Rivals Roundtable: Key questions heading into National Signing Day

After working tirelessly to pull him away from rival USC’s grasp, five-star linebacker Mique Juarez is a must-get for Jim Mora and his UCLA staff as a couple SEC programs remain in the picture. The Bruins lost Myles Jack early to the NFL Draft and had a porous defensive unit that would welcome Juarez with open arms. Mora landed the top prospect in California last year in Josh Rosen and, in order to sustain the recruiting momentum, would benefit greatly by beating Alabama and Ole Miss for Juarez's signature on Wednesday. - Blair Angulo, West analyst

It's not as though Alabama is desperate for the talent boost, but when a five-star prospect in your own state is still on the table, it's a big deal. Add in the fact that Ben Davis' father is the Crimson Tide's all-time leading tackler, and expectations are created. Nick Saban can't let a legacy recruit such a Davis escape him. Davis leaving the state would be a bad look for Bama and him choosing Auburn would be even worse. Alabama is the solid favor to land Davis, though, so the fallout from losing him will likely be avoided. – Rob Cassidy, Southeast analyst

For the sanity of the fan base and to send a message to the world that Michigan can recruit and pull the No. 1 player in the country, I think the Wolverines need Rashan Gary. But as far as need, I think it’s Terrell Hall and Maryland. The Terps have been decimated a bit, especially with the loss of Dwayne Haskins and Keandre Jones to Ohio State, but keeping Hall away from Alabama and FSU and others would be crucial. – Mike Farrell, national recruiting director

The two must-get prospects from the Mid-Atlantic are Rashan Gary and Terrell Hall. Michigan has put in too much time and effort to come up empty with Gary, the top-rated player in the 2016 class. The way Maryland lost big-time local players Keandre Jones and Dwayne Haskins has a lot of people questioning "The Movement." Landing the five-star Hall would really help D.J. Durkin and the new staff close out the 2016 recruiting class on a high note. – Adam Friedman, Mid-Atlantic analyst

It is crucial to UCLA that it lands five-star linebacker Mique Juarez. The Bruins have invested a lot of time in the top-rated prospect in the state, linebackers coach Scott White and others have done everything possible, and to lose him to either Alabama or Ole Miss would be tough. The former USC pledge could fill the role of Myles Jack - or any of the linebacker spots - immediately because he is that talented. – Adam Gorney, national recruiting analyst

I don't think Michigan fans realize how important it is for them to get Detroit King four-star cornerback Lavert Hill. More than half of the Wolverines' starters this past season were from the states of Ohio or Michigan, and yet they have just one commitment from those states in the class of 2016. Ohio is the fifth-largest state for Division I talent and the Detroit area continues to pump out top prospects year after year. I do not believe for a second Jim Harbaugh can sustain Top 10 recruiting classes if Michigan does not have a significantly stronger presence in those two states. Getting Hill gives it a little more momentum in the region heading into 2017. – Josh Helmholdt, Midwest analyst

Maybe this is the easy answer, but No. 1 overall, five-star Rashan Gary to Michigan. All the speculation has been Gary to Michigan. It has been that way for a long time too. If it does not happen on National Signing Day, the class will be a bit of a disappointment despite all the good the Wolverines have done. Then, of course, there is what Gary brings to the table as a game-changing defensive lineman. – Jason Howell, Mid-South analyst

I continue to see Derrick Brown as a "must-get" for several programs, but most importantly Auburn and Georgia. The Tigers have done a great job of recruiting the defensive line over the past few years, but with Montravius Adams only around for one more year, the school needs a dominant force in the middle of the defense and I think that's where Brown slides in perfectly. When it comes to the Bulldogs, Brown is more of a "must-get" from the standpoint of perception. As a five-star who is close to Athens, it would be a major win for new head coach Kirby Smart to keep Brown in-state. If he gets away, Smart could be open to some of the same criticism Mark Richt received during his time in Athens for letting the best players in the state slip away to SEC rivals. - Woody Wommack, Southeast analyst

Houston made all the buzz during the season, with head coach Tom Herman making headlines by wearing a shinny grill on his teeth, but he might not be smiling when it’s time for four-star wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland to announce his decision. The Rivals100 prospect took official visits to Arkansas, Florida and TCU last month, and each program appears to be in it heading into National Signing Day. - Angulo

I have a few, but I think we'll see Tyler Byrd switch his commitment from Miami to Tennessee. Former Miami interim head coach Larry Scott, who recruited Byrd to Miami, is now at Tennessee. Byrd's friend and high school teammate, Carlin Fils-Aime, is already a member of the Volunteers' 2016 class as well. Byrd is coming off a visit to Tennessee and the stars seemed aligned for a change of heart. FSU commit Jamel Cook, who is coming off a visit to USC, is another possibility. Wide receiver Dredrick Snelson could also change his commitment from Minnesota to Penn State or another program. – Cassidy

Tyrie Cleveland for me. I think he flips to either Arkansas or Florida and I think it’s mainly because everyone thinks Tom Herman will be gone after next year in Houston. He’s actually a great fit for Houston but the coaching situation is tough with Herman mentioned for many jobs already next year. Shavar Manuel from Florida to FSU is also one I am watching. – Farrell

