College Football Recruiting

While many of the top college football prospects in the country announced their decisions on Wednesday, there was still plenty of top talent available entering Friday.

Day 3 of the early signing period featured several notable commitments, with a few shaking up the team rankings and potentially changing the landscape of college football in future seasons.

Here are the biggest commitments from Friday.

TE Jaleel Skinner to Miami

Alabama doesn't lose many recruiting battles, but tight end Jaleel Skinner flipped from the Crimson Tide to Miami:

It was an especially impressive victory for Miami considering head coach Mario Cristobal only stepped into his role earlier this month.

The 6'5", 210-pound player is considered the No. 3 tight end in the class, per 247Sports' composite ranking. He can be a difference-maker down the line, helping Cristobal turn Miami back into a contender.

Before even reaching the field, however, the high-profile flip could give the Hurricanes momentum on the recruiting trail as they show they should be taken seriously as a college football power. 

CB Domani Jackson to USC

Just like Skinner was a big-time addition for Cristobal in his new location, new USC coach Lincoln Riley got an important pickup Friday in Domani Jackson.

Jackson is a 5-star recruit considered the seventh-best player in the class at any position, per 247Sports' composite ranking. The 6'1", 185-pound cornerback ran the 100-meter dash in 10.25 seconds, the type of straight-line speed that will help him excel at all levels.

He explained Friday that he was planning to go to Alabama until USC added Riley.

"It has a way different vibe," Jackson said, per Greg Biggins of 247Sports. "There was always a lot of energy but it’s on another level now. 

"Everyone feels so much more connected and together. With coach Riley in place, everyone believes the program is going to win and not just win a little but win Championships."

It's a great sign for Riley, who led Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff three times but couldn't bring home a national championship.

The first step to get USC back into a national power is take care of local recruiting, and Riley has done that:

After a 4-8 season, there is a lot to be excited about for the Trojans.

WR Decoldest Crawford to Nebraska

A former LSU commit, Decoldest Crawford flipped to Nebraska to give the Cornhuskers an exciting playmaker.

Crawford is considered the No. 66 wideout in the 2022 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings, but he can outperform this projection as a 6'1" athlete with great speed and ball skills.

The addition creates an exciting receiving corps for Nebraska going forward:

Of course, most were focused on the name itself, which will likely lead to memorable headlines throughout his college career. 

Nebraska will still look for Crawford to make an impact on the field in upcoming seasons.

ATH Kendrick Law to Alabama

Alabama missed out on several top prospects this week, but they are not short on talent with a class that still ranks No. 2 in the country.

Kendrick Law is a big part of that after committing to the team on Friday:

The athlete is rated the No. 87 overall player in the class, per 247Sports, and could be one of the top receivers in the class. It represents yet another win for Alabama over LSU in the state of Louisiana.

Considering the receiver talent that both teams have sent to the NFL in recent seasons, this likely wasn't an easy choice for Law.

The Captain Shreve player also has experience at other positions on both sides of the ball, spending time at running back, cornerback and safety during his high school career.

It could allow Law to see the field early at Alabama if he can fill a need somewhere on the depth chart.

Casey Thompson, the Texas Longhorns' 2021 starting quarterback, reportedly entered the transfer portal Friday.

According to The Athletic, Thompson made the decision after Texas landed quarterback Quinn Ewers in a transfer from Ohio State and secured a commitment from class of 2022 quarterback Maalik Murphy.

While Thompson began the 2021 season as the backup to Hudson Card, he took over as the starter three weeks into the season and went on to make 10 starts for the Longhorns.

After playing sparingly in his first two seasons, Thompson enjoyed a solid junior campaign in 2021, completing 63.2 percent of his passes for 2,113 yards, 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while also rushing for 157 yards and four scores. 

The 2021 season was rough for the Longhorns as a whole, though, as they went 5-7 and missed out on playing in a bowl game for the first time since 2016.

It was an especially disappointing year since it marked the first season with Steve Sarkisian as head coach following Tom Herman's four years in that role.

Despite the struggles of 2021, the Longhorns may have a bright future thanks to the arrival of Ewers, who is one of the most promising young quarterbacks in college football.

