Tom VanHaaren/ESPN
Michigan landed ESPN 300 wide receiver Nico Collins on Wednesday, beating out Alabama and Georgia. Collins is the No. 150-ranked prospect overall and is the third ESPN 300 receiver commit for Michigan in the 2017 class.
The Wolverines have ESPN 300 receivers Donovan Peoples-Jones, Tarik Black and four-star receiver Oliver Martin to go along with Collins. While Collins is now in the fold for Michigan, the Wolverines at one point weren’t even a consideration for the four-star receiver.
“Michigan, when they first offered me I was just like, 'OK, I appreciate it,” Collins said. “I hadn’t heard much about them, so wasn’t really considering them. But then I visited and it changed my whole mind about them."
The staff had a big need at receiver, as last season's top two receivers -- Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh -- graduated. The Wolverines are also losing tight end Jake Butt, who was a big part of the passing game.
Collins isn’t just a win on the field, though, as Michigan went into Alabama and landed a top prospect that the likes of Georgia and Alabama were after. Georgia and Michigan have battled quite a few times in the 2017 class, and Michigan came out on top for Collins.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Four-star OT Tony Gray chooses Ole Miss
Derek Tyson/ESPN
Tony Gray, the 190th-ranked player in the ESPN 300, committed to Ole Miss over South Carolina on Wednesday.
The four-star prospect offensive tackle from Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia, held offers from Georgia, Arkansas, Auburn, Kentucky and Louisville.
With the addition of Gray, Ole Miss has five signees who are in either the ESPN 300 or the ESPN JC 50. The Rebels also have commits from three-star linemen Lavante Epson and Ben Brown.
Tony Gray, the 190th-ranked player in the ESPN 300, committed to Ole Miss over South Carolina on Wednesday.
The four-star prospect offensive tackle from Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia, held offers from Georgia, Arkansas, Auburn, Kentucky and Louisville.
With the addition of Gray, Ole Miss has five signees who are in either the ESPN 300 or the ESPN JC 50. The Rebels also have commits from three-star linemen Lavante Epson and Ben Brown.
USC, Ole Miss again make noise by landing key recruits
Erik McKinney/ESPN Staff Writer
USC continues to roll on Wednesday, as impact prospects hit the SEC as well in the past hour.
USC lands another ESPN 300 prospect
Tight end Josh Falo announced that he will sign with USC as it continues to put the finishing touches on a strong 2017 class.
Falo, the nation’s No. 1 prospect at his position and No. 92 overall prospect, adds to a strong crop of young tight ends for the Trojans. They will add him to a position that features former ESPN 300 signees Cary Angeline and Tyler Petite, as well as Daniel Imatorbhebhe, who made a big impact for the Trojans last year after transferring from Florida.
Falo selected USC over Colorado, where his brother is a linebacker, and Oregon, which made a strong push over the final few weeks and received his last official visit. He is the fourth ESPN 300 prospect to announce for USC today, joining linebacker Levi Jones, offensive tackle Austin Jackson and defensive tackle Jay Tufele.
South Carolina holds on for ESPN 300 prospect
South Carolina’s biggest recruiting win on Wednesday had nothing to do with adding an additional prospect to its class. Instead, the Gamecocks can feel great about simply holding on to ESPN 300 cornerback Jamyest Williams, the nation’s No. 39 overall prospect. He faced significant pressure from Georgia to stay home, but Williams decided to stick with the program he committed to back in August. With Georgia dominating the state this year, Williams is the only top-5 prospect in the state to not sign with the Bulldogs.
Ole Miss' day gets even better
Ole Miss added yet another prospect on signing day, as ESPN 300 offensive tackle Tony Gray announced for the Rebels over offers from Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech and South Carolina. He is the second offensive line commitment for Ole Miss on Wednesday, as he joins offensive guard Sincere David.
Notre Dame keeps fighting
There wasn’t much national buzz when it came to Notre Dame heading into signing day, but the Fighting Irish are finishing on a positive note. After signing defensive tackle Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, Notre Dame flipped three-star defensive end Kofi Wardlow from Maryland on signing day. The Fighting Irish also signed four-star safety Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who was previously committed to Virginia.
