Three-Point Stance: D-linemen on flip watch, 2025 QBs, visits at underdogs
Rivals national analyst John Garcia Jr. has thoughts on three prospects who play in the trenches that are on flip watch, two QBs in the 2025 class to watch and a weekend that features some top recruits heading to watch home underdogs in today's Three-Point Stance.
*****
MORE THREE-POINT STANCE: Jeremiah Smith, five-star candidates hot seat check | Prime, coordinators, Midwest underclassmen
FINAL 2023 TEAM RANKINGS: Comprehensive (overall) ranking | High school/JUCO ranking | Transfer portal ranking
CLASS OF 2024 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals100
TRANSFER PORTAL: Latest news | Transfer portal player ranking | Transfer portal team ranking | Transfer Tracker | Message board
*****
1. Three defensive linemen from the Southeast on flip watch.
The longtime Alabama commitment from nearby Birmingham has taken several trips to other programs since making the pledge, but now he has official visits lined up for Auburn this weekend and Colorado in December.
The Tigers have long been in play to try to make a flip and the CU trip will be his second of the fall/winter months after being blown away by everything in Boulder earlier this month for that Colorado State showdown.
Alabama's staff remains in contact regularly, per Beaman, but multiple trips elsewhere is always worth watching, especially with programs when dynamic head coach recruiters such as Hugh Freeze and Deion Sanders are involved.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ALABAMA FANS AT TIDEILLUSTRATED.COM
*****
The summer pledge to Texas was back at in-state Florida for its latest win last weekend and word is that the Texas staff found out around the time it flooded message boards. Robinson has been all-in on Texas at every chance to talk about or represent UT, but Florida has not slowed down in its pursuit of the Orlando native, who grew up a Gators fan.
It will be interesting to track the senior's next few visits, but it won't be easy to get back to Austin, considering he has already used his official visit to UT back in June. Florida also hosted him for a summer trip, but the logistics of getting to Gainesville are much easier to solve.
"They keep saying, 'Stay home. Why leave Florida when you can just play here?' " Robinson told Rivals of the Gators' pursuit.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH TEXAS FANS AT ORANGEBLOODS.COM
*****
A quiet recruitment ahead of a commitment to Auburn back in August has been anything but silent since then as more programs look to make a move for the athletic interior defenseman. Nicolas has begun to feel the full-court press by Texas, potentially as a replacement if D'antre Robinson flips to Florida, and sources in South Florida tell Rivals to expect a trip to Texas relatively soon.
Assistant coach Bo Davis is leading the charge for Texas and there is a sense it will be a close call for Nicolas to continue to evaluate the soon-to-be SEC rivals. Auburn had been trending for Nicolas since the early summer, so it won't be a simple change of heart if it goes down.
*****
2. Two more QBs to know in 2025
Andrew Alford: Everyone has taken notice of top 25 recruit Cam Coleman's explosion in 2023, and his triggerman deserves some of the credit here. Alford has burst onto the scene after a transfer from nearby Columbus, Ga., to become one of the state of Alabama's leading passers.
Through five games this fall, he has racked up nearly 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns against just one interception as Phenix City (Ala.) Central has run out to a 5-0 record while averaging 46 points per game in the process. Alford has a multisport background at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, with enough torque to push the ball 50 yards down the field. His condensed motion and quick trigger should also draw the attention of college coaches as his junior campaign rolls on, though Alford has yet to reel in that elusive first scholarship offer.
Zander Smith: Another transfer talent – he prepped at Palmetto (Fla.) High before making the move to state power Lakeland – Smith stands tall at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds with a classic release and power to all three levels. He is playing efficient ball for the Dreadnaughts, too, completing a staggering 75 percent of his passes through five games this fall. Smith reeled in early offers from Kansas, Indiana and Toledo, but he's not done racking up more college options. He has hit several SEC and ACC campuses since the summer months and with more game tape out, we expect to hear his name come up more often.
*****
3. Top recruits set to watch home underdogs this weekend.
The college football season always influences the next recruiting cycle, but what about in real time? There are plenty of programs gearing up for huge recruiting weekends with projected winners coming to town.
Ten programs are set to host Top 25 programs as clear underdogs in Week 5. Whether we're talking Auburn hosting Georgia, Colorado welcoming USC or even Duke with Notre Dame headed to Durham, coaches are going to have to navigate the time it takes to make an impression with top prospects ahead of kickoff. That's because some of the feelings after the game may not be as neutral following what should be in some cases double-digit home losses.
Then again, everything is a sell, right?
Coach A: "You see, Johnson, that's why we need you to commit and get this class finished for us. We need you on the field ASAP!"
I can just hear it now.
RELATED: Top 10 visits this weekend