All-American Bowl Sting Factor
During the year we here at Rivals.com do a feature called “Sting Factor” whenever an important prospect backs off his commitment from a school. We take reaction from the local, regional and national level to measure just how much of an impact losing a commit can have on a school’s class. Now that the All-American Game is over, we take a look at the eight prospects who made commitments during the game and analyze whey they stung for particular opposing programs who missed out on landing their prime targets.
MORE FROM THE ALL-AMERICAN BOWL: The Gorney Awards | Final stock report | Stock report from Saturday's game | Winners and losers
JADON HASELWOOD TO OKLAHOMA
Who it stings: Georgia, Miami, Auburn
Why: Anytime a player of Haselwood’s lofty status has such major swings in his recruitment, the sting is going to be high across the board. After an 18-month commitment to Georgia, Haselwood re-opened his commitment at the start of the fall, but many people thought he would eventually land back in UGA’s class. But over the last month it became clear that Oklahoma was the team to beat and he officially become a Sooner on Sunday.
Even with the advanced warning, missing out on a talent like him combined with the recent loss of veteran receivers makes this this biggest sting of the game. Auburn and Miami make the list as both worked diligently to get Haselwoody to de-commit, but ended up not even having hats on the table for his final decision.
KHRIS BOGLE TO ALABAMA
Who it stings: Miami, Tennessee
Why: Bogle is yet another player from South Florida leaving the Sunshine State to head north, with the talented defensive end set to play his college ball in Tuscaloosa. Nick Saban and company have been a thorn in the Hurricanes over the past decade and losing Bogle even after hiring defensive-minded head coach Manny Diaz stings.
As for the Vols, they had been holding out hope to land Bogle after getting him on campus a few times earlier in the year, and while they could definitely use a player of his caliber, they didn’t go into Saturday’s announcement with much hope of landing his commitment.
MARCUS BANKS TO ALABAMA
Who it stings: Texas A&M, Florida State
Why: Banks committed to Alabama after looking like he he was headed to Texas A&M for the better part of the month of November, spurning the in-state Aggies at a position of need. Alabama raiding Texas for talent is nothing new, but since Jimbo Fisher arrived in College Station, the Aggies have done a nice job keeping talent close to home. Banks will go down as the one that got away and will also face Texas A&M on a yearly basis in the SEC West.
Florida State had a very really shot to land Banks, whose father played for the Noles, but couldn’t overcome a strong push from the Tide. Not landing Banks hurts for the Noles, especially with several of the school’s top defensive back commitments still unsigned.
BRU MCCOY TO USC
Who it stings: Texas
Why: Despite his status as an elite recruit, McCoy managed to keep a pretty low profile on the recruiting trail. USC long seemed the favorite, but Texas continued to hold out hope that it could pull the upset all the way until Saturday morning.
Instead, the home fans had to look on as McCoy chose the Trojans, becoming the latest five-star to stay home in Southern California. The Longhorns have had success in California and while it hurts to not land McCoy, it’s the cost of going head-to-head in national recruiting battles.
TYRIQUE STEVENSON TO GEORGIA
Why: Much like Bogle, Stevenson spurned the hometown Canes to head north to SEC country, committing to Georgia during the broadcast. Since de-committing from Florida earlier in the cycle, it was set up to be a Miami vs. Georgia battle, with the Canes holding the early lead. But as things went south on the field in Coral Gables it only helped the Dawgs as they took the lead and held it for most of the past few months. Florida fans have long since moved on from Stevenson, but they won’t be able to avoid him for long as they will have to see him on a yearly basis in the SEC East.
DAVID BELL TO PURDUE
Who it stings: Indiana, Penn State
Why: Purdue continues to raise its profile on the national scene, landing a commitment on the national stage for the second consecutive year. Boilermakers fans will hope that Bell can have the same type of impact that Rondale Moore did this past season, when he was an All-American as a true freshman. Hoosiers and Nittany Lions fans were left on the outside looking in over the past few weeks as it became clear that Bell was headed to West Lafayette, but the fact that each school has to see them in conference over the next four years adds to the sting factor. Indiana particularly feels it, as Bell is an in-state prospect headed to the rival Boilermakers.
KYLE FORD TO USC
Who it stings: Washington, Colorado
Why: From the time USC turned up the heat on Ford, it was going to be tough for any school to pull him away from the Trojans, but Washington gave it a good effort and still held out hope that it could land Ford into the weekend.
Instead, he’s staying home with USC and the Huskies will have to look elsewhere to fill their needs at wide receiver. Finding another prospect even close to his skill set at this late juncture isn’t likely. Colorado was also in the mix for Ford during the fall, but fell off as his decision neared.
CHRIS STEELE TO FLORIDA
Who it stings: USC, South Carolina
Why: Steele made his third and final commitment of the 2019 cycle when he picked the Gators over the Trojans and Gamecocks. Steele had previously been committed to UCLA and USC and Trojans were hoping to pull him back into the fold after a number of staff changes following a disappointing 2018 season. But Steele was too far down the road with the SEC schools and will now suit up on Saturday’s for the Gators. Losing a five-star talent from its own backyard hurt USC, but at least the Trojans don’t have to see him on a yearly basis like the Gamecocks, who had hoped to add him along with California native Ryan Hilinksi.