Penn State adds another
Penn State added its second commitment of the day, as cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields selected the Nittany Lions over Maryland. The three-star prospect gives Penn State another cornerback in what was a big haul at the position. Led by ESPN 300 prospect Lamont Wade, Castro-Fields joins Donovan Johnson and D.J. Brown as cornerback signees.
Utah hits Hawaii
Utah added three linemen from Hawaii on signing day, as defensive ends Miki Suguturaga and Aliki Vimahi and offensive tackle Mo Unutoa all selected the Utes on Wednesday.
 |
| Josh Falo |
USC lands another ESPN 300 prospect
Tight end Josh Falo announced that he will sign with USC as it continues to put the finishing touches on a strong 2017 class.
Falo, the nation’s No. 1 prospect at his position and No. 92 overall prospect, adds to a strong crop of young tight ends for the Trojans. They will add him to a position that features former ESPN 300 signees Cary Angeline and Tyler Petite, as well as Daniel Imatorbhebhe, who made a big impact for the Trojans last year after transferring from Florida.
Falo selected USC over Colorado, where his brother is a linebacker, and Oregon, which made a strong push over the final few weeks and received his last official visit. He is the fourth ESPN 300 prospect to announce for USC today, joining linebacker Levi Jones, offensive tackle Austin Jackson and defensive tackle Jay Tufele.
South Carolina holds on for ESPN 300 prospect
South Carolina’s biggest recruiting win on Wednesday had nothing to do with adding an additional prospect to its class. Instead, the Gamecocks can feel great about simply holding on to ESPN 300 cornerback Jamyest Williams, the nation’s No. 39 overall prospect. He faced significant pressure from Georgia to stay home, but Williams decided to stick with the program he committed to back in August. With Georgia dominating the state this year, Williams is the only top-5 prospect in the state to not sign with the Bulldogs.
Ole Miss' day gets even better
Ole Miss added yet another prospect on signing day, as ESPN 300 offensive tackle Tony Gray announced for the Rebels over offers from Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech and South Carolina. He is the second offensive line commitment for Ole Miss on Wednesday, as he joins offensive guard Sincere David.
Notre Dame keeps fighting
There wasn’t much national buzz when it came to Notre Dame heading into signing day, but the Fighting Irish are finishing on a positive note. After signing defensive tackle Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, Notre Dame flipped three-star defensive end Kofi Wardlow from Maryland on signing day. The Fighting Irish also signed four-star safety Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who was previously committed to Virginia.
Penn State adds another
Penn State added its second commitment of the day, as cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields selected the Nittany Lions over Maryland. The three-star prospect gives Penn State another cornerback in what was a big haul at the position. Led by ESPN 300 prospect Lamont Wade, Castro-Fields joins Donovan Johnson and D.J. Brown as cornerback signees.
Utah hits Hawaii
Utah added three linemen from Hawaii on signing day, as defensive ends Miki Suguturaga and Aliki Vimahi and offensive tackle Mo Unutoa all selected the Utes on Wednesday.
Redbirds sign OL named Kobe Buffalomeat
Lawrence, Kansas OL Kobe Buffalomeat signed with the Illinois State Redbirds on National Signing Day on Wednesday.
That's right, his name is Kobe Buffalomeat.
The Redbirds identified Buffalomeat as a 6'7" and 285 lbs.
Other signings of the Redbirds on Wednesday included QB Trenton Hatfield, LB Rashaun Woods, LB Spencer Stachyra, OL John Ridgeway, LB Zeke Vanderburgh, DB Eric Scott, DB Peyton Jones, DL Jacob Powell, DL/LB Jason Lewan, DL/LB Jalen Sutton, WR Kentre Patterson, WR Andrew Edgar, TE Tanner Taula, OL Drew Bones and OL Evan Day.
Patterson, a 2-star recruit, amassed 1,674 receiving yards and scored 22 career touchdowns, both school records. Patterson may be the quickest Redbird recruit, as he currently ranks No. 2 in the country in the 60 meter hurdles in HS.
Stachyra was a 2-time All-State selection and helped his team to the first football state championship in school history.
Edgar earned HM All-State honors as a senior, after catching 58 passes for 972 yards and scoring 13 TDs.
