Eighty-five of the top 100 players in the nation have already issued commitments. That doesn’t mean there aren’t going to be fireworks in the next two weeks. Just ask five-star running back Rueben Owens of El Campo (Texas) High, who flipped from Louisville to Texas A&M on Wednesday.
We’re less than two weeks away from the early signing period. Classes are almost done, but the results that come through in the next 14 days will help determine how coaches fared in the latest recruiting cycle. So how about a December recruiting big board?
This isn’t only about rankings. This is a list of recruits we consider the most “impactful” uncommitted prospects. Impactful can mean a lot of things, from importance to a specific school, a big regional recruit, a trendsetter or simply a prospect who has an interesting recruitment. Let’s get started.
1. Five-star ATH Nyckoles Harbor
High school: Washington (D.C.) Archbishop Carroll
Ranking: No. 15 overall, No. 1 athlete (247Sports Composite)
Height/weight: 6-5, 225 pounds
Considering: LSU, Michigan, So
The buzz: South Carolina is hot right now. The Gamecocks knocked two teams out of the College Football Playoff on the field. Off of it, Shane Beamer’s program is trying to make a recruiting statement with Harbor. South Carolina has three commitments from the DMV area — including four-star edge rusher Desmond Umeozulu of Upper Marlboro (Md.) Charles Herbert Flowers — but landing Harbor would make you really believe in the program’s trajectory, if you don’t already. Michigan is also very much in the mix here, and given what the Wolverines have accomplished the past two seasons, they also are a very attractive option. Both programs could use an athletic freak like Harbor in their class to take the next step on the recruiting front.
2. Five-star OT Samson Okunlola
High school: Brockton (Mass.) Thayer Academy
Ranking: No. 20 overall, No. 3 offensive tackle
Height/weight: 6-5, 305 pounds
Considering: Alabama, Miami, Michigan State, Florida, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon
The buzz: Okunlola’s recruitment has been interesting to follow because he’s visited a ton of schools, and the leader in his recruitment seemingly changed every month. He announced Wednesday that he’ll reveal his decision on Dec. 15. Right now, Florida seems to be in the driver’s seat because Okunlola will be taking an official visit to Gainesville this weekend, which will be the second time he’s been on Florida’s campus in the last month. He is also considering Miami, Michigan State, Ohio State and Alabama, though his recent visit schedule makes it seem as though his decision will ultimately favor of a Florida school.
3. Five-star edge Matayo Uiagalelei
High school: Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco
Ranking: No. 28 overall, No. 5 edge rusher
Height/weight: 6-5, 265 pounds
Considering: Ohio State, Oregon and USC
The buzz: Perhaps the top target on Ohio States’s big board, Uiagalelei took a visit to Columbus for the Buckeyes’ loss to Michigan in late November. Though Ohio State would have loved a better result on the field, the Buckeyes were able to showcase the Ohio Stadium game-day environment. That had to leave an impression. There have been rumors that Uiagalelei’s older brother, DJ, may end up at UCLA after transferring from Clemson. But the younger Uiagalelei announced Thursday that he’s down to Ohio State, Oregon and USC. This is a classic West Coast vs. Ohio State battle.
4. Five-star TE Duce Robinson
High school: Phoenix (Ariz.) Pinnacle
Ranking: No. 17 overall, No. 1 tight end
Height/weight: 6-6, 225 pounds
Considering: USC, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Oregon
USC was one win away from making the College Football Playoff, where it presumably would have had to face Georgia in the semifinals. The Trojans won’t be meeting Georgia on the field but now must beat the Bulldogs on the recruiting trail for the services of Robinson, the No. 1 tight end in the class. Georgia already has two tight ends ranked in the top 150 nationally in its 2023 class, but we’ve seen the Bulldogs get very creative with players at this position. Texas, which hosted Robinson for a visit in November, is also in the mix. This is the type of recruitment Lincoln Riley needs to win, especially since Robinson is in the Pac-12 footprint.
