ORLANDO – Almost everybody at the Under Armour Game is already signed but a handful are still available plus a lot of players talked about which schools finished second in their recruitments in this all-star version of the Recruiting Rumor Mill:
Ole Miss and Mississippi State are the final two and while a gameday decision is coming it looks like the Bulldogs could have a big edge here. Mississippi State quarterback commit Michael van Buren will be working hard on him this week and since he’s from Starkville and had already been committed there it makes sense.
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The Timpson, Texas, five-star remains committed to Texas A&M and he could sign with the Aggies but the feeling is that Alabama is making a real serious push here. Playing receiver is becoming a major factor for the Crimson Tide and while others are also involved, it could be a two-team decision here.
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The Texas A&M commit did not sign with the Aggies and is looking at a February signing day decision with Tennessee, LSU, Texas and Oklahoma still in the running. There was a lot of Vols talk on Friday but the Tigers are right down the road and there’s been a lot of talk about Texas, too.
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The five-star Alabama receiver commit is still serious about flipping to Auburn and a visit to Texas will also happen in January but the feeling is that he sticks with the Crimson Tide. He’s an Auburn legacy and there has been some significant Auburn talk around him but there’s a better chance than not that he stays with the Tide.
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SECOND-PLACE FINISHERS
… Former Texas A&M commit Debron Gatling signed with South Carolina but Louisville finished in second place for the high three-star receiver from Milton, Ga.
… Kylan Fox stuck with UCF after being committed there since July 4 but getting significant flip interest in the closing months. Mississippi State intrigued him and finished second but the Knights kept him.
… Former LSU commit Zion Ferguson has been pledged to North Carolina since late June and stuck with the Tar Heels but Louisville finished in second place and there was interest there.
… Four-star linebacker Aaron Chiles signed with Florida and had been committed there since June but Michigan finished in second place as there was real interest in the Wolverines.
… The four-star defensive tackle from Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei signed with Oregon but Aydin Breland had Miami, not Georgia, second on his list.
… A Virginia Tech commit since July, four-star receiver Chanz Wiggins stuck with the Hokies but Tennessee tried to flip him late and Maryland finished in second place.
… After a recruitment that saw many twists and turns, four-star defensive end Ernest Willor signed with Wisconsin but Maryland finished in second place for the Towson (Md.) Concordia Prep standout.
… UCF signee Jaylen Heyward almost committed to Miami after his decommitment from Georgia in July but only weeks later picked the Knights and stuck with that decision.
… One of the biggest storylines of the 2024 class was five-star offensive tackle Jordan Seaton picking Colorado. In second place, it was a tie between Alabama and Tennessee and then Ohio State in his recruitment.
… Jonathan Daniels committed to Florida State in July and stuck with the Seminoles but Kentucky came a very close second for the four-star offensive tackle from Pensacola (Fla.) Pine Forest standout.
… An early Florida commitment, four-star running back Jerrick Gibson committed to Texas in June and while there were some flip rumors that he would go back to the Gators, it was actually Georgia who finished second in his recruitment.
… Jaylen Mbakwe has been committed to Alabama since July but Auburn finished second in his recruitment and the Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville four-star cornerback grew up a Tigers fan.
… Five-star receiver Cam Coleman flipped from Texas A&M to Auburn but after it was clear the Aggies weren’t going to work out following the dismissal of coach Jimbo Fisher and position coach Dameyune Craig, Florida and Penn State tried to get involved but the Tigers were the only team really in the mix.
