Recruiting: Best of what’s left for college football’s February signing period
The immediate rush of drama and big signings of football signing day is over.
But, even so, there's good talent available that will grab a lot of college attention over the next six weeks before the February signing period starting Feb. 5, 2020. Some prospects are expected to announce their decisions during All-American games in early January, while others will likely take more official visits in January and extend things all the way to Feb. 5.
Translation: The 2020 class still has plenty of shaking out to do.
Here are some of the more notable uncommitted prospects to monitor in the coming weeks:
Jalen Berger
Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, New Jersey)
Running back / 6 feet / 205 pounds
No. 200 per 247Sports; No. 49 per Rivals
Considering: UCLA, Wisconsin, LSU, Rutgers, Penn State
Buzz: It appears the three main schools are Rutgers, UCLA and Wisconsin. Berger officially visited the Bruins last weekend, and he took an official trip to Wisconsin in November. New Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano has prioritized Berger, visiting him the day after his hire was announced. But Chip Kelly and Paul Chryst also visited Berger this month, too. It feels like any one of these three schools could land Berger, who plans to announce his decision Jan. 4 during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Alfred Collins
Cedar Creek (Bastrop, Texas)
Defensive end / 6-5 / 275
No. 40 per 247Sports; No. 150 per Rivals
Considering: Texas, Baylor, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Alabama
Buzz: With all five of his official visits taken, including one to Baylor this past weekend, Collins is expected to delay his decision until after the early signing period and sign in February. Most industry experts have pegged Collins to Texas for some time, but the Bears are making a push. Texas A&M also had an in-home visit with Collins this month.
Zach Evans
North Shore (Houston, Texas)
Running back / 6-0 / 200
No. 6 in USA TODAY’s Chosen 25 rankings
Considering: LSU, Texas A&M, Georgia
Buzz: The best running back prospect in the country, and the top remaining uncommitted senior, Evans isn’t announcing his decision until Jan. 2 — during the Under Armour All-American Game. LSU has the most buzz at the moment. But Texas A&M got Evans’ most recent official visit the weekend of Nov. 15, and Georgia is still in the picture, as well. Smart money is on LSU or Texas A&M — although the Aggies already have an all-purpose back and a running back signed in 2020.
Mississippi blue-chipper McKinnley Jackson is looking at Alabama, Ole Miss, Auburn, LSU and Texas A&M. (Photo: Anthony McDougle)
McKinnley Jackson
George County (Lucedale, Mississippi)
Defensive tackle / 6-2 / 325
No. 175 per 247Sports; No. 83 per Rivals
Considering: Alabama, Ole Miss, Auburn, LSU, Texas A&M
Buzz: Jackson has taken official visits to Alabama (Sept. 27) and Auburn (Dec. 6) and has three more to LSU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M planned for the final three weekends of January, respectively. Then, he’s expected to announce his decision when the next signing period begins Feb. 5. This one feels pretty much wide-open right now.
Kelee Ringo
Saguaro (Scottsdale, Arizona)
Cornerback / 6-2 / 208
No. 12 in Chosen 25
Considering: Georgia, Oregon, Ohio State, Texas and USC
Buzz: Ringo has taken official visits to Oregon (Oct. 11) and Georgia (Dec. 13), and those may be the favorites at this point, although Texas conducted an in-home visit with Ringo last week. There will be plenty of coaches tuned into the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 4, when he is expected to announce his college decision.
Saguaro CB Kelee Ringo lines up against a Chaparral receiver on Sept. 20, 2019 (Photo: Brady Klain/Arizona Republic)
Avantae Williams
Deland (Florida)
Safety / 5-11 / 170
No. 111 per 247Sports; No. 54 per Rivals
Considering: Ole Miss, Florida, Miami, Georgia
Buzz: Williams just decommitted from Oregon last week, opening the door for other schools to make a late push into February. Florida will no doubt make the in-state product a priority. Let’s see what Lane Kiffin can do at Ole Miss; Williams is set to officially visit Oxford, Mississippi, in late January. No decision is expected soon. Williams originally committed to Miami way back in February 2017, but he re-opened his recruitment in May 2018.
Darnell Washington
Desert Pines (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Tight end / 6-8 / 250
No. 16 in Chosen 25
Considering: Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Miami, Florida
Buzz: Washington has taken official visits to all five schools, with Miami and Tennessee getting his final two trips in December’s first two weekends. Georgia got his first official visit in late September, and the Bulldogs are trending as the favorite at the moment; they don’t have any tight ends committed in 2020. Washington is expected to announce his college decision Jan. 2 during the Under Armour All-American Game.
Henry Parrish
Columbus (Miami, Florida)
Running back / 5-10 / 185
No. 276 per 247Sports; No. 155 per Rivals
Considering: Florida, South Carolina, Ole Miss
Buzz: Originally committed to Pittsburgh since June, Parrish re-opened his recruitment this month after receiving offers from Florida, South Carolina, USC and Ole Miss. He officially visited South Carolina in September. Florida has been trending favorably, but the Rebels may be the school to watch here. Kiffin recruited Parrish hard when he was at Florida Atlantic, and he offered him basically as soon as he got the Ole Miss job. No decision is expected soon.
Dontae Manning
Raytown (Kansas City, Missouri)
Cornerback / 6-0 / 185
No. 30 per 247Sports; No. 215 per Rivals
Considering: Georgia, Arizona State, Oregon, Texas A&M, Oklahoma
Buzz: Manning is expected to announce his decision Jan. 2 during the Under Armour All-American Game. He has taken all five of his official visits, with Oregon (Nov. 16) and Georgia (Dec. 13) getting his two most recent trips. December buzz has Manning trending toward the Ducks.
Daniyel Ngata
Folsom (California)
All-purpose back / 5-9 / 180
No. 83 per 247Sports; No. 152 per Rivals
Considering: Arizona State, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State
Buzz: Ngata has officially visited Texas A&M (June 21), Arizona State (Sept. 21) and Oklahoma State (Sept. 27) and it seems like those three would be the favorites right now. There’s no clear front-runner, though. Ngata is expected to announce his decision Jan. 2 during the Under Armour All-American Game.
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