West Spotlight: Five potential flips
The spring and summer saw most of the top 2023 recruits in the West region nail down their commitments, and the ones that were left over are beginning to make their decisions as well.
However, that hasn't stopped major programs from recruiting top committed talent as these five prospects in the West are on flip watch as we get deeper into the fall.
THIS SERIES: Five East Coast prospects that could flip | Mid-South flip watch | Southeast flip watch | Midwest flip watch
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CLASS OF 2023 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
CLASS OF 2024 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals100
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An early Oklahoma commit who backed off that pledge and then picked USC as he followed coach Lincoln Riley to the Trojans, the five-star quarterback surprised a lot of people with a summer visit to Texas A&M.
The Aggies are still looking for a quarterback in the 2023 class, and Nelson has shown significant interest in A&M while staying committed to USC. Over the last few weeks, the rumblings of a flip have died down, but there are still valid reasons to believe it could happen.
Playing in the SEC, not playing in the Big Ten down the road, NIL opportunities and many other factors could be under consideration here. It should help USC’s chances that the offense under Riley has looked phenomenal early this season, while the Aggies have sputtered and even lost to Appalachian State this past weekend.
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Branch makes the list because he also took a summer visit to Texas A&M, and while it’s now considered a long shot that he ends up flipping to the Aggies (it might have been a near impossibility all along) it’s still something to monitor.
The five-star receiver’s brother plays at USC, and the two are super close. The Trojans’ offense has been humming so far this season and Branch fits perfectly in what Riley wants to do on that side of the ball. But Branch did go to College Station, seemed to love his experience there and if the Aggies can pick it up through this season it’s at least something to watch in the coming months, especially if the five-star goes back to Texas A&M on another trip.
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One of the top receivers nationally and an Oregon commit since May, Dickey took a visit to Miami this summer that definitely makes things interesting in his recruitment for many reasons.
The Atherton (Calif.) Menlo Atherton standout has a prior relationship with new Miami coach Mario Cristobal from his time in Eugene, and this offseason might have really sparked something since Dickey played on the Miami Immortals 7on7 team at the OT7 event in Las Vegas with Miami QB commit Jaden Rashada, also a Northern California prospect.
The Ducks have done a great job recruiting Dickey and keeping him in the recruiting class, but if Miami continues to play well this season and Rashada stays in Dickey’s ear then things could get really interesting later this fall.
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A great summer and an unreal start to his senior season have drawn serious SEC interest to Robinson, who committed to UCLA in May and has given no serious indication he’s swaying in his pledge. But the San Diego Lincoln prospect who has rushed for 1,027 yards and 15 touchdowns in four games this season will visit Texas A&M this weekend and Georgia is also trying very hard to get him to campus.
Robinson has said time and again that his commitment to the Bruins remains firm, but that might change after seeing the environment in College Station this weekend. And if this visit entices the four-star running back to take other trips then all bets might be off.
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After a move from Arizona to California, the new high three-star quarterback at Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., has seen his recruitment get busier after a commitment to Boise State in mid-March.
Cal offered Tiller - who had a big junior season in Arizona - late in the summer and more Pac-12 interest could definitely come soon, especially if his senior year goes well at Rancho Cucamonga. USC commit Christian Pierce is a teammate and many college coaches will see games this season. Tiller was intrigued by the Cal offer, no doubt, but has not given any indication yet that he’s seriously thinking about a flip.