Army Bowl: Predictions on five in-game commitments
SAN ANTONIO, Tex. -- Five of the nation's top prospects are expected to announce their college commitments on Saturday at the Army All-American Bowl (NBC, noon). Here are my picks on which baseball caps will be selected in front of the cameras.
DT Ross Blacklock, Missour City (Tex.) Elkins (3-star)
Schools: Texas A&M, TCU, Houston
Farrell's take: Blacklock was originally going to commit during the game, then backed off it and now is back on the list. He’s a quiet kid and hard to read. He has made an official visit to Texas A&M and has officials to TCU and Alabama scheduled.
Prediction: TCU
WR Donnie Corley, Detroit (Mich.) Martin Luther King (4-star)
Schools: Michigan, Michigan State, Tennessee, Ohio State
Farrell's take: Corley has long been linked to Michigan State, but took officials to Tennessee and Ohio State and the threat of Michigan always loomed. But I think he’s going to stick with his early leader in the Spartans and enroll there next week as they add a key piece to their offensive future.
Prediction: Michigan State
WR Dylan Crawford, Rancho Santa Margarita (Calif.) Santa Margarita Catholic (4-star)
Schools: Oregon, UCLA, Miami, Michigan
Farrell's take: Crawford has been to Michigan and Miami on officials and he’s seen UCLA plenty, but Oregon was where he was expected to commit following his official visit. It was a bit of a surprise when he didn’t and it raised a bit of a red flag. Jim Harbaugh has ties to California for sure and wants to make a habit of stealing kids from the West Coast if he can. This would be a bit of an upset, and I think it happens.
Prediction: Michigan
WR Javon McKinley, Carona (Calif.) Centennial (4-star)
Schools: Oregon, Washington, Notre Dame
Farrell's take: McKinley has been busy,taking all his official visits and doing his homework. And while he has a good friend, Troy Dye, already committed to Oregon, he likes his opportunity a bit better in South Bend. Some on the West Coast expected him to end up at Oregon or at least closer to home, but the combination of education and coaching in South Bend could be too much to pass up.
Prediction: Notre Dame
TE Isaac Nauta, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy (5-star)
Schools: Georgia, Alabama, Michigan
Farrell's take: Nauta was a one-time commitment to Florida State, but decommitted before the season. As a Georgia kid despite playing at IMG in Florida, the Bulldogs have long been considered the favorites since his decommitment despite strong pushes from Michigan and Alabama. I’d be stunned if he didn’t pick Georgia, even with a new coaching staff he’s not overly familiar with. I think home wins out here.
Prediction: Georgia