National Signing Day In-Game-Thread

[SBR Lou]

Anyone stoked for this?

Top Uncommitted Players

Manti Te'o, OLB, Honolulu/Punahou[/b]

Player rank (position rank): 2 (1)

Considering: Notre Dame, UCLA and USC

[onlooker]

Nope, sorry.

[El Degeneroso]

Always excited. Haven't followed recruiting too closely this year but will be keeping an eye out all day.

[Chance Harper]

National Signing Day: Winners & Losers

More important than the NFL draft when collegians leave for the pros, National Signing Day takes center stage today as high school seniors make their official declaration for the next step in their careers. And the hits just keep on coming for Pete Carroll at USC as the Trojans received commitments from the top QB in the nation, Matt Barkley, and the top-ranked defensive end, Devon Kennard of Phoenix.

Wednesday is the day. All across the country, high school seniors are putting pen to paper and signing letters of intent to play college football at their chosen destinations.

National Signing Day is way more important at this level than the NFL Draft is to the pros – it’s not like a college program can fill positions of need with free agents. The betting odds on the futures market go up or down depending on how teams do at the recruiting level.

Most of the top recruits have actually made informal (often public) verbal commitments to their chosen teams. Here are the early winners and losers as I see it:



Winner: USC Trojans
Pete Carroll is easily one of the best recruiters in the game, coming up with stud freshmen year after year. This time, Carroll got a commitment from the No. 1 prospect on the board, quarterback Matt Barkley, as well as top-ranked defensive end Devon Kennard.

Barkley was heavily recruited by rival Pac-10 teams Stanford, UCLA and Washington, which makes this signing even more important, although Barkley isn’t likely to play much in 2009. Kennard comes with the complete package and should make an immediate impact – but with the red flag of his season-ending torn ACL last September.

Winner: LSU Tigers
Life after Nick Saban isn’t so bad. The national champions from the 2007 season are reloading in a big way under Les Miles, locking down the versatile Russell Shepard at quarterback – provided Miles wants to keep him there. Shepard’s passing and running skills are both something to behold.

Tigers supporters are likewise thrilled to welcome No. 1 safety prospect Craig Loston to Baton Rouge after Clemson thought they had a deal way back in May. Loston is also a return specialist and can play a mean wide receiver, too.

Winner: Alabama Crimson Tide
Yes, Saban still has it. The Tide are cleaning up on the recruitment front; among the choice cuts coming into Tuscaloosa are top-rated RB Trent Richardson, 325-pound OT D.J. Fluker, No. 2 ILB Nico Johnson and No. 4 pivot A.J. McCarron. Richardson has one of the best opportunities among any of the first-year skill players to make a splash in 2009.

Loser: Wisconsin Badgers
Bret Bielema is in a tough spot. His team has gotten progressively worse in the three years since he took over from three-time Rose Bowl winner Barry Alvarez. It’s difficult enough to bring recruits from out of state as it is.

The top frosh on the board for Wisconsin at press time was Jon Budmayr, the No. 16-rated quarterback who committed in May and broke his collarbone in August. At least Budmayr will give Badgers fans something more than just a one-dimensional pocket passer.

Loser: Iowa Hawkeyes
Maybe it’s the state of the economy, or simply the effects of a century of migration to the West Coast, but these are not good times in the Big Ten. Iowa had the fewest commitments in the conference at press time. Local ties helped the Hawkeyes land No. 16-ranked WR Keenan Davis from Cedar Rapids, who could end up at safety. No. 32-ranked RB Brandon Wegher from Sioux City has deceptively good power running skills at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds.

But coach Kirk Ferentz couldn’t hang onto the top prospect from Iowa, David Barrent, a massive OT at 6-foot-8 and 290 pounds who de-committed in July and will hit the books at Michigan State.

Loser: BYU Cougars
Brigham Young suffers from a similar regional bias as the Badgers and Hawkeyes, but it cuts even deeper across religious and ethnic lines, this being a private institution owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The most promising Cougar freshman on the board is No. 4 center Terry Alletto, who committed to coach Bronco Mendenhall in December. But BYU needs help on defense, and losing to Utah in 2008 may have cost them tackles Siosaia Tuipulotu and Latu Heimuli, both choosing the rival Utes.

[MartinBlank]

Crazy, just heard it.....Te'o to USC.

He is scheduled to appear on a USC recruiting show at 1PM---kind of tipped his hat on that one.

[Willie Bee]

Here are some of the recruits my beloved Texas Aggies have picked up...

JaMarkus Benjamin, 6-4, 165, WR (Malcolm X High School, Dallas): Ranked 249th in his class of 248, but hell, he runs a 4.1 40 and his palm sweat is like a natural stick 'um. Only scored 330 on the SAT, so will have to attend Blinn Jr. College this summer where he will take Crack Pipe 101 and Underwater Basket Weaving in hopes of becoming academically eligible.

Billy Bob Jumpback, 6-1, 180, QB (Hayseed High School, Hayseed, Tx): A real steal as Jumpback originally made a verbal commitment to Amarillo Jr. College where his girlfriend Mindy Lou is a 6th-year senior still 20 hours short of her associates degree in Cake Baking. Hopes to eventually make the NFL, but if not he says he will be happy driving daddy's tractor on the family farm.

Jack Sebastien, 6-2, 425, OG (I.M. High School, Enid, OK): Referees constantly flagged the I.M. High offense for too many men on the field, thinking Sebastien was indeed two players. Need a sun dial to clock his 40-yd time, but he's as big as a mountain and makes opposing defensive ends take 3-4 extra steps just to get past him.

Pete Hinkle / Repeat Hinkle, 6-3, 235, LB (Al Price Juvenile Correctional Facility, Beaumont, TX): Twin brothers who are killer linebackers, figuratively and literally. Because of sentencing restrictions, they are not allowed to be part of the traveling squad for games out of state until their senior seasons.