Ewers, who is a Southlake, Texas, native and was ranked by 247Sports as the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2021 class, originally committed to Texas in August 2020, but de-committed two months later.

He then committed to Ohio State, but after losing the starting job to C.J. Stroud and not attempting a pass as a freshman, Ewers circled back to Texas as a transfer.

Given his talent and Sarkisian's status as a respected offensive mind, Ewers is the heavy favorite to start for the Longhorns as a redshirt freshman next season.

That would have left Thompson on the bench, but after showing some flashes of brilliance this season, he may get the opportunity to start elsewhere in 2022.

The start of the early signing period for the 2022 class produced one massive surprise, some interesting players flipping their initial commitment and a lot of expected results. 

Wednesday's biggest move saw cornerback Travis Hunter, the top overall player in this class by 247Sports composite rankings, surprise everyone by flipping his commitment from Florida State to Jackson State. 

One thing that isn't a surprise this recruiting cycle is the teams at the top. Texas A&M and Alabama currently rank first and second with 50 combined commitments, including 45 rated as 4- or 5-star players, per 247Sports' composite rankings. 

As of right now, 15 of the top 20 prospects in the 2022 class have signed. There are still be many key decisions to come before National Signing Day on Feb. 2. 

Looking at where things stand, here are the best players still unsigned. 

Harold Perkins, LB (Cy Park HS, Texas)

The highest-ranked player still available (No. 5 overall), Harold Perkins has already narrowed down his list of options. LSU, Texas and Texas A&M are the finalists, with the decision set to be made during the Under Armour All-American Game. 

Texas A&M is considered the favorite based on 247Sports' crystal ball projections. 

Perkins had a memorable moment during a visit to Texas in November when he recorded video of himself watching the Longhorns lose to Kansas on a two-point conversion. 

That doesn't necessarily mean Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff can't get Perkins to commit, but the Aggies play in the same state and are much better positioned to compete on a national stage. 

LSU is also in an interesting position because the staff that originally recruited him has been changed. Brian Kelly is replacing Ed Orgeron as head coach. It hasn't had a negative impact on the 2022 class, which ranks third overall behind Alabama and Ohio State. 

The Aggies are coming off an 8-4 regular season in 2021, but that record does include a 41-38 victory over Alabama on Oct. 9. Head coach Jimbo Fisher has a lot of the pieces in place to have this program compete, as long as they can play consistent from week to week. 

Perkins can be the leader of any defense in the country with his combination of speed and athleticism. 

Wherever Perkins decides to play in college, he will immediately transform their 2022 class into a special group because he has that kind of rare upside. 

Domani Jackson, CB (Mater Dei HS, California)

Domani Jackson, the No. 2 cornerback in the class, has already made one big move this recruiting season. He decommitted from USC last month to reopen his recruitment. 

“I’m still considering USC and will be taking my official visit there this weekend for the UCLA game,” Jackson told Greg Biggins of 247Sports on Nov. 14. “I just felt like the best way to really evaluate all my options was to de-commit so every one would be on the same level.

It's important to note that Jackson made his decision before USC hired Lincoln Riley away from Oklahoma as its new head coach. 

Riley and his staff have made noise in recruiting, though not for this year. Malachi Nelson, a 5-star quarterback recruit in the 2023 class, flipped his commitment from Oklahoma to USC. 

Jackson told Biggins on Nov. 30 he's down to USC and Alabama, adding that Riley "has been blowing my phone up and that’s been impressive." He also said he was planning to commit on Dec. 15, but there has been no announcement from him as of this writing. 

USC has a greater need for Jackson than Alabama. Nick Saban and his staff are already loaded with incoming talent, while the Trojans only have six commitments. 

Riley's track record of recruiting at Oklahoma indicates that won't be an issue at USC. His staff just needs time to let prospects know what they'll do with the program. 

Shemar Stewart, DL (Monsignor Pace HS, Florida)

In the video showing Perkins laughing at Texas losing to Kansas, the other player with him on a visit to Austin was Shemar Stewart. He is a 5-star recruit and the No. 9 overall player in the 2022 class. 

Unlike Perkins, Stewart is no longer considering the Longhorns barring a late change in his thinking. 

The 270-pound defensive lineman told Hayes Fawcett of On3.com that he's deciding between Georgia, Miami, and Texas A&M. 