It really sounds like Rivals100 wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland isn't going to sign with Houston on National Signing Day. TCU, Arkansas and Florida have hosted him on official visits this month and everyone seems to have a different opinion on where he will end up. TCU gets my vote because it just seems unlikely that Cleveland leaves his home state. – Friedman

This is a big one for many reasons but I wouldn't be shocked if LSU five-star linebacker commit Erick Fowler flips to Texas. It would keep a five-star in-state and it would give coach Charlie Strong a talented linebacker/defensive end hybrid who could immediately play for the Longhorns. I would not be surprised at all if four-star WR Tyrie Cleveland flips as well but I'm going with Fowler as the highest-rated possibility. – Gorney

Most expected four-star wide receiver Dredrick Snelson to back out of his Minnesota commitment well before National Signing Day, but here we are a day out and he is still a soft verbal to the Golden Gophers. However, a host of teams are still in the mix according to Snelson and when it's time to put pen to paper I have a hard time seeing the Florida native ending up in Minnesota. This past weekend's official visit to Penn State was reportedly his first time ever seeing snow, and going from that to experiencing Minnesota winters for four straight years just seems unlikely. – Helmholdt

Erick Fowler continues to be a hot topic and Patrick Hudson also draws quite a bit of speculation, but Tyrie Cleveland is the one who has the best chance of flipping. The Rivals100 Houston commit has taken trips to TCU, Arkansas and Florida, and there is a thought that it is not if he flips but where. I am predicting Arkansas, even after Florida made a strong impression on his final weekend. – Howell

Several players plan to announce a "final decision" on National Signing Day but if a prospect is out taking visits and exploring options and has an announcement set, you can almost count on a flip. One of the highest-ranked players in my region poised to flip his decision appears to be four-star Tomon Fox. The super athletic defensive end has been committed to North Carolina for months, but a recent visit to Virginia Tech has him weighing his options. If he does end up at Virginia Tech it would be a terrific steal for the new coaching staff. - Wommack

The foundation had been set at Georgia for Kirby Smart to have immediate success on the recruiting trail, but he has done a great job of keeping that class intact while also drawing new looks. Given the frenzy just before the dead period, signing Jacob Eason was a major coup that could pay dividends as early as this coming season. In the West, former Oregon State assistant Kalani Sitake has fared well since taking the helm at BYU. He’s an alum with connections all over the region and recruits have raved about the hire since he returned to Provo. - Angulo

Being hired in the middle of a recruiting cycle isn’t easy. So while Georgia fans wanted more from the Bulldogs’ class, the work Kirby Smart has done to retain commitments and build on the class has been commendable. Retaining five-star quarterback Jacob Eason was a massive victory in its own right, and stealing four-star wide receiver Riley Ridley, who once seemed bound for both Alabama and South Carolina, was also a notable win. – Cassidy

I think it will end up being Kirby Smart, who inherited a bunch of top guys who love the Dawgs. He should close very strong and push toward the top five or so. – Farrell

Since Will Muschamp was hired by South Carolina on Dec. 6, the Gamecocks have added 15 commitments. Three of them are four-star prospects and 10 of them are three-stars. The job Muschamp and his staff have done filling out that class with two months to go until National Signing Day has been tremendous. – Friedman

Almost without a doubt it's been Georgia's Kirby Smart. He has been non-stop going after top prospects, kept five-star QB Jacob Eason in the class and he could be the bedrock of the Bulldogs' future success. Five-star tight end Isaac Nauta is committed along with a bunch of in-state four-stars. The SEC powers could have picked apart this recruiting class if Smart showed any weakness but he hired a quality staff, targeted the best recruits and landed many of them - plus he's probably not done. – Gorney

I mentioned Iowa State's Matt Campbell in the last Rivals Roundtable, but he could fit again here. To mix it up I'll go with Dino Babers at Syracuse. With less than two months to fill out this recruiting class, Babers and his staff landed 17 commits at last count, including several they have flipped from other Power Five programs. What Babers has also done is flipped a few prospects we have rated as Power Five talents who had slipped under the radar of those schools and committed to MAC programs. Indianapolis defensive end Kendall Coleman is a perfect example, and could end up being one of the steals of this class when looking back in four years. – Helmholdt

Barry Odom and Missouri are quietly putting together a solid class in Columbia. Their tactics have not grabbed headlines, and Odom was not a huge national name when he was hired. However, the staff has worked hard to solidify current commitments, grabbed a few big names, and kept the class moving toward National Signing Day. The Tigers swung Damarea Crockett and quarterback Micah Wilson from Boise State. They grabbed three-star Marvin Terry and secured the commitments of DeMarkus Acy, Trystan Castillo and Albert Okwuegbunam. They are also still involved with three-star Joshua Jacobs and Alabama commit Brendan Scales as signing day approaches. – Howell

Even if Smart doesn't land Brown, Georgia figures to close with several big names, including five-star Mecole Hardman Jr. In his time in Athens, Smart and his staff have reshaped the class in a very short period time. Because Smart was still coaching at Alabama through the National Championship Game, he had much less time than some others who took new gigs. But a top 10 finish is likely and will be a pretty impressive feat. - Wommack