There are several players throughout the country committed to major college programs who might not sign with those schools next February. Many different reasons as to why players might sign elsewhere. It happens, and the number of flips/decommitments continues to grow each year.
Alabama has benefited greatly from prospects changing their decision. They have also been on the other side of the coin. Below is a look at several notable players once committed to other schools who signed with Alabama.
2015: Blake Barnett (Notre Dame), Damien Harris (Michigan), Ronnie Harrison (UNC), Adonis Thomas (Florida), Matt Womack (LSU, Jonathan Taylor (originally signed with UGA).
2014: Josh Casher (Auburn), Ty Flournoy-Smith (originally signed with Georgia), Keith Holcombe (Mississippi State), Dominick Jackson (UCLA), Christian Miller (Florida), Jarran Reed (Florida, Ole Miss)
2013: Derrick Henry (UGA), A'Shawn Robinson (Texas), Reuben Foster (Auburn), Cole Mazza (UCLA), Jonathan Cook (Nebraska),
Others: T..J. Yeldon (Auburn), Alphonse Taylor (FSU), Damion Square (Texas A&M), Marquis Maze (Michigan), Jeoffrey Pagan (Florida), Josh Chapman (Auburn), Kenny Bell (LSU), Ed Stinson (FSU), Luther Davis (LSU), Cyrus Kouandjio (Auburn-not sure if you count this one),
Alabama has offered several prospects in the 2016 class committed to other major programs. Some have visited Tuscaloosa, while others will visit in the spring and summer. Several have offers, and more prospects will emerge throughout the next few months. Ronnie Harrison earned an offer from Alabama at camp last summer. Matt Womack earned an offer after the first few games of his senior season. More prospects will emerge.
Below is a list of 10 prospects who are committed to other programs the Alabama talks with on a regular basis. These players have recently visited or plan to visit during the next few months. There are other players committed elsewhere Alabama is heavily recruiting, but have yet to indicate if they will visit.
Donavaughn Campbell, four-star offensive guard from Ponchatoula High School in La. (LSU)
The skinny: The LSU commitment attended Alabama's first Junior Day in January. He has high interest in the Tide and will return to Tuscaloosa in the spring.
Benito Jones, Rivals100 defensive tackle from Wayne County High School in Waynesboro, Miss. (Ole Miss)
The skinny: Jones committed to Alabama last year before flipping his commitment to Ole Miss. Jones grew up an Alabama fan and his family are also Alabama fans. Jones is staying in regular contact with Alabama and a strong chance he returns in the 2016 class.
Jordan Elliott, three-star defensive tackle from Westside High School in Houston, Texas (Baylor)
The skinny: Alabama is putting a strong emphasis on defensive linemen in this class. Alabama is very high on the 6-foot-5, 300-pound lineman from the Lone Star State. Elliott will attend the Tide's A-Day game.
Keith Gavin, four-star wide receiver from Wakulla High School in Crawfordville, Fla. (FSU)
The skinny: Alabama is heavily recruiting the 6-foot-3, 225-pound receiver. Gavin attended Alabama's recent Junior Day. He is considered him one of the premier players at his position.
Gregory Little, five-star offensive tackle from Allen High School in Texas (Texas A&M)
The skinny: Little committed to Texas A&M last summer. It hasn't stopped several programs including Alabama from recruiting him. Little talks with Alabama wide receivers coach Billy Napier on a weekly basis. He will visit Tuscaloosa this spring.
Janarius Robinson, Rivals100 defensive end from Bay High School in Panama City, Fla. (FSU)
The skinny: Robinson is one of Alabama's top targets. He is recruited by new Alabama linebackers coach and ace recruiter, Tosh Lupoi. Robinson attended Alabama's Junior Day in January. He is expected to return for another visit this spring.