Taula was a first-team all-stater and averaged over 14 yards per reception while helping his team to a state runner-up finish.
Bones started every game the past two seasons and was a two-time all-state selection in KS.
Day was an IHSA Class 7A All-State selection as a senior and earned first-team all-conference honors for the Bulldogs.
In addition to his work on the football field, Ridgeway is currently ranked No. 1 in Class 2A as a heavyweight wrestler.
Top 25 Capsules
AMES, Iowa (AP) -- Nathan Adrian scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as No. 7 West Virginia overwhelmed Iowa State 85-72 on Tuesday night for its third straight win.
Tarik Phillip had 15 points for the Mountaineers (18-4, 6-3 Big 12), who hit 10 3s and forced 16 turnovers in winning their third road game in league play.
West Virginia's pressure defense got the typically sure-handed Cyclones out of rhythm in the second half. A late 9-0 run capped by a layup by Jevon Carter put the Mountaineers up 70-55 with 5:36 left, sending some Iowa State fans to a rare early exit.
Matt Thomas scored 19 points for Iowa State (13-8, 5-4), which lost at home to a top 10 team for the second time in 15 days. The Cyclones lost to Kansas by four points on Jan. 16.
---
No. 8 KENTUCKY 90, GEORGIA 81, OT
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Malik Monk made two 3-pointers and scored eight of 37 points in overtime, and Bam Adebayo and Dominique Hawkins added baskets to help Kentucky end a two-game losing streak.
The Wildcats appeared headed to their third straight loss until Monk's jumper with 8 seconds remaining in regulation tied the game at 76. Hawkins' desperation heave from midcourt bounced off the rim as the horn sounded.
Monk's first 3 game Kentucky a five-point lead. His second made it 85-81 and Adebayo followed with a slam off Monk's lob for a six-point cushion. Isaiah Briscoe (23 points, 11 rebounds) made a free throw and Monk added two more with 43.3 seconds left to seal the win.
Adebayo had 12 points as Kentucky (18-4, 8-1 Southeastern Conference) avoided its longest losing streak since dropping its final four regular season games in 2008-09.
J.J. Frazier had 23 points before fouling out and Yante Maten added 22 for the Bulldogs (13-9, 4-5), who lost for the fourth time in six games.
---
No. 10 WISCONSIN 57, ILLINOIS 43
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Ethan Happ scored 14 points to lead Wisconsin.
Wisconsin (19-3, 8-1 Big Ten) started the game with a 16-2 run and never trailed.
Much of the hot start came from the open 3-pointers Illinois allowed Wisconsin's players to take - the Badgers shot 7 of 23 from 3-point range in the game.
The Badgers big men dominated the game in the post, out-rebounding Illinois 45-36, including 19-6 on the offensive boards.
Nigel Hayes scored 11 points and added eight rebounds for Wisconsin.
Malcolm Hill and Maverick Morgan both had 10 points for Illinois (13-10, 3-7).
---
No. 12 NORTH CAROLINA 80, PITTSBURGH 78
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - Justin Jackson scored 20 points and North Carolina held on.
Joel Berry II had 19 points, Isaiah Hicks added 18 and Kennedy Meeks finished with 10 for the Tar Heels (20-4, 8-2 Atlantic Coast Conference). The league leaders never trailed but also never got comfortable against the last-place Panthers.
Cameron Johnson matched a career high with 24 points and hit a career-best six 3-pointers, Michael Young finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds and Jamel Artis had 17 points for Pitt (12-10, 1-8), which lost its seventh straight but kept this one tight throughout by shooting nearly 56 percent.
The Panthers had a chance to win it at the buzzer after Artis took an inbounds pass with 4.8 seconds to play and hurried down the right side before uncorking an off-balance 3-pointer that caromed harmlessly off the glass.
---
No. 22 CREIGHTON 76, No. 16 BUTLER 67
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Justin Patton, Khyri Thomas and Marcus Foster all scored 15 points and Creighton made 13 3-pointers.
The Bluejays (20-3, 7-3 Big East) have won two straight to move into second place in the conference standings.
Kamar Baldwin finished with 14 points for Butler (18-5, 7-4), which has lost two straight at home.