[fiveteamer]

How are the Irish looking???

[BobHarvey]

Both Rivals and CNNSI are now reporting Manti Te'o has committed to Notre Dame.

[BobHarvey]

Atlanta HS star Darren Myles chooses Tennessee over LSU and Alabama. Nice pickup for Lane Kiffin.

[BobHarvey]

Jawanza Starling, DB from Florida, signs with USC for football AND basketball.

[BobHarvey]

WR Damian Thigpen signs with UCLA.

[BobHarvey]

OT Morgan Moses signs with Virginia

[BobHarvey]

The nations top all-purpose back, David Oku says he will not sign today. Tennessee, Auburn and Syracuse are considered to be front runners. How good can this guy be if he's considering Syraucuse?

[fiveteamer]

and why would he want to play on that surface.

[BobHarvey]

With apologies to WB, MY USC Trojans beat out Texas and Florida for DE Jarvis Jones.

[BobHarvey]

Inside linebacker Robert Nelson signs with Tennessee.. Willie is there really a Billy Bob Jumpack? Announcers will have a field day with him.

[BobHarvey]

Tennessee is kicking some butt early. Lane Kiffin must have been paying attention at USC. The Vols landed Nu'Keese Richardson a WR who was considering Florida.

[BobHarvey]

Reuben Randle, considered the #2 prospect in the country, signs with LSU

[BobHarvey]

QB Raymond Cotton signs with LSU.

[BobHarvey]

J.C. transfer DE Jonathan Hollins switches from Tennessee to Arizona.

[BobHarvey]

UCLA'S early recruiting haul:

Nik Abele of Irvine, linebackers Isaiah Bowens of La Puente Bishop Amat and Taniela Maka of Long Beach Jordan, defensive ends Keenan Graham of Las Vegas Silverado and Iuta Tepa of Long Beach Poly, linebacker Todd Golper of Arcadia and defensive backs Alex Mascarenas of Mission Viejo, Marlon Pollard of San Bernardino Cajon, Sheldon Price of Bishop Amat and Brandon Sermons of Pomona Diamond Ranch.

[BobHarvey]

USC gets defensive back Byron Moore from Harbor City, California and outside linebacker Frankie Telfort from Miami. Trojans are still waiting for an announcement from defensive back Randall Carroll (no relation) from Los Angeles Cathedral. Carroll, the state 100- and 200-meter track champion, is scheduled to reveal his college choice in a 6:40 p.m. (PST).

[BobHarvey]

UCLA signs OT Xavier Su'a Filo. This is considered a pretty good signing for the Bruins. He's the 63rd rated player in the nation.

[BobHarvey]

WR Justin Brown signs with Penn State after picking the Nittany Lions over Rutgers.

[BobHarvey]

Alabama gets Dre Kirkpatrick and Kendall Kelly.

[SBR Lou]

What an exciting day so far!

[Willie Bee]

With apologies to WB, MY USC Trojans beat out Texas and Florida for DE Jarvis Jones.

Fine with me since I don't really like either Texas or Florida.

Willie is there really a Billy Bob Jumpack?

Billy Bob Jumpback sure sounds like a good ol' Texas name, huh? But no, that list was just poking fun at my Aggies for their lack of noise on this day.

[Bread]

Willie...wtf is a Billy Bob Jumpback?!??

[BobHarvey]

Michigan signs Philadelphia-Northeast wide receiver Je'ron Stokes. Je'Ron Stokes.

[BobHarvey]

Oklahoma signs Billy Bob Thornton Jr.

[Willie Bee]

Oklahoma signs Billy Bob Thornton Jr.

Well since we know he doesn't belong to the actor Billy Bob Dumbass, it must be hell for this kid going through life with that name. Oklahoma would seem a perfect fit for him.

[tullamore]

Here are some of the recruits my beloved Texas Aggies have picked up...

JaMarkus Benjamin, 6-4, 165, WR (Malcolm X High School, Dallas): Ranked 249th in his class of 248, but hell, he runs a 4.1 40 and his palm sweat is like a natural stick 'um. Only scored 330 on the SAT, so will have to attend Blinn Jr. College this summer where he will take Crack Pipe 101 and Underwater Basket Weaving in hopes of becoming academically eligible.

Billy Bob Jumpback, 6-1, 180, QB (Hayseed High School, Hayseed, Tx): A real steal as Jumpback originally made a verbal commitment to Amarillo Jr. College where his girlfriend Mindy Lou is a 6th-year senior still 20 hours short of her associates degree in Cake Baking. Hopes to eventually make the NFL, but if not he says he will be happy driving daddy's tractor on the family farm.

Jack Sebastien, 6-2, 425, OG (I.M. High School, Enid, OK): Referees constantly flagged the I.M. High offense for too many men on the field, thinking Sebastien was indeed two players. Need a sun dial to clock his 40-yd time, but he's as big as a mountain and makes opposing defensive ends take 3-4 extra steps just to get past him.

Pete Hinkle / Repeat Hinkle, 6-3, 235, LB (Al Price Juvenile Correctional Facility, Beaumont, TX): Twin brothers who are killer linebackers, figuratively and literally. Because of sentencing restrictions, they are not allowed to be part of the traveling squad for games out of state until their senior seasons.

With theses kind of recruits you will be in a BCS game in no time.

[SBR Lou]

Oklahoma signs Billy Bob Thornton Jr.

Excellent move.

[BobHarvey]

Willie, I love the Hinkle twins.

[Willie Bee]

With theses kind of recruits you will be in a BCS game in no time.

That's a big 10-4 good buddy. Mike Sherman is proving himself as a recruiter without peers.