Shaquille Quarterman, four-star linebacker from Oakleaf High School in Orange Park. Fla. (Miami)
The skinny: Alabama recently offered several linebackers throughout the country. Many were 'camp' offers, some were definite 'take' offers. Quarterman falls in the latter. He will visit Alabama in the spring or summer. Rivals.com National Recruiter of the Year Mario Cristobal is in charge of his recruitment.
Tyler Byrd, four-star athlete from Naples High School in Fla. (Miami)
The skinny: Byrd is one of the top athletes in the Sunshine State. He originally committed to Florida, but decommitted after the coaching change. He is solid with his commitment to the Hurricanes, but staying in contact with Alabama. He is recruited by Mario Cristobal.
Isaac Nauta, Rivals100 tight end from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. (FSU)
The skinny: Nauta had very early interest in Alabama, but most of his interest went away prior to his commitment to the Seminoles. Talks have resumed with Nauta as Tosh Lupoi has taken control of his recruitment. Alabama is working hard to get Nauta on campus for a visit.
Joseph Jackson, four-star defensive end from Gulliver Prep in Miami, Fla. (Miami)
The skinny: Mario Cristobal has spent a lot of time recruiting prospects at Gulliver Prep the last few years. The focus has been on the 2016/2017 prospects at the school. Jackson's name hasn't been mentioned often on TideSports. However, he is considered one of Alabama's top targets. He is expected to visit Alabama in the summer.
The above prospects speak with Alabama on a regular basis. It doesn't mean these are the only prospects high on a list. It doesn't mean Alabama has a good chance to flip them. It simply means Alabama is recruiting them, they are speaking with the Tide staff often and will at least visit.
Some prospects like Miles Sanders, Rivals100 running back from Woodland Hills High School in Pittsburgh, Pa., who the Alabama coaching staff considers the No.1 back in the country is not on the list because he has not indicated whether he will visit Tuscaloosa. He remains very solid with his commitment to Penn State.
The above players are the early premier targets for Alabama in terms of who are committed to different programs. Will Alabama have any of the above players in the 2016 signing class? Very possible.
This post was edited on 3/9 3:11 PM by Andrew Bone
Alabama has benefited greatly from prospects changing their decision. They have also been on the other side of the coin. Below is a look at several notable players once committed to other schools who signed with Alabama.
2015: Blake Barnett (Notre Dame), Damien Harris (Michigan), Ronnie Harrison (UNC), Adonis Thomas (Florida), Matt Womack (LSU, Jonathan Taylor (originally signed with UGA).
2014: Josh Casher (Auburn), Ty Flournoy-Smith (originally signed with Georgia), Keith Holcombe (Mississippi State), Dominick Jackson (UCLA), Christian Miller (Florida), Jarran Reed (Florida, Ole Miss)
2013: Derrick Henry (UGA), A'Shawn Robinson (Texas), Reuben Foster (Auburn), Cole Mazza (UCLA), Jonathan Cook (Nebraska),
Others: T..J. Yeldon (Auburn), Alphonse Taylor (FSU), Damion Square (Texas A&M), Marquis Maze (Michigan), Jeoffrey Pagan (Florida), Josh Chapman (Auburn), Kenny Bell (LSU), Ed Stinson (FSU), Luther Davis (LSU), Cyrus Kouandjio (Auburn-not sure if you count this one),
Alabama has offered several prospects in the 2016 class committed to other major programs. Some have visited Tuscaloosa, while others will visit in the spring and summer. Several have offers, and more prospects will emerge throughout the next few months. Ronnie Harrison earned an offer from Alabama at camp last summer. Matt Womack earned an offer after the first few games of his senior season. More prospects will emerge.
Below is a list of 10 prospects who are committed to other programs the Alabama talks with on a regular basis. These players have recently visited or plan to visit during the next few months. There are other players committed elsewhere Alabama is heavily recruiting, but have yet to indicate if they will visit.