Creighton finished 13 of 21 on 3s, shooting a season-high 61.9 percent. The Bluejays earned their 20th win for the 17th time in 19 seasons.
Kelan Martin added 11 points for Butler, which has lost back-to-back games for the first time this season.
---
No. 17 MARYLAND 77, OHIO ST. 71
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Justin Jackson had 22 points and 12 rebounds for Maryland.
The Buckeyes pulled within one point four times in the second half but the Terps always had an answer. A jumper by Melo Trimble with 32 seconds left put Maryland up 75-71, and Jared Nickens hit two free throws with 14 seconds left to seal it.
Trimble had 13 points and Anthony Cowan added 11 as Maryland (20-2, 8-1 Big Ten) won their seventh straight. The Terps haven't lost since Jan. 1 and have won all six of their games on the road this season.
Jae'Sean Tate scored 20 points and Marc Loving added 18 for the Buckeyes (13-10, 3-7 Big Ten), who have lost three of their last four.
Tarik Phillip had 15 points for the Mountaineers (18-4, 6-3 Big 12), who hit 10 3s and forced 16 turnovers in winning their third road game in league play.
West Virginia's pressure defense got the typically sure-handed Cyclones out of rhythm in the second half. A late 9-0 run capped by a layup by Jevon Carter put the Mountaineers up 70-55 with 5:36 left, sending some Iowa State fans to a rare early exit.
Matt Thomas scored 19 points for Iowa State (13-8, 5-4), which lost at home to a top 10 team for the second time in 15 days. The Cyclones lost to Kansas by four points on Jan. 16.
---
No. 8 KENTUCKY 90, GEORGIA 81, OT
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Malik Monk made two 3-pointers and scored eight of 37 points in overtime, and Bam Adebayo and Dominique Hawkins added baskets to help Kentucky end a two-game losing streak.
The Wildcats appeared headed to their third straight loss until Monk's jumper with 8 seconds remaining in regulation tied the game at 76. Hawkins' desperation heave from midcourt bounced off the rim as the horn sounded.
Monk's first 3 game Kentucky a five-point lead. His second made it 85-81 and Adebayo followed with a slam off Monk's lob for a six-point cushion. Isaiah Briscoe (23 points, 11 rebounds) made a free throw and Monk added two more with 43.3 seconds left to seal the win.
Adebayo had 12 points as Kentucky (18-4, 8-1 Southeastern Conference) avoided its longest losing streak since dropping its final four regular season games in 2008-09.
J.J. Frazier had 23 points before fouling out and Yante Maten added 22 for the Bulldogs (13-9, 4-5), who lost for the fourth time in six games.
---
No. 10 WISCONSIN 57, ILLINOIS 43
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Ethan Happ scored 14 points to lead Wisconsin.
Wisconsin (19-3, 8-1 Big Ten) started the game with a 16-2 run and never trailed.
Much of the hot start came from the open 3-pointers Illinois allowed Wisconsin's players to take - the Badgers shot 7 of 23 from 3-point range in the game.
The Badgers big men dominated the game in the post, out-rebounding Illinois 45-36, including 19-6 on the offensive boards.
Nigel Hayes scored 11 points and added eight rebounds for Wisconsin.
Malcolm Hill and Maverick Morgan both had 10 points for Illinois (13-10, 3-7).
---
No. 12 NORTH CAROLINA 80, PITTSBURGH 78
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - Justin Jackson scored 20 points and North Carolina held on.
Joel Berry II had 19 points, Isaiah Hicks added 18 and Kennedy Meeks finished with 10 for the Tar Heels (20-4, 8-2 Atlantic Coast Conference). The league leaders never trailed but also never got comfortable against the last-place Panthers.
Cameron Johnson matched a career high with 24 points and hit a career-best six 3-pointers, Michael Young finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds and Jamel Artis had 17 points for Pitt (12-10, 1-8), which lost its seventh straight but kept this one tight throughout by shooting nearly 56 percent.
The Panthers had a chance to win it at the buzzer after Artis took an inbounds pass with 4.8 seconds to play and hurried down the right side before uncorking an off-balance 3-pointer that caromed harmlessly off the glass.
---
No. 22 CREIGHTON 76, No. 16 BUTLER 67
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Justin Patton, Khyri Thomas and Marcus Foster all scored 15 points and Creighton made 13 3-pointers.
