Mid-South Spotlight: Five prospects on flip watch
Rivals national recruiting analyst Cole Patterson takes a look at a handful of prospects inside the Mid-South region that could be at risk to flip their commitments down the stretch of the 2024 recruiting cycle.
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Pope committed to Arkansas in April, choosing the Razorbacks over a host of SEC programs following a spike in his recruitment. Pope has taken multiple visits to Fayetteville and is obviously a priority for Sam Pittman and staff.
With that said, the South Panola standout is being heavily courted by Mississippi State and the in-state program is pushing to keep him close to home. While a switch in pledge is not imminent, it's a recruitment worth paying close attention to down the stretch of the remainder of the cycle.
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Butler is one of the more intriguing members of Georgia Tech's recruiting class. The three-star linebacker announced his decision for the Yellow Jackets in April. Yet, his stock has heated up during an impressive senior campaign in New Orleans.
Ole Miss offered in the summer and Mississippi State put an offer on the table this week. Butler visited LSU for the Tigers' win over Auburn, too. Butler remains committed to Georgia Tech but SEC programs are turning up the heat.
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Bussey chose Texas A&M among a top-five that also included Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma and Texas back in late September. The Aggies were long perceived to be the favorites for the dynamic athlete out of East Texas so it was no surprise when they won out.
However, Oklahoma made a strong push down the stretch and LSU was rumored to be the team that forced Bussey to hold off from making a summer decision. Bussey was back at LSU this past weekend as the Tigers continue to recruit him, while Oklahoma assistant Emmett Jones has pressed the right buttons for the Sooners.
With Texas A&M struggling on the field, it is worth monitoring what Bussey will ultimately do when it's time for the pen to hit the paper.
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Reliford is another member of Texas A&M's impressive recruiting haul. Reliford opted for the Aggies over Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. Since then, the Louisiana defensive end has only elevated his stock.
The in-state LSU Tigers extended an offer in the summer with both Tennessee and USC jumping into the mix late last month. Reliford was in Baton Rouge for the win over Auburn as Brian Kelly and company look to keep an impressive defender inside the state borders.
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Filsaime has been vocal about his pledge to the Gators since committing to Florida in the spring. Originally from the Sunshine State, Filsaime didn't want to pass up on an opportunity to return home. However, Texas has begun to turn up the heat and attempt to get into the mix for the high four-star safety out of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Filsaime visited as a recruit for the Red River Rivalry and the Longhorns quickly offered. While Filsaime appears to be firm in his decision and simply wanted to take in a great atmosphere, it's always worth monitoring when a touted in-state recruit is offered by Texas. The Gators winning, like they did this past weekend, would go a long way in solidifying that pledge as others work down the stretch.