College Football’s Top 5 Uncommitted 2020 Recruits After Early Signing Day
All-time teams, smash-mouth football, and conference championship winning teams are all put together along the recruiting trail. Year after year, college football programs across the nation seek to identify the best of the best at each position among thousands of players that will fit into a given scheme, and that is the easy part. From there, recruit and coach have to connect, the feel at the school has to be right for a player, and the academic programs must match. Once all comes together, a team with promise for the future is constructed.
The three-day run of the early signing period has brought forth excitement for the diehards waiting to see where a five- or four-star player may commit and if their beloved program might be able to persuade a verbal commit to another school have a change of heart before signing their National Letter of Intent. Clemson has done the improbable bringing six five-star players from the 2020 class to town earning a top-recruiting ranking with 23 total commits. Alabama (26) and Ohio State (25) are at full capacity behind Clemson with Georgia (19), LSU (21), Texas A&M (22), Auburn (24), Florida (24), Texas (17), and Oklahoma (22) rounding out the top 10. Each program has left a little bit of room for some of the top recruits that remain uncommitted before National Signing Day on Feb. 7, 2020.
Of the 28 five-star rated players, only three remain unattached. Of the remaining top 100 players, only six four-stars are still left on the board that can help bring wins to a hopeful squad.
Top Uncommitted Recruits
5-Star CB Kelee Ringo (6-2, 205) – Saguaro High School (AZ)
There are great reasons 33 college football teams have offered Kelee Ringo, he is a rare game-changing talent on the gridiron. As a corner, his size is hard to come by capable of shutting down big receivers. His world-class speed allows him to keep up with any receiver and chase down any running back. In a March track meet, Ringo scorched the track in the 100 laying down a 10.43. Ringo is not only a very talented corner with speed, he is a phenomenal all-around athlete rushing 52 times for 712 yards with 13 scores while pulling in four passes for 54 more yards during his senior season. On defense, he put an end to 32 plays, 17 solo, with four tackles for a loss, and picked off three passes during his senior campaign.
Of all the offers on the table, Georgia, Oregon, and Texas have hosted Ringo on official visits with Texas and Oregon coaches making an in-home visit with him in December. Given Saguaro’s proximity to Arizona State, don’t count out the Sun Devils as a possibility.
5-Star TE Darnell Washington (6-7.5) – Desert Pines High School (NV)
Darnell Washington is that freak athletic talent that has to be seen to believe. At 6-7.5, 261-pounds, he is a monster talent capable of being a next level tight end or defensive end – if he continues to add weight, he could end up being a defensive or offensive tackle projecting into the NFL; see former Arkansas Razorbacks/Philadelphia Eagles tight end to offensive tackle Jason Peters. As a tight end, Washington has hands like an oven mitt and has quickness in space creating mismatches with linebackers. On the other side of the ball, his wingspan and quickness off the snap is too much for most offensive tackles.
Reported offers have come from 35 collegiate programs with official visits scheduled in December to Miami and Tennessee with Ole Miss coaches heading to the Las Vegas area for an in-home to pitch their services. Visits have also been made to Penn State, West Virginia, and Georgia. Where Washington may end up is a guessing game, and every school in the country would make room for him if needed.
5-Star RB Zachary Evans (5-11, 200) – North Shore High School (TX)
If you are new to following college football recruiting and top high school football programs, Houston’s North Shore High School is a powerhouse. The Mustangs finished the 2019 season 14-1 ranked ninth in the nation (MaxPreps) capturing a Texas 6A state title and avenging their regular season loss to Katy in the playoffs. Senior stats for Evans have not been released, but he finished his sophomore season with 1,483 yards with 27 scores and took his game to another level in 2018 rushing for 1,784 and 29 touchdowns. Evans has deceptive speed in the box and in the open field, great balance, and fights through arm tackles for extra yards. He projects as a 1,000-yard rusher in the FBS ranks.
Evans camped with LSU over the summer taking an official to Baton Rouge in October and has officially visited Texas A&M. Whispers on the recruiting trail have Evans wanting to play in the SEC. Other contenders could be Alabama, Georgia, and Arkansas.
4-Star WR Gary Bryant Jr. (5-10.5, 164) – Centennial High School (CA)
After earning playing time as a freshman for California powerhouse Centennial High School, Gary Bryant had a breakout sophomore season pulling in 48 passes for 863 yards from Class of 2018 five-star quarterback Tanner McKee (Stanford). Drawing double-coverage, Bryant continued to be a force for the Huskies snagging 40 passes for 905 yards with 11 touchdowns in 2018 and closed out his career securing 58 passes for 1,134 yards with 10 scores. Bryant’s speed allows him to play on the outside at the high school level, but depending on where he signs, his size may be better suited in the slot. Bryant is a matchup nightmare for corners, going against college nickels and linebackers is mismatch offensive coordinators can exploit. Bryant also has experience running jet sweeps opening up the possibilities within a given offense that defenses will have to account for on every snap.
Bryant started his official visits heading to Norman in April followed by stops at Washington, Oregon, Arizona State, and USC. Out of Southern California, there are logical lines for Bryant to Oregon, Arizona State, and playing for the home team at USC. USC and Oregon loaded up in the 2019 class at receiver, Washington and Arizona State did not.
4-Star DE Alfred Collins (6-6, 278) – Cedar Creek High School (TX)
There are other players ranked higher than Collins, Deland High School (FL) safety Avantae Williams and Columbus High School (FL) receiver Xzavier Henderson, who are uncommitted, but Collins might be the most impactful four-star player left in 24/7’s Top 100. Going against Texas 5A squads, Collins dominated the line of scrimmage with 86 tackles, 53 solo, in 10 games played. His ability to impact a game was showcased with 35 tackles for a loss, eight sacks, 23 QB hurries and four forced fumbles while picking up three loose balls.
On June 4, Collins announced his Top 5 listing LSU, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Alabama. As things change, Baylor has come after Collins hard getting him on campus twice in November for unofficial visits and again in December for an official. Collins took official visits to all of his listed top schools except LSU. All three in-state schools need him, and want him badly.