Rivals100 RB Jerrion Ealy's mind is made up
Jerrion Ealy is the No. 5-ranked running back and No. 58-prospect in the country. That is very impressive, but he probably should be a little higher. Will he ever play football again though? That is for another day.
The Rivals100 prospect out of Jackson (Miss.) Jackson Prep is set to announce his decision live around 12pm ET from his high school. He is fresh off an official visit to Alabama and he has taken official visits to Clemson, Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
Most probably know, but in case you didn't, Ealy was committed to the Rebels for over a year before re-opening his recruitment January 8.
Not many prospects that decommit from a school go back to the same school. We have seen it this year though with Trey Sanders committing, decommitting and eventually signing with Alabama. Could we see this again on National Signing Day with Ealy?
There is some Ole Miss buzz in the air as we close in on when Ealy puts the pen to the paper, but this recruitment has been pretty fluid the last month.
What we do know is that the elite two-sport star knows who he is signing with tomorrow.
"I have made my mind up and I made my decision over the weekend," said Ealy Monday evening.
Hmmm... So what does this mean? He made the decision over the weekend, so does that mean good news for the Crimson Tide since he was in Tuscaloosa at that time? Could Nick Saban and his mostly new staff come in, steal another elite talent late to give them their third elite running back this cycle? You never can count them out.
Ealy is keeping things to himself though, so if it is Alabama, or whatever school it is for that matter, they are still waiting to find out.
"My parents know my decision, but nobody else knows yet. I will tell the schools my decision on signing day."
Is Clemson still feeling good about their chances? They did just take a commitment from three-star running back Michel Dukes over the weekend to give them two backs in this class, so does he want to be the third part of that trio?
He has raved about the culture at Clemson, and of course it has a strong football and baseball program, but do the Tigers have the same momentum late as they did just a few weeks back? Some feel it has slowed down.
That leads us to Mississippi State and Ole Miss, the two in-state schools. Ealy has stated in past interviews that the Bulldogs have the best baseball program in the country, but the problem in Starkville is, the lead recruiter (Charles Huff) for Ealy that kept Mississippi State in the game is now coaching running backs at Alabama. Are they out? Some think so. They have one running back, Lee Witherspoon signed.
Now, back to that school in Oxford. They do not have a running back on their commitment list 24 hours from signing day. Does that play into their favor? It doesn't hurt, but Ealy is not one scared of competition.
Matt Luke and his staff have made Ealy a top priority from the beginning, not to mention Mike Bianco and the baseball staff doing the same since Ealy's been in high school. Remember he was once committed there too.
Ealy said, "Family environment and development of me as a man more than athlete are the key factors that helped me make my decision."
Does he feel like part of the Ole Miss family? Out of their 28 signees/commitments, 18 are from Mississippi. Ealy knows most, if not all of those guys. Could that factor into it?
We will all know very soon.
But, even when he signs Wednesday, the wait won't be over. All will then have to wait until June 3, when the MLB Draft takes place. Ealy has been listed in numerous mock drafts as a first round pick.
Who will he sign with Wednesday? All will find out soon. Will he ever even suit up for that program though? That is a decision that will be made another day.
