Who will add flair to National Signing Day
Rivals.com's football recruiting analysts weigh in on a question of a day through National Signing Day on Feb. 1.
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Today's question: There always will be a few bizarre moments on National Signing Day. Looking at the prospects in the 2012 class, who is most likely to bring the circus this year?
Mike Farrell: I don't foresee any crazy antics honestly this year from the players who aren't committed because most of them seem to be pretty level-headed, but I think Aziz Shittu could be an interesting one. He's an interesting kid who could do something funny and his decision will be one of the more suspenseful. I am really interested in Stefon Diggs' decision as well because he does everything with some flair but that won't come until after signing day.
Adam Gorney: In this year's class there are a lot of candidates. I truly believe Shaq Thompson is not sure of where he wants to go to school with California, UCLA, Washington and Oregon all involved in the final days before National Signing Day. An unofficial visit to UCLA in the coming days could be telling and I've heard all three are still within striking distance. Stefon Diggs could definitely make things interesting as will Davonte Neal, since he's taking at least one visit after signing day and his recruitment has been a peculiar one. Arik Armstead was supposed to announce days after the Army Bowl and then decided to hold things off and is still prolonging his decision. There are lots of players who could do something bizarre on signing day - or even after it, which makes things stranger. It cannot come soon enough.
Josh Helmholdt: Zach Banner is a fun-loving kid and I could see him doing something off-the-wall when he announces next Monday. He's a good kid too, so I don't expect any of the make-your-mother-cry type stuff. Andre Smith pulled out the old Bear Bryant houndstooth hat when he announced for Alabama on National Signing Day 2006. I could see Banner doing something creative along those lines.
Chris Nee: Seems like pretty much everything about Arik Armstead's recruitment is a bit crazy. Usually at this point in the process a select few schools have emerged as frontrunners for a prospect but with Armstead it seems as though four or more schools think they will legitimately land him. He has already delayed his announcement, which adds intrigue to the situation. His brother, Armond Armstead, is another factor in the entire ordeal. Just seems like a complicated situation.
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Keith Niebuhr: Do I have to pick just one? Seriously, this class is filled with interesting kids. I guess I'll go with Dante Fowler Jr., the five-star defensive end from St. Petersburg (Fla.) Lakewood. This kid has been committed to Florida State for more than a year but has flirted with Florida for several months. In one breath, he says he is 100 percent to the Seminoles. In the next, he says anything can happen. He not only officialed to the Gators last weekend, but was spotted wearing orange and blue at the end of his trip. On signing day, he plans to make an announcement. My question is this: Why? Didn't he commit in December of 2010? Either he really is conflicted or he just loves the attention. Whatever the case, it should make for an interesting occasion.
Brian Perroni: A lot of players in the past have brought the circus upon themselves with by pulling out live animals or making their announcements from hot tubs. The nation's No. 1 recruit Dorial Green-Beckham is likely to have the biggest so-called circus this year but it won't be of his own doing. He has not talked publicly about recruiting in a very long time and it has left the fan bases of Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas all having to rely on hearsay on where he is leaning. Green-Beckham plans to announce on signing day and it will be one of the most anticipated announcements in recent memory.
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