National Signing Day: Rumor mill working overtime as NSD nears
National Signing Day is upon us and rumors abound heading into Wednesday morning. Here is all the latest on the top-end recruits heading into the big event.
MORE: Farrell's NSD predictions | Hot rumors | NSD preview show | Announcement guide
The five-star linebacker is not completely finalized with his decision but this looks like an Oregon/USC battle until he picks a hat on Wednesday morning. Flowe took his last official visit to USC this past weekend and he had a great time but the Trojans have been trailing in his recruitment for a long time. Oregon has been consistent, had an excellent in-home visit with his family and Eugene is still close enough that he can get home quickly and family and friends can see him often. There has been a sense that Flowe has been lukewarm on USC through his recruitment but things are heating up now. Still, it feels like Oregon has a slight edge.
On Tuesday morning, there seemed to be growing belief that the idea of Harris flipping to Florida was getting a little ahead of itself and the four-star defensive end who’s committed to Texas A&M could be sticking with his decision. He just got back from College Station and those memories could be fresh in his head but he’s also recently been to Gainesville and Florida is doing everything to flip him. This is really a tough one to read because Harris isn’t saying much, but the latest sense is that Texas A&M is in a better position than first believed. As of late Tuesday night, it looks like the Aggies could hang on here.
Early on Tuesday, the idea was that Washington was 60/40 leaning toward signing early but the five-star tight end tweeted out midday that his mind was made up and he won’t sign on Wednesday. He still could commit at the Under Armour game and then sign in February. The bigger rumor is that Washington is heavily leaning toward the SEC - with Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee all locked in the battle - but that would not be the best news for Miami at this point.
The closer we get to signing day the clearer it looks that high four-star linebacker Phillip Webb is heading to LSU. For so long, Auburn felt like the team to beat for the Sugar Hill (Ga.) Lanier standout and in recent weeks this became an Alabama/LSU battle. But Demouy Kennedy looks locked up for the Crimson Tide now and Webb has been leaning toward the Tigers for some time now. If Webb ends up elsewhere on Wednesday, it would be a surprise.
McClellan has been committed to Oklahoma since July 2017 so for more than two years but there is growing belief as signing day gets closer that a flip is in the works to Alabama for the four-star running back. The Sooners wouldn’t be completely devastated by this since four-star Seth McGowan remains committed and they could add somebody later but it’s a big loss since McClellan is one of the top backs in the country - and he’s joining a crowded class as Alabama has four-stars Roydell Williams and Kyle Edwards on board. Unless lots of people are wrong, McClellan might be headed to Tuscaloosa.
The rumor on Smith is that Florida looks to be edging out Alabama all the way to the final whistle here although some other sources are saying that’s not exactly true, either. Smith committed to Alabama in July but he’s taken numerous visits to Florida since then, he’s developed outstanding relationships with that staff and our guess is that wins out when it’s time to decide finally.
The departure of Jeff Hafley as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator to become Boston College’s coach definitely had a negative impact on Phillips, who had a great relationship with Hafley throughout the recruiting process. He was one of many reasons why Phillips picked the Buckeyes and so when that news broke, the four-star cornerback scheduled a late visit to Utah. Phillips respects the defensive tradition there and the development of its players and so a flip does feel very possible on signing day. But one source said Ohio State isn’t giving up and still very much wants Phillips in this class.
As of this writing, it seems undetermined whether Hardy will sign on Wednesday and some believe that doesn’t mean anything when it comes to his Auburn commitment and some believe the longer this goes the better chance Tennessee has of flipping him. The four-star defensive tackle has said he wanted to sign early but then he said he was waiting to sign with his teammates in February. If the paperwork doesn’t come in, this is at least one to watch.
While still committed to Oregon, the rumor is that Slusher is mainly focused on picking between Arkansas and Nebraska and a lot of people feel the Razorbacks have the edge. First, Slusher would get to stay closer to home since Broken Arrow is about two hours from Fayetteville and secondly there is an immediate need at safety so he could step right into a big role as a freshman in the SEC. Nebraska is pushing, though, so the Huskers aren’t out of it but Arkansas makes lots of sense.
Other news and notes: Four-star quarterback CJ Stroud looks like he has Ohio State in the driver’s seat heading into Wednesday morning. ... A flip from Oregon to Arizona State could be imminent for four-star receiver Johnny Wilson although that’s been the word for many days now. ... There is some chatter that four-star defensive end Reggie Grimes might not sign on Wednesday and that could be welcome news for South Carolina. ... Michigan might have the slight edge over USC for four-star cornerback Darion Green-Warren. ... No one is talking when it comes to four-star quarterback Chubba Purdy and whether he will stick to his Louisville commitment or flip to Florida State, which just landed a QB over the weekend.