M and Texas landing four-star corner Dwight McGlothern out of Klein Oak. McGlothern entrenches the Tigers at No. 5 overall, third in the SEC. A&M is holding strong at No. 6 with the addition of their 13th four-star, Louisiana linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (Covington). Florida brought on their 17th four-star in receiver Xazavier Henderson. Henderson’s commitment was a big win for the Gators keeping him from backyard home school Miami and away from Florida State.
The 8-5 season turned in by Kentucky topped off with a 37-30 bowl win over Virginia Tech helped the Wildcats collect in on four-star fun Saturday with in-state safety Vito Tisdale committing. Tisdale had a Top 4 of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, and Texas A&M.
Not to be left out of the party, Arkansas secured another safety to their 2020 haul getting Nick Turner’s commitment on Friday. The Brother Martin (LA) standout was a one-time Georgia Tech commit but backed off on Dec. 2. Turner called the Hogs over 14 other offers. The Hogs have been one of the fastest rising teams up the recruiting rankings once their new head coach, Sam Pittman, was announced. From 116th four weeks ago with just six commits, the Razorbacks are now ranked 59th with two four-star recruits (safety Myles Slusher and receiver Darin Turner).
Photo credit: RNG; LV Bunkley-Shelton