There were 23 Power Four decommitments in the month of July with many of them leading to immediate flips to other programs. Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney breaks down the four-star stings in another busy month, rannking them by the sting factor left on the team that was jilted.
MORE GORNEY: Who won recruiting in July? | Recruiting is fun again in the state of Alabama | Recruiting Rumor Mill
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1. DaSaahn Brame's flip from Oregon to Tennessee
Leading up to Brame’s decision in late June, it was a battle between Oregon and Tennessee and there were whispers the Vols were out in front but the Ducks landed his commitment.
It lasted about a month as the very talented four-star tight end flipped to the Vols in late July as they never backed off recruiting him. One of the best tight ends in the 2025 class, the Derby, Kan., standout has size, playmaking ability and the speed to stress defenses down the field.
Sting factor: 8
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2. Ivan Taylor's flip from Notre Dame to Michigan
The four-star safety from Winter Garden (Fla.) West Orange does not do many events and stays out of the recruiting limelight but the NFL legacy (he’s Ike Taylor’s son) had a tough decision to make in recent weeks: Stick with his Notre Dame commitment that he made in December or flip.
Alabama and Michigan got seriously involved in Taylor’s recruitment and the Wolverines got the four-star to change his mind. Although not in the same conference it’s definitely a big rivalry so this one hurts on the field and off.
Sting factor: 8
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3. Derick Smith's flip from Alabama to Auburn
The recruiting battles between Alabama and Auburn remain scorching hot and Smith is just one example as the four-star athlete from Selma (Ala.) Southside committed to the Crimson Tide in March only to take multiple trips to Auburn including one for Big Cat Weekend and flip to the rival Tigers.
Smith totally stays off the recruiting radar and doesn’t do any national events but he could be one of the most athletic and productive players in the 2025 class. This is a huge win for Auburn in a rivalry on and off the field that is getting more interesting.
Sting factor: 8
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4. Ty Hawkins' flip from TCU to SMU
Starting right before the Elite 11, word started leaking out that SMU was making a serious run at Hawkins and that there was a very real chance the new Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star quarterback could make the flip.
That only picked up in the weeks following the event as Hawkins made the flip to the Mustangs on Jan. 3. This sting would be even higher except TCU quickly took measures to get a QB committed after Hawkins’ departure. See below.
Sting factor: 7
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5. Adam Schobel's flip from Oklahoma State to TCU
The four-star quarterback from Columbus, Texas has appeared in Sting Factor stories before since Schobel originally committed to Baylor but then flipped to Oklahoma State in April.
A few months later when Hawkins flipped from TCU to SMU, Schobel (who attended TCU games his entire life) had the opportunity to flip again and he picked the Horned Frogs earlier this month. It looks like his recruitment is finally shut down but it’s been a ride.
Sting factor: 7
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6. Jadon Perlotte's flip from Georgia to USC
There have been so many players over the last few months that made early commitments to USC and then flipped to Georgia that one wonders whether it’s even worth the Trojans’ time to get into that state and try to land top prospects.
But there was some comeuppance here as the opposite happened with Perlotte, who committed to the Bulldogs in December 2022 and has been flirting with numerous schools ever since. USC had the four-star linebacker from Buford, Ga., on campus recently and gave Georgia a taste of its own medicine by flipping him.
Sting factor: 7
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7. Josiah Sharma's flip from Oregon to Texas
When the massive four-star defensive tackle from Folsom, Calif., took a semi-secret visit to Texas over the weekend, he told me that there was definite interest in the Longhorns but that if any changes were to be made in his recruitment it would be closer to signing day. But Sharma could not wait.
After making a commitment to Oregon in late June on a visit, the pledge lasted less than a month as the four-star flipped to the Longhorns in recent days.
Sting factor: 7
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8. Antonio Coleman's flip from Alabama to Auburn
In one of the most extraordinary recruitments in Rivals history, Coleman might finally be settled. The four-star defensive tackle from Saraland, Ala., originally committed to Alabama, flipped to Auburn then flipped back to Alabama only to flip back to Auburn during his latest visit to The Plains.
That might be the first time in Rivals history over a double flip to two programs but Coleman might finally be done with his recruitment - or is he?
Sting factor: 7
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9. Jamarrion Gordon's flip from Alabama to UCF
In a unique circumstance, UCF now has Jackson, Ala., teammates Gordon and three-star receiver Keeyun Chapman committed in its 2026 class and the Knights might not be done as four-star quarterback Landon Duckworth from the same school is also very high on UCF after an earlier commitment to South Carolina.
Gordon was committed to Alabama so a flip to UCF was definitely big and while there might be some speed questions, he can definitely cover.
Sting factor: 7
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10. Dominick Kelly's flip from USC to Georgia
A Southeast prospect took a visit to USC earlier in the offseason and committed only to back off that pledge and flip to Georgia or another regional program. That has been a major storyline in recent months and it happened for Kelly as well as the 2026 four-star defensive back from Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy flipped to the Bulldogs in recent days.
Kelly now joins fellow four-stars quarterback Jared Curtis and defensive back Jontavius Wyman in a loaded start to Georgia’s 2026 class.
Sting factor: 7
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11. Brandon Brown's flip from Texas to LSU
The four-star defensive tackle from Palm Bay (Fla.) Eau Gallie committed to Texas in December without ever visiting the school and then position coach Bo Davis left the Longhorns for LSU. Still, Brown took a visit to Austin and loved it, hit it off with the coaches and flip rumors died down a little bit.
But Miami was pushing hard for a flip and after visiting Baton Rouge and reuniting with Davis, Brown decided to flip to the SEC power.
Sting factor: 6
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12. Zymear Smith's flip from Alabama to Maryland
Alabama landed a big-time playmaker in March when the four-star athlete from Ridgely (Md.) North Caroline committed to the Crimson Tide. Smith can play receiver but could also move to running back or cornerback if needed so coach Kalen DeBoer and his staff surely could have found ways to use him.
But as the summer picked up and Maryland never gave up (especially since the campus is only about an hour away), Smith flipped his pledge to the Terrapins.
Sting factor: 6