"I feel like these 3 schools give me the best chance to be developed to the best of my ability and to have a successful future," Stewart said. 

Those programs will have to wait for his final decision, as Hayes noted Stewart won't announce his commitment until Feb. 2. 

Texas A&M could have a leg up in the three-school race. The program is considered the favorite, per 247Sports crystal ball projections. He took an official visit to the school on Oct. 22. 

If Fisher and his staff can land both Perkins and Stewart, the Aggies will be well positioned to challenge Alabama and compete for a national title as soon as next season. 

Ratings via 247Sports composite rankings.

Kamari Wilson, a class of 2022 5-star safety from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, will attend Florida.

Blake Alderman of 247Sports reported Wilson chose Florida on Wednesday after taking an official visit to the school this past weekend.

Per 247Sports' composite rankings, the 6'0", 200-pound Wilson is ranked 28th in his class overall, second among safeties and fifth overall from Florida. 

Wilson fielded 33 offers, including ones from Georgia, Texas A&M, Alabama and Notre Dame. In the end, he chose the Gators, who have added a potentially dominant force in their secondary.

Wilson racked up 114 tackles, five interceptions and five touchdowns during his sophomore year in 2019 for Westwood High School in Fort Pierce, Florida.

He decided to transfer to IMG Academy before the 2020 season and announced his decision on social media:

"It was a super tough decision," Wilson added, per Jon Santucci of Treasure Coast Newspapers.

"I love this football team so much, and I didn't want to leave it. IMG is going to give me the tutors that I need to succeed academically. I don't have to worry about violence there. I can just go there and focus on school and football."

He also mentioned academics as a reason for his move.

"The thing that got me thinking about transferring was my grades," Wilson said.

"I'm a 3.2 (grade point average) student, but I had some C's during the third quarter because I had some struggles staying focused. I don't think that will be an issue for me at IMG. I'll have tutors for every class, and I think that will really help a lot."

Wilson played his 2020 season at IMG Academy. In the summer of 2021, he excelled at the Future 50 event, per Chad Simmons of On3 Sports:

Wilson was heavily tipped to play at Georgia at one time, with many of the 247Sports prognosticators projecting as much.

However, Wilson will head to rival Florida, which went 6-6 in 2021.

The Gators will be under new leadership in 2022 as Louisiana-Lafayette's Billy Napier now runs the show in Gainesville. 

Adding a player like Wilson is a huge get for Napier as he looks to establish his footprint in the SEC and in the Sunshine State.

Star linebacker recruit Shawn Murphy will play college football at Alabama starting in 2022.

The Crimson Tide announced Murphy signed his letter of intent Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period. 

Murphy is widely regarded as one of the best defensive players in this class—he's a 4-star talent who is the fifth-ranked linebacker and No. 57 overall player, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

Already listed at 6'2" and 215 pounds, Murphy should have no problem filling out his frame to reach a more archetypal linebacker size. He's a phenomenal athlete who ran the shuttle in 4.41 seconds and had a 33.8-inch vertical jump at The Opening in 2019.

Brian Dohn, national recruiting analyst for 247Sports, offered this scouting report for Murphy:

"Has build to play inside linebacker. Can add thickness throughout frame and play at 235 pounds. Hard-working with inner drive. Plays with chip on shoulder. Physical, menacing player in the box. Shows suddenness to get to ball carrier. Plugs gaps with ferocity. Devastating hitter between the tackles. At his best when playing downhill."

Based on his raw talent and upside, it's hardly a surprise that Nick Saban wanted Murphy to play for the Crimson Tide.

The move had been expected since Murphy gave Alabama a verbal commitment in July.

“I want to be with people I can talk to without having to be hesitant and to feel like I am getting all of the essentials I need to have a job of my choice at the end of college or after an NFL career,” Murphy told Justin Smith of Touchdown Alabama.

Few programs have been better at developing talent at linebacker over the past decade. C.J. Mosley, Dont'a Hightower, Rolando McClain and Courtney Upshaw are a few of the Alabama stars who have gone on to have successful NFL careers.

Murphy will give Saban and defensive coordinator Pete Golding an anchor in the middle of the field who is strong enough to take down tight ends and fast enough to run with running backs and wide receivers.

