NSD 2023: Ranking the 10 biggest recruiting stings of the 2024 cycle
There are always major decommitments in every recruiting class and the 2024 group is no different. Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney looks at the top 10 so far.
*****
MORE NSD: Gorney Awards | How each Power Program announced its signees | Five teams with work left to do | Latest on the top unsigned offensive players | All the news, analysis and interviews | Winners and losers | Who's still left? | UGA leads the race for No. 1 | National Signing Day Studio Show
NSD INTERVIEWS: South Carolina coach Shane Beamer | Florida signee Gregory Smith | Georgia Tech signee Anthony Carrie | Rutgers coach Greg Schiano | NC State coach Dave Doeren | Oregon State coach Trent Bray | TCU coach Sonny Dykes | Florida State coach Mike Norvell | Stanford coach Troy Taylor | Arizona coach Jedd Fisch | Illinois coach Bret Bielema | Washington State coach Jake Dickert | Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith | Auburn signee Amaris Williams | Syracuse coach Fran Brown | Georgia Tech coach Brent Key | No. 1 prospect Jeremiah Smith | West Virginia coach Neal Brown | Virginia Tech coach Brent Pry | Auburn coach Hugh Freeze | Amaris Williams announces live on Rivals | Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham | Clemson coach Dabo Swinney | Nebraska coach Matt Rhule | Purdue coach Ryan Walters | Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire | Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea | Larry Tarver discusses flip to Nebraska | Legendary coach Lou Holtz | CFB analyst Yogi Roth | Fitz and Gorney preview the big day | John Garcia Jr. previews signing day in the Southeast
TEAM RECRUITING RANKINGS: ACC | BIG TEN | BIG 12 | PAC-12 | SEC | OVERALL
CLASS OF 2024 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
TRANSFER PORTAL: Latest news | Transfer search | Transfer tracker/player ranking (football) | Transfer team ranking (football) | Transfer tracker/player ranking (basketball) | Transfer team ranking (basketball) | Rivals Portal Twitter
*****
KJ BOLDEN'S FLIP FROM FLORIDA STATE TO GEORGIA
After Bolden committed to Florida State over Georgia in August, the five-star safety from Buford, Ga., never made it a secret that he would take other visits and see other programs. Auburn looked like it had the best chance to flip Bolden but the Bulldogs kept after him as well and coach Kirby Smart took a bigger hand in the recruitment. On signing day, he flipped to Georgia.
Sting factor: 9
*****
CAM COLEMAN'S FLIP FROM TEXAS A&M TO AUBURN
Texas A&M pulled off a massive coup over Auburn when Coleman committed to the Aggies with the Tigers finishing in second place and it was extra impressive since the new five-star receiver lives only about an hour away from Auburn. But with the coaching change in College Station and renewed interest from the Tigers, Coleman flipped his pledge late and signed closer to home.
Sting factor: 9
*****
DEMARCUS RIDDICK'S FLIP FROM GEORGIA TO AUBURN
When all is said and done, Riddick might end up as the best linebacker in this class. The Clanton (Ala.) Chilton County four-star committed to Georgia during his junior season but by the summer it looked unlikely that he would stick with the Bulldogs. Alabama and Auburn were working Riddick really hard and it looked very much like he would end up playing for the Crimson Tide but Riddick flipped to Auburn instead.
Sting factor: 9
*****
ARMONDO BLOUNT'S FLIP FROM FLORIDA STATE TO MIAMI
Early in his recruitment, Blount made a commitment to Miami but quickly backed off it. Then the Miami (Fla.) Central standout pledged to Florida State. Blount also reclassified down from 2025 to 2024 and in the closing weeks before signing day, Blount started to get way more involved with the Hurricanes again. It became clear that Miami was going to flip him and on signing day that happened.
Sting factor: 8
*****
NY CARR'S DECOMMITMENT FROM GEORGIA
One of the most talented receivers in the 2024 class, Carr did not follow Moultrie (Ga.) Colquitt County teammate Landen Thomas to Florida State. Instead, the four-star committed to Georgia and that lasted for more than a year but he backed off that pledge early in his senior season. A few weeks later, Carr flipped to Miami and the Hurricanes are gaining a massive playmaker at receiver.
Sting factor: 8
*****
XAVIER FILSAIME'S FLIP FROM FLORIDA TO TEXAS
The talented four-star safety from McKinney, Texas committed to Florida in April and was really one of the ringleaders of getting the Gators’ class to be elite. Even after another tough season, Filsaime implored recruits to stay committed. But after some coaching changes and the re-emergence of Texas in his recruitment, Filsaime made the tough call and flipped to the Longhorns.
Sting factor: 8
*****
JEREMIAH MCCLELLAN'S FLIP FROM OHIO STATE TO OREGON
Lost in the discussion of five-star Jeremiah Smith in Ohio State’s recruiting class and the projection of Buckeyes signee Mylan Graham, who is also special, was McClellan, a phenomenal receiver in his own right. That triumvirate would have been incredible in Columbus like many that came before them but the four-star receiver decided on signing day to flip to Oregon.
Sting factor: 8
*****
DRE'LON MILLER'S DECOMMITMENT FROM TEXAS A&M
The productive four-star receiver from Silsbee, Texas committed to Texas A&M in the summer before his senior season and it was a big recruiting win for then-coach Jimbo Fisher and his staff. But midway through his senior season with the Aggies on the ropes, Miller backed off his pledge and the rumor was that he’d flip to LSU. That never happened and after a visit to Colorado, Miller pledged to the Buffaloes saying after that USC actually finished in second place.
Sting factor: 8
*****
DYLAN RAIOLA'S FLIP FROM GEORGIA TO NEBRASKA
Georgia will be just fine at quarterback especially with Carson Beck coming back but it’s never easy to lose a player with the talent of Raiola, who’s ranked second in the 2024 class now. The five-star quarterback who flipped to Nebraska close to signing day threw 34 touchdowns and only one interception this season. He could be an immediate starter in Lincoln.
Sting factor: 8
*****
JUSTIN SCOTT'S FLIP FROM OHIO STATE TO MIAMI
Ohio State usually has elite defensive linemen who can make a massive impact on the game - and Scott looked to be the next in line. The Chicago (Ill.) St. Ignatius standout is not only powerful but he’s also quick and athletic as well and that’s why he’s a five-star prospect. But in late November, Miami got involved again with Scott and the five-star flipped his commitment to the Hurricanes.
Sting factor: 8