5. Five-star edge Keon Keeley
High school: Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep
Ranking: No. 10 overall, No. 1 edge rusher
Height/weight: 6-6, 242 pounds
Considering: Alabama and Ohio State
The buzz: When Keeley decommitted from Notre Dame in August, everyone assumed he did so with the intention of flipping to Alabama. But months have passed and Keeley is still on the market. Alabama is still clearly the team to beat — last time we checked, Nick Saban was still the head coach — and Keeley took a visit to Tuscaloosa in late November. Ohio State, though, has tried to make a move as it continues its pursuit of landing top-tier defensive talent to its 2023 class.
6. Five-star CB Desmond Ricks
High school: Bradenton (Fla.) IMG
Ranking: No. 18 overall, No. 2 cornerback
Height/weight: 6-1, 170 pounds
Considering: Alabama, Florida and LSU
The buzz: Ricks was a five-star prospect in the 2024 class until he reclassified to 2023 in late October. He’s still a five-star prospect. And it has already been proven at cornerback that a player can reclassify and play in his freshman season. Fellow Virginia native and former five-star Tony Grimes, who is currently in the transfer portal, did it at North Carolina a few years ago. Ricks has already taken an official visit to Alabama, and he’ll see Florida and LSU before making a final choice. Nothing like a good, old-fashioned SEC battle.
7. Four-star DB Javien Toviano
High school: Arlington (Texas) Martin
Ranking: No. 56 overall, No. 6 cornerback
Height/weight: 6-0, 185 pounds
Considering: Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Texas and Texas A&M
The buzz: There are a lot of angles to this recruitment. Georgia could assert its national dominance again. LSU could continue making inroads into Texas with a new coaching staff. Michigan could prove it is ready for the next step after consecutive Big Ten titles. And it goes without saying that there is a natural in-state tug-of-war between Texas and Texas A&M. Toviano isn’t a five-star prospect, but he’s a top-notch defensive back who is good enough to play anywhere. He’ll announce his decision on Dec. 15. LSU seems to be trending.
8. Four-star TE Walker Lyons
High school: Folsom (Calif.) High
Ranking: No. 161 overall, No. 11 tight end
Height/weight: 6-4, 230 pounds
Considering: Georgia, BYU, Stanford, USC and Utah
The buzz: Lyons committed to Stanford in July but broke his pledge on Nov. 28 after David Shaw announced he’s stepping down as head coach. Though Stanford still seems to be in the mix pending the hire of a new coach, Lyons officially visited Georgia, which, as noted above, seems to still be in the market for a tight end, and took unofficial visits to Utah and USC during the season. Lyons is a big-bodied tight end who is dangerous as a pass catcher and a blocker. Stanford was a the perfect landing spot for him because it is one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the country and has done well developing tight ends for the next level. Lyons will take a two-year mission before enrolling in college.
9. Four-star RB Dylan Edwards
High school: Derby (Kan.) High
Ranking: No. 235 overall, No. 10 tight end
Height/weight: 5-9, 165 pounds
Considering: Colorado
The buzz: Edwards decommitted from Kansas State on July 29 and committed to Notre Dame on Aug. 6. On Thursday, he decommitted from Notre Dame. On Tuesday, Edwards announced that he had landed an offer from Colorado. On that same day, he hosted Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman and running backs coach Deland McCullough for an in-home visit. Could this be the first big-time flip for Deion Sanders and Colorado? Get your popcorn ready.
10. Four-star LB Arion Carter
High school: Smyrna (Tenn.) High
Ranking: No. 190 overall, No. 10 linebacker
Height/weight: 6-1, 210 pounds
Considering: Ohio State, Alabama and Tennessee
The buzz: Carter committed to Memphis on July 20. Then his recruitment exploded this fall. He switched to linebacker as a senior and the world discovered an explosive defensive playmaker who oozes athleticism. Predictably, he is no longer committed to Memphis. He has taken visits to Ohio State, Tennessee and Alabama, where he is expected again this week. His ranking won’t turn heads, but the team that gets him is getting a stud.
(Photo of Matayo Uiagalelei: Jerome Miron / USA Today)