Alabama always ranks at or near the top of yearly recruiting lists. Murphy's addition will go a long way toward ensuring that remains the case in 2022. 

Defensive end Malick Sylla announced he's signed his letter of intent to play college football at Texas A&M, formally providing a major boost to the Aggies' 2022 recruiting class following his initial commitment in January 2021.

Sylla is a 4-star prospect whom the 247Sports' composite ranking lists as the No. 66 overall player in the 2022 class. He's also rated as the No. 10 defensive lineman nationally and 12th-best recruit from football-rich Texas.

The Katy High School standout's frame (6'6", 230 pounds) makes him look more like a player prepping for the NFL draft than one getting ready to start playing college football. Nevertheless, it should allow him to make a smooth transition and a quick collegiate impact.

Last June, he said that ability to step right in and play would be key in his final decision.

"I want to fit in," Sylla told Brian Perroni of GigEm247. "I want to go in and play as a freshman. I want the defense to be like a 4-4-type defense where I can be on the edge. And the coaching staff has to be consistent."

It's a realistic goal, as he's shown the type of athleticism and explosiveness necessary to compete against older competition.

That said, Sylla probably won't become a three-down starter for Texas A&M right out of the gate. It's more likely the coaching staff will work him into a rotation that can accentuate his strengths, specifically getting after the quarterback while he becomes a more well-rounded player.

His role should steadily increase in the coming years as he becomes a key player for head coach Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies defense.

Wide receiver Caleb Burton officially signed his letter of intent to play college football at Ohio State on Wednesday. He committed to the school in November 2020.

Washington Football Team wideout Terry McLaurin, an OSU product, welcomed the early national signing day arrival to the program:

Burton is a 4-star prospect who's rated as the No. 68 overall player in the 2022 recruiting class in 247Sports' composite rankings. He's also listed as the No. 9 wideout and the 13th-best player from the state of Texas among next year's group.

He's the son of Charles Burton, a former linebacker at Syracuse and in NFL Europe, who served as his head coach at Del Valle High School.

In turn, it's no surprise the fundamentals of Burton's game are strong. He's a terrific route-runner for his age and he uses his frame (6'0", 165 lbs) well to win in traffic at all levels of the field.

"My mindset is to hustle on every play and perfect my craft," Burton told Rolando Rosa of Youth1 in 2018. "I want my opponent to have to work for everything they get when I'm out there."

He suffered a season-ending knee injury early in his junior year at Del Valle, but the setback didn't significantly alter his high recruiting rankings or his promising long-term outlook.

A majority of prospects coming out of high school are great athletes with room to grow in the finer points of the game. Burton comes to OSU with pretty much the opposite scouting report. He's a solid athlete, but he's one of the more polished receivers you'll see at this stage of development.

That could make him a quick study and allow him to make an impact relatively early for Ryan Day and the Buckeyes.

After seeing a mass exodus following Lincoln Riley's shocking departure for USC, Oklahoma's recruiting is finally starting to stabilize.

4-star quarterback Nick Evers announced his intention to attend Oklahoma in a tweet Monday. 

Evers is the No. 156 overall player and 10th-ranked quarterback in the 2022 class, per 247Sports. Oklahoma and Florida, both schools going through coaching changes, were considered the top contenders to land one of the few remaining top quarterbacks in this class.

Evers threw for 2,367 yards and 19 touchdowns against eight interceptions while adding 648 yards and 14 scores on the ground as a senior at Flower Mount (Texas) High School. While his passing accuracy took a dip as a senior, Evers flashed more of a dual-threat ability that could make him capable of competing for a starting job early in his tenure in Norman.

The Sooners already lost Spencer Rattler to the transfer portal, and it's possible Caleb Williams also explores his options. That could leave Oklahoma without both of their quarterbacks who made starts in 2021. The Sooners also lost the commitment of 2023 5-star quarterback Malachi Nelson, who followed Riley to USC.

For now, Oklahoma will go into next season with Williams, Evers, Micah Bowens and Ralph Rucker on their quarterback depth chart. Ensuring Williams sticks around is the next vital step for new Oklahoma coach Brent Venables, who is returning to his former stomping grounds after spending the last decade as an assistant under Dabo Swinney at Clemson.