The Bluejays (20-3, 7-3 Big East) have won two straight to move into second place in the conference standings.
Kamar Baldwin finished with 14 points for Butler (18-5, 7-4), which has lost two straight at home.
Creighton finished 13 of 21 on 3s, shooting a season-high 61.9 percent. The Bluejays earned their 20th win for the 17th time in 19 seasons.
Kelan Martin added 11 points for Butler, which has lost back-to-back games for the first time this season.
---
No. 17 MARYLAND 77, OHIO ST. 71
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Justin Jackson had 22 points and 12 rebounds for Maryland.
The Buckeyes pulled within one point four times in the second half but the Terps always had an answer. A jumper by Melo Trimble with 32 seconds left put Maryland up 75-71, and Jared Nickens hit two free throws with 14 seconds left to seal it.
Trimble had 13 points and Anthony Cowan added 11 as Maryland (20-2, 8-1 Big Ten) won their seventh straight. The Terps haven't lost since Jan. 1 and have won all six of their games on the road this season.
Jae'Sean Tate scored 20 points and Marc Loving added 18 for the Buckeyes (13-10, 3-7 Big Ten), who have lost three of their last four.
Aubrey Solomon commits to Michigan
"A day or two ago, they sent my mom a card thanking us for going to the Michigan BBQ, but we never went," Solomon said "I do not know which recruit they were talking to, but it was not me. It was just a little heartbreaking, for me to supposedly be so high on their list, for them to confuse me with someone else. Plus they spelled both of my names wrong after I told them, but that was not the main issue. I guess they do not have tabs on me."
Solomon is ranked as the No. 2 defensive tackle prospect in the 2017 class and the No. 25 prospect overall, according to 247Sports Composite rankings.
The Latest: 5-star DT Solomon picks Michigan after all
The Latest on college football's national signing day. (all times Eastern):
11 a.m.
Who had FCS Illinois State making an attention-grabbing signing? The Redbirds tweeted that they had signed Kobe Buffalomeat and he quickly became an internet favorite.
Buffalomeat is a 6-foot-7, 287-pound offensive tackle from Lawrence, Kansas.
10:55 a.m.
DECISION TRACKER: Jeff Thomas, a wide receiver from East St. Louis, Illinois, has selected Miami. He also was considering Illinois, Oregon and Tennessee. Thomas is the No. 40 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite.
10:45 a.m.
DECISION TRACKER: Aubrey Solomon, a five-star defensive tackle from Georgia, picked Michigan. The decision was not a huge surprise. Solomon had been a Michigan commit last year. But he was miffed at the Wolverines early in January after Michigan mistakenly sent him a thank you note for attending a recruiting event that he actually did not attend. Whoops! Solomon apologized for those less-than-flattering remarks he made about Michigan , but he did de-commit.
Jim Harbaugh and staff redoubled efforts to make amends and got their man.
10:20 a.m.
DECISION TRACKER: Todd Harris, a safety from Plaquemine, Louisiana, picked LSU over Alabama, good news for Tigers coach Ed Orgeron. Harris was a top-100 player in 247Sports composite rankings.
Willie Gay, one of the top linebackers in the country, decided to stay at home for college and picked Mississippi State. Gay, from Starkville High School, also considered LSU and Michigan was on the radar, too.
10:15 a.m.
What every coach wants most on signing day is no surprises. The increase in early enrollees helps that a lot. Alabama had a dozen members of its class already on campus before signing day. Ohio State had 11 players enrolled. Texas A&M had nine. Those numbers were typical of the top programs.
Top quarterbacks were especially likely to early enroll. Eight of the top-10 quarterback recruits in the 247Sports composite rankings, including Tate Martell of Ohio State, were already enrolled.
9:50 a.m.
Levi Jones put a different spin on the pick-a-hat ceremony as he revealed his decision to attend Southern California. The outside linebacker from Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, took off his jacket to reveal a long-sleeve Florida T-shirt. He then pulled off the Florida shirt to reveal a Florida State shirt underneath. He then removed the Florida State shirt and was left with a USC shirt. Jones then put on a USC hat and said, "Fight On."
9:20 a.m.
