There were 19 Power Four decommitments in the month of September and while it’s a quieter month than the summer there was still a lot of movement on the recruiting trail. Here are the 10 biggest Sting Factors from the month.
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1. Douglas Utu's flip from Tennessee to Oregon
The five-star offensive lineman from Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman committed to Tennessee in June but it only lasted about three months as Utu flipped his commitment to Oregon.
The Ducks do some of their best recruiting work on committed players and Utu is another example as he could play right tackle or inside at the next level.
He joins four-star Gorman teammate Alai Kalaniuvalu in Oregon’s class now.
Sting factor: 9
2. Javion Hilson's decommitment from Florida State
The five-star defensive end from Cocoa, Fla., backed off an early commitment to Alabama and has now reneged on his pledge to Florida State after the Seminoles have gotten off to a terrible start this season and many others are pushing.
Florida State beat out a major push from Texas to keep him in the class but over the last few weeks, Hilson reopened things. Texas could be the eventual landing spot but he was at UCF over the weekend and that’s an intriguing scenario, too, as others are also involved.
Sting factor: 9
3. Isaiah Campbell's decommitment from Clemson
Largely out of the national spotlight, Campbell committed to Clemson in January and it looked like his recruitment was basically over. The four-star defensive tackle from Durham (N.C.) Southern Durham picked the Tigers, and Clemson usually never loses commitments from these top local prospects. Yet in September, Campbell decided to reopen his recruitment.
North Carolina and Tennessee have been the two programs mentioned most for him.
Sting factor: 8
4. Myron Charles' flip from Florida State to Texas
On the day Texas whipped Michigan in The Big House, Charles flipped his pledge from Florida State to the Longhorns, giving the SEC power a much-needed addition along the defensive line.
The four-star defensive end from Port Charlotte, Fla., had taken an official visit to Texas in June and his commitment to the Seminoles lasted only a few months before his flip to the Longhorns.
Sting factor: 7
5. Floyd Boucard's decommitment from Oklahoma
Boucard’s commitment to Oklahoma lasted less than two months and then surprisingly and seemingly out of nowhere, the four-star defensive tackle from Miami (Fla.) Central backed off his pledge to the Sooners.
There wasn’t a flip planned but Florida has been a program closely watched by Boucard for a while and now USC could be surging in his recruitment. Miami and Colorado are two others to watch.
Sting factor: 7
6. Demetres Samuel's flip from Florida back to Syracuse
Samuel just could not quit Syracuse. The four-star defensive back from Palm Bay (Fla.) Heritage originally committed to the Orange, then flipped his commitment to Florida in late July only to flip back to Syracuse at the end of September.
Samuel, who could play anywhere in the secondary, was in Syracuse this past weekend for its win over Holy Cross.
Sting factor: 7
7. Rashad Johnson's flip from Georgia to Texas A&M
Johnson committed to Georgia in July and called the Bulldogs “the best of the best.” He hit it off with coach Kirby Smart and he has a connection to defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson. So it came as a surprise when not even two months later, the Bushnell (Fla.) South Sumter versatile defender flipped his commitment to Texas A&M.
Sting factor: 6
8. Jett White's decommitment from Maryland
After an early commitment to USC did not work out, the California native picked Maryland at the All-American Bowl in January and his commitment to the Terrapins stuck all the way until late September.
Now playing at Miami (Fla.) Edison, White has reset his recruitment as Florida State, UCF, UCLA and a host of others are making a run at the December grad.
Sting factor: 6
9. Antonio Branch Jr.'s flip from Penn State to Colorado
The high three-star safety from Miami (Fla.) Northwestern committed to Penn State in June and it was a big win for the Nittany Lions but his pledge would only last a few months. Branch trekked out to Colorado for the Baylor game and it turned into one of the biggest thrilling finishes in recent memory as the fans stormed the field and so much more. Branch flipped his commitment to the Buffaloes.
Sting factor: 6
10. Kamori Moore's decommitment from Oklahoma
Moore committed to Oklahoma in July 2023 and his pledge to the Sooners lasted more than a year until recent days when the Lee’s Summit (Mo.) Lee’s Summit North standout backed away and reopened his recruitment.
Iowa State was a mainstay from the beginning in his recruitment and Nebraska is also a major one to watch to land his commitment now.
Sting factor: 5
