RIVALS ROUNDTABLE: Memories of the 2018 class
The first Early Signing Period in college football saw many top prospects ink their National Letters of Intent in December, but there are still many future standouts that will sign on Feb. 7. There will be some surprises, like always, and you can expect a handful of prospects to flip Wednesday as well. We take a look at five who are committed to one school, but could flip and sign with another on Wednesday.
CLASS OF '18 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | State | Position | JUCO
Committed to: NC State
Keep an eye on: Notre Dame
The latest: Derrick Eason has been committed to NC State since late July and things looked good for the Wolfpack until about three weeks ago when Notre Dame got involved. The defensive end out of Virginia took an official visit to South Bend on Jan. 26, a little over a week after the Irish offered him a scholarship. It now seems this race is very tight, with some even feeling Notre Dame could have the momentum heading into National Signing Day.
Committed to: Florida
Keep an eye on: Auburn
The latest: About a month ago, all signs were pointing toward Auburn as the favorite to land Richard Gouriage, an elite offensive lineman out of the Sunshine State despite the fact that he was committed to Florida. There was even talk at the time that he would not even visit the Gators officially, but he ended up taking that trip and looked to have all but closed the door on his recruitment. Auburn did not give up and the Tigers hosted him on campus this weekend. If there is a school Florida should be concerned about, it is Auburn.
Committed to: Michigan
Keep an eye on: Georgia
The latest: What is left to report here? He has been a hot topic for some time now. Reese has been committed to Michigan for over a year and a half, but will he end up in Ann Arbor? His final official visit went to Georgia, a school he has visited around 10 times this year. Kirby Smart also went into his home over the weekend for one last visit. Michigan offered three of his teammates in the 2019 and 2021 classes recently and the Wolverines are doing all they can to hang on here. The Reese family has been very quiet about his recruitment for the past nine months, but the wait will be over Wednesday, if not earlier. It could still go either way.
Committed to: Miami
Keep an eye on: Florida
The latest: A little over a week after National Signing Day 2017, Silvera pledged to the school in his own backyard, Miami. He appeared to be very strong to the Hurricanes up until the last few weeks. His visit to Florida the weekend of Jan. 19 is the one that really started some chatter. There seems to be a little confidence behind the scenes in Gainesville that they can actually flip Silvera from Miami. He was in Coral Gables this weekend, so the committed school received the final visit, but will they hang on? Silvera will be a very tough flip, so the Hurricanes still have to be considered the favorite to sign this Florida defensive tackle Wednesday.
Committed to: Alabama
Keep an eye on: Auburn, Georgia and Tennessee
The latest: Is Alabama even in this race anymore or not? Walker has been committed since June, but the night of Nick Saban’s in-home visit, Alabama offered another linebacker. That led some to believe that Walker told Saban he was not going to be part of this class. Walker has not removed his name from the Crimson Tide’s commitment list, so Alabama is still a possibility, but so is Auburn, Georgia and Tennessee. Depending on who you talk to, some think it is down to Alabama and Tennessee, others say Auburn and Tennessee, then you have Georgia and Tennessee and then you even hear Alabama, Georgia or Tennessee. Do you see the common name there? Tennessee. Since Jeremy Pruitt took that head coaching job and hired the staff that had connections to Walker, the Vols have been in a good spot. They have been the school trending the most behind the scenes, but this race could still end many different ways.