While former LSU coach Les Miles spent national signing day doing television on ESPNU, his son officially became a college football player.
Ben Miles was one of the best fullback prospects in the country.
Les Miles was fired in late September after 12 years as Tigers coach. Unable to land another head coaching job, the 63-year-old Miles could be heading for a lot of work ESPN this season. On Wednesday, he was paired with former Texas coach Mack Brown to breakdown signing day.
9:10 a.m.
DECISION TRACKER: Two four-star players from Austin, Texas, have made their picks and neither will be playing for the Longhorns.
Stephan Zabie, an offensive tackle, picked UCLA and teammate Levi Jones, one of the top linebacker prospects, picked Southern California over Florida and Florida State.
8:55 a.m.
DECISION TRACKER: Tedarrell Slaton, OL, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Slaton picked the Gators, who were considered the favorites. Coach Jim McElwain's class came into signing day on the back end of the top 20 in the rankings. The Gators have won to SEC east titles under McElwain, but offense has been an issue for the former offensive coordinator.
8 a.m.
The selection ceremonies start soon. Among the first to go will be Levi Jones, a four-star linebacker and top-100 prospect from Austin, Texas, who is picking among Florida, Florida State and USC.
The catch of the day comes in the afternoon. Marvin Wilson, a 325-pound defensive tackle from Bellaire, Texas, is a five-star and the top-rated interior defensive lineman in the class. Florida State, LSU and Oklahoma have been racing to the finish line to sign Wilson. Ohio State is still considered a possibility, too.
____
7 a.m.
New coaches are always interesting to assess on signing day because they typically are doing a rush job, keeping some old commits, trying to find new ones and pulling a few over from their previous schools.
Two who will receive plenty of attention on signing day are in the state of Texas.
New Texas coach Tom Herman is hoping a strong finish can give the Longhorns a top-15 class. In Waco, Texas, Matt Rhule took over at Baylor with the Bears down to just a couple of commits after a scandal over the handling of potential sexual assault cases led to the firing if coach Art Briles. Despite the scramble, Rhule, the former Temple coach, could put together a top-40 class.
___
On the first Wednesday of February, it becomes obvious why Alabama contends for a national title every season.
The Crimson Tide have had the No. 1 recruiting class in the country each of the last six years, according 247Sports' composite rankings, and are in position to make it seven in a row on national signing day. Even if none of the few highly touted recruits who are waiting until signing day to commit end up with the Tide, Nick Saban will still have a loaded class, featuring running back Najee Harris, who might be the top high school player in the country.
Can any team surpass the Tide on signing day?
Maybe Ohio State. Buckeyes fans are touting Urban Meyer's latest class as the best in school history.
That's probably about it. Still, there will be high spirits and optimism at most football programs as coaches tout their classes with a mountain of clichés.
Jim Harbaugh and Michigan will hold another "Signing of the Stars" welcome party, including a long list of past Wolverines greats.
Georgia is drawing raves from the recruiting analysts in Kirby Smart's second year as coach. The former Alabama assistant has brought the signing day process to the Bulldogs.
11 a.m.
Who had FCS Illinois State making an attention-grabbing signing? The Redbirds tweeted that they had signed Kobe Buffalomeat and he quickly became an internet favorite.
Buffalomeat is a 6-foot-7, 287-pound offensive tackle from Lawrence, Kansas.
10:55 a.m.
DECISION TRACKER: Jeff Thomas, a wide receiver from East St. Louis, Illinois, has selected Miami. He also was considering Illinois, Oregon and Tennessee. Thomas is the No. 40 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite.
10:45 a.m.
DECISION TRACKER: Aubrey Solomon, a five-star defensive tackle from Georgia, picked Michigan. The decision was not a huge surprise. Solomon had been a Michigan commit last year. But he was miffed at the Wolverines early in January after Michigan mistakenly sent him a thank you note for attending a recruiting event that he actually did not attend. Whoops! Solomon apologized for those less-than-flattering remarks he made about Michigan , but he did de-commit.
Jim Harbaugh and staff redoubled efforts to make amends and got their man.
10:20 a.m.