Donavaughn Campbell, four-star offensive guard from Ponchatoula High School in La. (LSU)
The skinny: The LSU commitment attended Alabama's first Junior Day in January. He has high interest in the Tide and will return to Tuscaloosa in the spring.
Benito Jones, Rivals100 defensive tackle from Wayne County High School in Waynesboro, Miss. (Ole Miss)
The skinny: Jones committed to Alabama last year before flipping his commitment to Ole Miss. Jones grew up an Alabama fan and his family are also Alabama fans. Jones is staying in regular contact with Alabama and a strong chance he returns in the 2016 class.
Jordan Elliott, three-star defensive tackle from Westside High School in Houston, Texas (Baylor)
The skinny: Alabama is putting a strong emphasis on defensive linemen in this class. Alabama is very high on the 6-foot-5, 300-pound lineman from the Lone Star State. Elliott will attend the Tide's A-Day game.
Keith Gavin, four-star wide receiver from Wakulla High School in Crawfordville, Fla. (FSU)
The skinny: Alabama is heavily recruiting the 6-foot-3, 225-pound receiver. Gavin attended Alabama's recent Junior Day. He is considered him one of the premier players at his position.
Gregory Little, five-star offensive tackle from Allen High School in Texas (Texas A&M)
The skinny: Little committed to Texas A&M last summer. It hasn't stopped several programs including Alabama from recruiting him. Little talks with Alabama wide receivers coach Billy Napier on a weekly basis. He will visit Tuscaloosa this spring.
Janarius Robinson, Rivals100 defensive end from Bay High School in Panama City, Fla. (FSU)
The skinny: Robinson is one of Alabama's top targets. He is recruited by new Alabama linebackers coach and ace recruiter, Tosh Lupoi. Robinson attended Alabama's Junior Day in January. He is expected to return for another visit this spring.
Shaquille Quarterman, four-star linebacker from Oakleaf High School in Orange Park. Fla. (Miami)
The skinny: Alabama recently offered several linebackers throughout the country. Many were 'camp' offers, some were definite 'take' offers. Quarterman falls in the latter. He will visit Alabama in the spring or summer. Rivals.com National Recruiter of the Year Mario Cristobal is in charge of his recruitment.
Tyler Byrd, four-star athlete from Naples High School in Fla. (Miami)
The skinny: Byrd is one of the top athletes in the Sunshine State. He originally committed to Florida, but decommitted after the coaching change. He is solid with his commitment to the Hurricanes, but staying in contact with Alabama. He is recruited by Mario Cristobal.
Isaac Nauta, Rivals100 tight end from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. (FSU)
The skinny: Nauta had very early interest in Alabama, but most of his interest went away prior to his commitment to the Seminoles. Talks have resumed with Nauta as Tosh Lupoi has taken control of his recruitment. Alabama is working hard to get Nauta on campus for a visit.
Joseph Jackson, four-star defensive end from Gulliver Prep in Miami, Fla. (Miami)
The skinny: Mario Cristobal has spent a lot of time recruiting prospects at Gulliver Prep the last few years. The focus has been on the 2016/2017 prospects at the school. Jackson's name hasn't been mentioned often on TideSports. However, he is considered one of Alabama's top targets. He is expected to visit Alabama in the summer.
The above prospects speak with Alabama on a regular basis. It doesn't mean these are the only prospects high on a list. It doesn't mean Alabama has a good chance to flip them. It simply means Alabama is recruiting them, they are speaking with the Tide staff often and will at least visit.
Some prospects like Miles Sanders, Rivals100 running back from Woodland Hills High School in Pittsburgh, Pa., who the Alabama coaching staff considers the No.1 back in the country is not on the list because he has not indicated whether he will visit Tuscaloosa. He remains very solid with his commitment to Penn State.
The above players are the early premier targets for Alabama in terms of who are committed to different programs. Will Alabama have any of the above players in the 2016 signing class? Very possible.
This post was edited on 3/9 3:11 PM by Andrew Bone
