Top 10 commitment announcements
It seems like every year recruits try to put a new spin on the old "pick a hat" routine when it comes time to announce a college decision. Over the past few years we've seen the rise of the bucket hat, the use of family members to reveal a choice or even live animal props. But which players have made the biggest splash at their announcement ceremonies? We took a look back at some of the most memorable moments from announcement ceremonies, both on Signing Day and at other times during the year, and narrowed them down to our 10 favorites.
10. K Quinn Nordin – Rockford, Mich. (2016)
One of the newest ways America’s top prospects are making their commitments known is through pre-produced videos. Rivals.com and other outlets have produced several over the past year, but when the nation’s No. 1 kicker committed to Penn State last July, he took matters into his own hands. Nordin produced his own video and released it via YouTube, where to date it has received nearly 50 thousand views. Nordin has since decommitted from the Nittany Lions, but that hasn’t kept him out of the headlines. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh famously “slept over” at Nordin’s house earlier this month and the Wolverines look to be the favorite to land his signature on Signing Day.
9. S Rashad Roundtree - Evans (Ga.) Lakeside (2015)
When the Rivals100 prospect gathered members of the media in his school's auditorium back in November, there were no hats on the table, just a statue representing his high school mascot. When Roundtree walked onto the stage wearing a dark colored sweat suit, many were puzzled about how he would reveal his choice. Then Roundtree pulled out an iPad, and elected to first tweet his decision to commit to Georgia. He then stood up and took off his jacket and pants, to reveal a white button down shirt, and custom khaki pants featuring embroidered Georgia Bulldog mascot Uga. The custom pants are a regular for fraternity members on game days across SEC country, but a recruit busting them out for an announcement was a first.
8. RB Bryce Brown – Wichita (Kansas) East (2009)
The recruiting saga surrounding Brown went well past Signing Day as the No. 1 overall player in that class milked every bit of drama he could of his recruitment. In addition to running his own website and charging $9.99 per month for info, Brown didn't hold a press conference to announce his final decision until mid-March. After taking the podium and addressing the crowd for a few minutes, Brown pulled out a Miami hat, only to take a long look at it and then hand it to his brother Arthur, who was already a member of the Hurricanes team. He told his brother, "I'm going to let you handle that down there," before pulling out and putting on a University of Tennessee hat. Ultimately his time with the Vols, and in college football, was short-lived, but he has squeezed out a four-year NFL career, mostly as a backup.
7. DE Solomon Thomas – Coppell, Texas (2014)
In 2013 Stanford had a historic season on the field, winning the Pac-12 and clinching a berth in the Rose Bowl. Even before the year began several of Stanford's star players embraced the "nerd" moniker often given to Stanford students. As the year rolled along some of same players sported "nerd glasses" following games at postgame press conferences. So when it came time for Solomon Thomas to announce his decision on Signing Day 2014, it shouldn't have come as a surprise when the Rivals100 prospect whipped out his own nerd glasses to announce his commitment. What made it even more unique was Thomas pulling out a potted tree featuring the Stanford logo, an homage to the Cardinal mascot.
6. DB Jabrill Peppers – Paramus (N.J.) Catholic (2014)
Peppers was one of the most sought after players in the Class of 2014 but unlike most, he decided to wrap up his recruitment rather early in the process. He elected to announce on live TV, but without the normal fanfare of a school auditorium or press conference. Instead, he did one-on-one interview from a local TV studio. But when asked where he was going to go to school, rather than simply answering the question, Pepppers broke into a rap. The short verse ended with "I can see it now, the fans screamin' yellin' as I'm walking out that tunnel in a winged helmet." Peppers then pulled out a Michigan helmet and ended the interview by putting it on and buckling the chinstrap.
5. DB Derric Evans – Dallas (Texas) Carter (1989)
Long before announcements were carried live on TV and debated before, during and after, there was Derric Evans. The star defensive back from Dallas was part of a legendary team at Carter High that was loaded with prospects, including future Miami star linebacker Jessie Armstead. When it came time for Evans to announce his decision and sign his Letter of Intent, he decided to do so on local TV. But instead of sitting at a table in the school library or auditorium, Evans instead opted to sit in a hot tub while cameras captured him signing his letter of intent with Tennessee. Thanks to off-field issues, Evans' career with the Vols was over before it began, but his hot tub signing ceremony lives on in Texas lore.
4. RB Omar Bolden – Ontario (Calif.) Colony (2007)
Long before he was a defensive back for Denver Broncos, Omar Bolden was a four-star all-purpose back in the Class of 2007. Leading into his announcement on a regional sports channel, there was plenty of speculation that Bolden would stay close to home and end up at USC. He had hats on the table from Oregon State, Washington and the Trojans and when it came time to announce he flicked the Beavers and Huskies off the table before picking up the USC hat. It looked as if he was bound for Troy, picking up the USC hat and saying "I think it might be … " only to disregard the Trojans hat as well and select Arizona State. The choice ultimately worked out for Bolden, who was a fourth round draft pick in 2012.
3. S Landon Collins – Geismar (La.) Dutchtown (2012)
For Collins it wasn't so much about a big reveal as it was about what happened immediately after making his choice. The five-star safety spurned in-state school LSU to commit to Alabama and he had planned on throwing up gloves featuring the Alabama "A" to reveal his choice. Before he could get the gloves on the attention quickly shifted to his mother, who openly said she didn't agree with Collins decision to commit to Alabama over LSU. The moment made for some pretty awkward TV, but is fondly remembered by those who enjoy recruiting drama. Two years later, in 2014, the same scenario played out with Collins' half-brother, Gerald Willis. The Rivals100 prospect picked Florida over LSU, much to the dismay of his mother again. Collins is currently in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers, while Willis has since transferred to Miami.
2. OT Andre Smith – Birmingham (Ala.) Huffman (2006)
The five-star offensive tackle made Alabama fans sweat until National Signing Day before holding a ceremony at his school to announce his decision. But instead of picking from baseball style caps on the table like so many other prospects have done over the years, Smith surprised the crowd by pulling out a hound’s-tooth trilby style hat, just like the ones that legendary Alabama coach Bear Bryant made famous during his time in Tuscaloosa. Smith went on to be a first-round pick and is still playing in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals.
1. RB Isaiah Crowell – Columbus (Ga.) Carver (2011)
The five-star back's announcement ceremony started like most, with a few hats sitting on the table in front of him. After announcing his intentions to commit to Georgia by putting on a Bulldogs cap, it seemed like just another ho-hum announcement -- until Crowell looked off camera and gestured to someone to bring him something. That something? It turned out to be a live bulldog puppy, dressed appropriately in a Georgia Bulldogs sweater. Video of the announcement quickly went viral and while Crowell's career in Athens was short-lived, the current Cleveland Browns back will always be known as the first prospect to garner a live animal as part of his announcement. Another future Bulldog running back, Class of 2016 four-star Elijah Holyfield, followed Crowell’s lead and used a pair of Bulldogs for his announcement back in the fall.