DECISION TRACKER: Todd Harris, a safety from Plaquemine, Louisiana, picked LSU over Alabama, good news for Tigers coach Ed Orgeron. Harris was a top-100 player in 247Sports composite rankings.
Willie Gay, one of the top linebackers in the country, decided to stay at home for college and picked Mississippi State. Gay, from Starkville High School, also considered LSU and Michigan was on the radar, too.
10:15 a.m.
What every coach wants most on signing day is no surprises. The increase in early enrollees helps that a lot. Alabama had a dozen members of its class already on campus before signing day. Ohio State had 11 players enrolled. Texas A&M had nine. Those numbers were typical of the top programs.
Top quarterbacks were especially likely to early enroll. Eight of the top-10 quarterback recruits in the 247Sports composite rankings, including Tate Martell of Ohio State, were already enrolled.
9:50 a.m.
Levi Jones put a different spin on the pick-a-hat ceremony as he revealed his decision to attend Southern California. The outside linebacker from Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, took off his jacket to reveal a long-sleeve Florida T-shirt. He then pulled off the Florida shirt to reveal a Florida State shirt underneath. He then removed the Florida State shirt and was left with a USC shirt. Jones then put on a USC hat and said, "Fight On."
9:20 a.m.
While former LSU coach Les Miles spent national signing day doing television on ESPNU, his son officially became a college football player.
Ben Miles was one of the best fullback prospects in the country.
Les Miles was fired in late September after 12 years as Tigers coach. Unable to land another head coaching job, the 63-year-old Miles could be heading for a lot of work ESPN this season. On Wednesday, he was paired with former Texas coach Mack Brown to breakdown signing day.
9:10 a.m.
DECISION TRACKER: Two four-star players from Austin, Texas, have made their picks and neither will be playing for the Longhorns.
Stephan Zabie, an offensive tackle, picked UCLA and teammate Levi Jones, one of the top linebacker prospects, picked Southern California over Florida and Florida State.
8:55 a.m.
DECISION TRACKER: Tedarrell Slaton, OL, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Slaton picked the Gators, who were considered the favorites. Coach Jim McElwain's class came into signing day on the back end of the top 20 in the rankings. The Gators have won to SEC east titles under McElwain, but offense has been an issue for the former offensive coordinator.
8 a.m.
The selection ceremonies start soon. Among the first to go will be Levi Jones, a four-star linebacker and top-100 prospect from Austin, Texas, who is picking among Florida, Florida State and USC.
The catch of the day comes in the afternoon. Marvin Wilson, a 325-pound defensive tackle from Bellaire, Texas, is a five-star and the top-rated interior defensive lineman in the class. Florida State, LSU and Oklahoma have been racing to the finish line to sign Wilson. Ohio State is still considered a possibility, too.
____
7 a.m.
New coaches are always interesting to assess on signing day because they typically are doing a rush job, keeping some old commits, trying to find new ones and pulling a few over from their previous schools.
Two who will receive plenty of attention on signing day are in the state of Texas.
New Texas coach Tom Herman is hoping a strong finish can give the Longhorns a top-15 class. In Waco, Texas, Matt Rhule took over at Baylor with the Bears down to just a couple of commits after a scandal over the handling of potential sexual assault cases led to the firing if coach Art Briles. Despite the scramble, Rhule, the former Temple coach, could put together a top-40 class.
___
On the first Wednesday of February, it becomes obvious why Alabama contends for a national title every season.
The Crimson Tide have had the No. 1 recruiting class in the country each of the last six years, according 247Sports' composite rankings, and are in position to make it seven in a row on national signing day. Even if none of the few highly touted recruits who are waiting until signing day to commit end up with the Tide, Nick Saban will still have a loaded class, featuring running back Najee Harris, who might be the top high school player in the country.
Can any team surpass the Tide on signing day?
Maybe Ohio State. Buckeyes fans are touting Urban Meyer's latest class as the best in school history.
That's probably about it. Still, there will be high spirits and optimism at most football programs as coaches tout their classes with a mountain of clichés.
Jim Harbaugh and Michigan will hold another "Signing of the Stars" welcome party, including a long list of past Wolverines greats.
Georgia is drawing raves from the recruiting analysts in Kirby Smart's second year as coach. The former Alabama assistant has brought the signing day process to the Bulldogs.
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