National Signing Day is here, kicking off the three-day Early Signing Period that runs Dec. 20 through Dec. 22. The marquee day of the college football recruiting calendar will feature twists, turns, drama and flips like it always does. Follow along for the ride as we update you on the day’s biggest news.
9:00 am ET:
Sounds like Maryland is still in the mix for five-star offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, who committed to Colorado on Dec. 7. If he flips to the Terrapins, this would be a Mike Locksley special, the one recruit the Terrapins head man locks in on at the beginning of the process, which for Seaton started nearly four years ago, and stays on top of. Seaton is the No. 1 offensive tackle in the land per 247Sports.
8:40 a.m. ET:
Five-star Texas commit Ryan Wingo and his family talked with Missouri head coach Eliah Drinkwitz on Tuesday night and the Tigers are hanging around at the end in this recruitment. Wingo loves the Longhorns but it sounds like the family is giving the in-state program some attention at the end of the cycle. Wingo was supposed to send in his letter to the Longhorns at 7am, 247Sports is told that hasn’t happened.
8:28 a.m. ET:
Ohio State felt good about hanging on to five-star defensive lineman Eddrick Houston, but sources around Buford (Ga.) High actually suggest that he will flip to Alabama. The Crimson Tide have 247Sports No. 3 recruiting class as we start the day. Ohio State still hasn’t heard anything and will battle to keep him in the fold.
8:20 a.m. ET:
Still expecting Buford (Ga.) High Top247 defensive lineman Eddrick Houston to stick with Ohio State despite late visits to Alabama and Clemson. The Buckeyes have 247Sports No. 2 class.
8:00 a.m. ET:
Logged a 247Sports Crystal Ball forecast regarding Clinton (NC) High Top247 defensive lineman Amaris Williams to ultimately flip from Florida to Auburn. Sources around The Plains feel good and a source around Gainesville also thinks that’s how it plays out. Ohio State has tried to make a final push and remains in the picture but the strongest intel is around Auburn. Williams is 247Sports’ No. 1 prospect in North Carolina, No. 8 defensive lineman in the country and No. 34 prospect overall. The Tigers come into the day with 247Sports No. 11 ranked recruiting class.
I think Florida hangs on to five-star defensive lineman LJ McCray but he’s still talking to other suitors including Auburn and Florida State.
Logged a 247Sports Crystal Ball in favor of Miami for Top247 linebacker Adarius Hayes. He visited Coral Gables a few times this fall including his official this past weekend. Sources around the Hurricanes feel good. Around the Gators they’re happy with the two other touted linebackers in the fold in Myles Graham and Aaron Chiles.
Logged a 247Sports Crystal Ball in favor of Florida regarding running back Jadan Baugh. The Gators had the momentum going into the final two official visits to Gainesville and Alabama, the Crimson Tide made it interesting but the intel favors the Gators at the end. Also don’t sleep on Florida for offensive lineman Favour Edwin. Auburn and Alabama have had momentum at times with Edwin but it could be the Gators winning out in the end.
7:30 a.m. ET:
One of the most anticipated signings of day will take place at Buford (Ga.) High this afternoon when 247Sports’ No. 1 ranked safety KJ Bolden puts pen to paper.
Will it be in favor of Florida State, where he’s been committed since August? Will it be Auburn who’s had some late momentum? Or will it be Georgia who has been inside the Bolden house twice over the last two weeks as well.
Around Florida State, a source said it could go either way but the belief is they once saw Auburn as the biggest threat but now believe it’s Georgia.
Auburn has felt strong about their position, but going into the night they too thought Georgia was rising.
Around Athens, there has definitely been good dialogue down the stretch.
Florida State was Bolden’s dream school. He’s built a great rapport with the staff, visited a couple times this fall including his official last weekend and believes under Mike Norvell it’s blossomed into a title contender. With Georgia he likes the history of player development, proximity from home, and the fact that not only is Will Muschamp one of the most accomplished safeties coaches in the country but that’s Kirby Smart’s background as well. Auburn is exciting to Bolden, he loves his time on The Plains and the culture Hugh Freeze is bringing and sees it as a place on the rise similar to where FSU was a couple years ago.
I think the Bolden camp has given Florida State reason to believe he’ll stick but again Georgia is one to watch at the end and Auburn will keep battling.
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7:00 a.m. ET:
The intel coming into the day suggests 247Sports’ No. 1 prospect, five-star receiver Jeremiah Smith will stick with his commitment and sign with Ohio State. At times down the stretch, there were periods where it looked like Florida State had some momentum going their way and there is thought around Tallahassee they’re still in it. Miami has been battling as well. But the majority of the intel says the Buckeyes are still in strong position.
Smith isn’t expected to sign until lunch time.
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7:00 a.m. ET:
DJ Lagway and his felt a huge push from USC on Tuesday as the Trojans try an address a thin quarterback depth chart that will see Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams move on to the NFL and former five-star Malachi Nelson hit the transfer portal. The regular dialogue with Texas A&M continued as the new coaching staff in College State and the Lagway camp maintained the steady communication they’ve had over the last couple weeks.
But at the end of another day, the family of the Willis (Texas) High five-star says Lagway is excited to sign with Florida.
“It’s been crazy man,” Lagway’s father Derek said of the last day. “I’ve talk to Lincoln Riley, I talked to him three or four times today. A&M coach a couple times the offensive coordinator. A couple coaches from A&M. It’s been crazy but it’s a blessing to be in this situation.”
Lagway ranks as 247Sports No. 2 quarterback and No. 4 prospect overall. He’s been a verbal to the Gators since Dec. 7, 2022.
“Florida, they’ve been recruiting him, building a relationship with him for the last year and a half, couple years,” the elder Lagway said. “It’s a big difference than someone coming in the last week or two of this recruitment.”
Lagway was back in Gainesville last weekend.
“I think if DJ continues to work, get better every day, it doesn’t matter where he goes,” his father said. He played his college football at Baylor where he was a running back. “He has to continue and work and grow. I like Coach Napier. Real easy to talk to being straight up with us. Florida has done nothing but show us love. The fanbase. I think you’re a 17-year old kid and you’re walking down the stands to the game, they’re chanting ‘Lagway to The Swamp,’ I’m a grown up that played college football and never seen anything like it. The fans showed DJ a lot of love. It’s a blessing to be in this situation.”
Lagway is expected to sign at 3:30 pm local time.
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6:30 a.m. ET:
Couple flips on the radar.
It looked like Ohio State was in the clear the last couple days with Top247 receiver Jeremiah McClellan but the St. Louis product could indeed choose Oregon today. “On the fence last night,” a source told 247Sports this morning. With that being said the momentum seems to be going back towards the Ducks.
Daignerfield (Texas) High four-star athlete Aeryn Hampton remains on flip watch from Texas to Alabama.
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6:00 a.m. ET:
Looking forward to following back up shortly with the camp of five-star receiver Ryan Wingo, a Texas commit who has been talking to Eliah Drinkwitz and Missouri down the stretch hearing the Tigers final pitch. Dylan Raiola and his family have been trying to make a pitch on Nebraska’s behalf as well.
