Army Bowl: Five commitment predictions after Day 1
Day 1 of Army Bowl practices are in the books and after talking to several prospects and listening to various rumblings around town, it’s time to take a stab at five predictions for prospects who are currently uncommitted.
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The contenders: LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Florida State
Breakdown: Joseph is slated to take at least three official visits in the month of January but said on Monday that he could announce a decision as soon as this week. The mixed messages make it tougher to read on what Joseph is going to do, but it’s hard to imagine him landing anywhere else but with the hometown Tigers.
The pick: LSU
The contenders: Auburn, UCLA, Ole Miss
Breakdown: There were rumblings that Joiner had already committed to LSU and that he would announce his pledge to the Tigers at this weekend’s game. That appears to no longer be the case as Joiner said on Monday that LSU was “out” and he was shifting his focus to other options. He mentioned several schools as potential official visit destinations, but said the Auburn and UCLA are the most likely. Will Auburn find a place for him in the class? It could depend on whether or not one or more of their talented tailbacks elect to declare early for the NFL Draft. If not, Ole Miss could be an option, despite Joiner also saying the Rebels are no longer in contention on Monday.
The pick: Auburn
The contenders: Alabama, LSU, Miami, Clemson
Breakdown: Surtain is a seasoned vet when it comes to dealing with the media and has managed to keep from tipping his hand throughout the process. He still has visits to take in January and those could change things but right now his family ties to the state of Louisiana combined with his relationship with LSU defensive backs coach Corey Raymond makes the Tigers the favorite.
The pick: LSU
The contenders: Louisville, Purdue, Texas
Breakdown: Moore was a longtime Texas commit but backed off his pledge prior to the early signing period and is now exploring new options. But Moore has said he plans to announce his decision during Saturday’s game, meaning it’s pretty easy to see where things are going. Purdue was trending even before Moore back off his pledge to the Horns and the Boilermakers seem like the most logical choice.
The pick: Purdue
The contenders: Virginia Tech, Stanford, Clemson
Breakdown: The early signing period passed without a decision from Hollifield and shortly after that there began to be some buzz about Clemson potentially making a move for Hollifield. But when asked about his plans this week, Hollifield admitted that the lure of Stanford, combined with the extra academic he’s work to get into the school is going to be a factor.
The pick: Stanford
