Midwest Spotlight: Five prospects that might flip
RECRUITING 101 SERIES: The commitment | The calendar | The offer
There were over 300 decommitments from Power Five programs in the 2019 class. We know decommitments are going to happen in the 2020 class, but which current commitments will be among that group? Here are five candidates from the Midwest region.
Quarterback Danny Clark made one of the earliest commitments of all-time when he pledged to Ohio State in December of his freshman year. The class of 2017 prospect ultimately decommitted from Ohio State and signed with Kentucky, but announced his plans to transfer from Lexington shortly after the 2018 season concluded. Caden is Danny’s younger brother and he, too, made an early commitment. The younger Clark pledged to Alabama shortly after his sophomore year. Considering the way his brother’s recruitment and career has gone, and that he is an Ohio kid committed to Alabama, Clark is one I would watch for a potential decommitment.
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Back in February I had a chance to see Fleming at the Best of the Midwest Showcase in Indianapolis. The Miami (Ohio) commit ran 4.46 in the 40-yard dash that day, which was among the best times recorded. However, his functional speed – how fast he actually is on the field – was the best I saw at the entire camp. The deal with Fleming is that he has played quarterback throughout his high school career, but likely projects to another position in college. He throws a good football and I am not ruling out quarterback at the next level, but his upside is higher at a position like slot receiver. Power Five schools will recognize that too once they get a better opportunity to see him, and I expect those offers to come this spring and summer. While prospects have chosen Group of Five schools over Power Five programs, it does not happen often.
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The No. 1 ranked prospect in the Midwest region is also one of the softest verbal commitments in the 2020 class right now. Johnson pledged to the home-state Buckeyes last summer, but was strongly affected by the retirement of Urban Meyer in December. Prior to Meyer’s announcement Johnson was very solid in his Ohio State commitment, but since December he has taken unofficial visits to programs such as Alabama, Georgia, Michigan State and Tennessee. For now the five-star offensive tackle maintains a commitment to Ohio State, but the Buckeyes have a lot of work to do if they are going to keep it.
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Two weeks after making a commitment to the University of Iowa, three-star defensive end Michael Lois was hanging out at a friend’s pool when a diving accident resulted in the Wisconsin native breaking three vertebrae in his neck. The accident immediately ended his junior football season and put his football future in doubt. Just a few weeks later Lois walked onto the sidelines in Iowa City wearing a neck brace, determined to get back to the player he was. Whether that happens, however, is unknown. The best-case scenario is Lois playing at 100 percent as a senior, but if that is not the case then it becomes in both Iowa and Lois’ best interests to go different routes.
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One of the surprise commitments of the last few months came when Kansas-based running back Ky Thomas pledged to Minnesota. The Topeka native was a priority for the new coaching staffs at both Kansas and Kansas State when they came in back in December, as both made sure the top-ranked in-state running back knew he was wanted in Lawrence and Manhattan. Iowa and Iowa State also offered, but Thomas clicked with Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck. Les Miles and Chris Klieman are unlikely to let a top target from within their own borders get away that easy, though. Expect them to continue to pursue Thomas until the end.
