With the college football season coming soon, let’s look at a few players committed in the 2024 college football recruiting class who are likely to flip.
With the college football season less than a month away, let’s look at a few players committed in the 2024 college football recruiting class who are likely to flip their commitment before signing day.
To be clear, this isn’t me projecting a flip is imminent; it wouldn’t be surprising to see any of these guys make a move. With Peyton Woodyard recently flipping from Georgia to Alabama, the floodgates could soon open with the start of the season just weeks away.
Had I been a little quicker to the punch, Woodyard was on my short list of recruits most likely to flip this season – only I had him pegged for Ohio State or USC, not Alabama.
College Football Recruiting Flip-Watch – Justin Scott – Defensive Lineman – Ohio State
The big-time 5-star prospect out of Chicago, Illinois, committed to the Buckeyes somewhat out of the blue on July 2nd. After nearly being committed to Notre Dame, Miami, and Michigan following visits to all three respective schools. Scott seems like another top prospect poised to flip before signing day. Scott has taken official visits to Georgia, Miami, Michigan, and Ohio State.
He is a very talented prospect with a college-ready skillset and frame to perform from the moment he steps on campus. At 6’4″ and 310 pounds, he can bolster the interior defensive line for a premier college, something easier said than done. The likely school in this scenario to flip Scott is Michigan based on the fit and NIL involvement.
Notre Dame seems out of this race, though he wants to stay closer to home and not leave the Midwest. Still, counting out Miami’s ability to throw around money and the allure that is the back-to-back national champions in Georgia would be foolish. Frankly, I’d be absolutely shocked if this commitment stuck through signing day, as it certainly seemed like a young kid living in the moment with this commitment.
With NIL a clear player in this one, a team matching that up-front payday could easily lure Scott’s commitment from the Buckeyes. I put his chances of staying at less than 40%, and with absolutely zero inside knowledge, it doesn’t seem like a fit.
College Football Flip-Watch – Sammy Brown – Linebacker – Clemson
I always thought Sammy Brown to Clemson was a weird fit, even with Clemson producing solid defensive talent over the last few seasons in college football. With Brent Venables gone, that defense has much to prove over the next couple of seasons. Against any remotely competitive competition last year, the defense struggled massively.
In games against Tennessee, South Carolina, Notre Dame, and Wake Forest, the Tigers gave up 30+ points. Florida State missed the cut against Clemson, losing by a score of 34 to 28. Maybe that’s why Brown wants to head to Death Valley. You will only really understand why a recruit wants to head to a particular school once they come out and say it. NIL, tradition, winning, NFL chances, whatever it is, there is an abundance of reasons.
Yet, with a team trending down and huge question marks on both sides of the football, Clemson is a funky fit for the top linebacker in the nation. Things could go remarkably well or poorly for the team this year and anything in between.
With FSU likely being the most challenging test on the schedule, anything could happen with the Tigers next year; if it goes south, Brown may be looking elsewhere. That can be said for every top recruit with every school, but in this case, I think it’s more likely with Brown.
College Football Flip-Watch – Carter Nelson – Tight End – Nebraska
First and foremost, I can’t blame Nelson for wanting to stay home and play in front of an incredibly passionate fanbase. The allure of doing that in your home state is a tough pull for outside schools still vying for a flip from Nelson.
Still, Nebraska has a ridiculous amount to prove, and should things not get much better under Matt Rhule’s first year as head coach in a prominent college football location, commits could look elsewhere.
Before what was considered an astonishing commitment to the Huskers, by numerous accounts, Nelson was trending to either Georgia or Notre Dame. With other TEs committed – Jaden Reddell currently committed to the Bulldogs and Jack Larsen to the Irish – it wouldn’t surprise me to see Nelson honor his commitment. That said, Larsen has fallen a bit in the rankings, and should the Irish push for Nelson, they could threaten the Huskers.
None of these are guaranteed, and it’s tough to gauge college football recruiting but with my notion of Woodyard being correct, I decided to share my thoughts on a few other potential flips. All these players are in the top 50 in the nation, and their services will still be pushed for this season.