5 Dallas-area early signing day storylines, including the area’s top uncommitted recruits

With early national signing day (Dec. 15) just a week away, nearly a quarter of SportsDayHS’ top 100 recruits for the class of 2022 are still looking for a home. And for the majority of those who appear ready to sign their letters of intent, out-of-state programs were the move.

Much can still change before national signing day in February, but it’s clear that college football’s tumultuous coaching carousel had an impact on Dallas-area recruits.

Here are five storylines to watch ahead of early national signing day.

Note: The SportsDayHS Top 100 area rankings are mentioned many times in this story. You can view those here.

Where will No. 1 go?

The No. 1 recruit on the SportsDayHS top 100 recruits list is still uncommitted.

Arlington Bowie offensive lineman Devon Campbell, a five-star recruit with offers from Texas, Alabama and Oklahoma, among others, has yet to announce his commitment. Rated as the nation’s No. 1 interior offensive lineman, per 247Sports, Campbell checks in at 6-3, 310 pounds.

If the experts are correct, Campbell could be Austin-bound. Four 247 Crystal Ball predictions peg Campbell as a Texas pledge.

He’s far from the only uncommitted player, though

Just 10 players from last year’s SportsDayHS top 100 recruits list were still uncommitted by early national signing day.

This year? That number has more than doubled to 22.

The top uncommitted recruits include Duncanville defensive lineman Omari Abor (No. 2), Lewisville wide receiver Armani Winfield (No. 8), Allen offensive lineman Neto Umeozulu (No. 14) and Lancaster wide receiver Phaizon Wilson (No. 19). The early signing period runs Wednesday through Friday before opening again Feb. 2.

Flower Mound quarterback Nick Evers, No. 33 on the SportsDayHS top 100 and a four-star recruit per 247, had been committed to Florida since March. But after head coach Dan Mullen was fired by Florida after three seasons, Evers decommitted on Tuesday night.

Now the area’s top uncommitted senior quarterback, Evers’ current situation is representative of what can best be described as a hectic college football coaching carousel. Richland wide receiver CJ Nelson, for example, had been committed to SMU before Sonny Dykes’ move to TCU. He decommitted in late November.

Will Nelson follow suit with the likes of Garland’s Jordan Hudson and Chace Biddle — both former SMU pledges — and head to Fort Worth? It wouldn’t be shocking, given the importance of coaching relationships in this year’s recruiting cycle.

When former Cedar Hill coach Joey McGuire was named head coach at Texas Tech in November, he immediately landed three commitments from his old stomping ground: three-star cornerback Jalon Peoples, three-star defensive lineman Harvey Dyson and three-star defensive lineman Syncere Massey, who had originally pledged to Arizona State.

Baylor, TCU and Texas Tech controlled the area

Last year it was SMU and Texas that had the most success recruiting Dallas-Fort Worth’s elite come early national signing day, as the Mustangs landed 10 pledges and the Longhorns pulled in six.

This year it was Baylor, TCU and Texas Tech leading the way.

Baylor, fresh off a Big 12 championship win, has five of the SportsDayHS top 100′s recruits pledged: Red Oak tight end Kelsey Johnson (No. 45), Rockwall-Heath wide receiver Jordan Nabors (57), Coppell offensive lineman Alvin Ebosele (61), DeSoto safety Devyn Bobby (81) and Frisco Independence running back Reggie Bush (88).

Texas Tech — thanks largely to the hiring of McGuire — also has five commitments: Peoples (No. 17), Argyle offensive lineman Sheridan Wilson (52), Massey (59), Dyson (74) and Northwest Eaton safety Ben Roberts (77).

Likewise for TCU, which flipped Hudson and Biddle — the two top recruits of its five from the SportsDayHS top 100 — when it hired Dykes.

Texas has three pledges, though they’re among the best in the area: Denton Ryan cornerback Austin Jordan (6), Frisco offensive lineman Cole Hutson (12) and Arlington Martin linebacker Trevell Johnson (15).

But, out-of-state schools still won the battle

Over a third of the recruits on the SportsDayHS top 100 are crossing state lines for college. Out-of-state programs pulled 46 of the area’s top recruits away from Texas teams, while 32 players are committed to a Texas school, a slight improvement from the 29 who had committed in-state this time last year. Both numbers could change between now and February.

Oklahoma State was the big winner, with four recruits: Euless Trinity running back Ollie Gordon (No. 11), Frisco Lone Star quarterback Garret Rangel (No. 26), Colleyville Heritage cornerback Dylahn McKinney (No. 46) and Frisco Lebanon Trail offensive lineman Austin Kawecki (No. 67). The Cowboys have as many commitments from the SportsDayHS top 100 as Texas A&M and SMU, and more than Texas (three), North Texas (2) and Rice (2).

Oklahoma State beat out its rival Oklahoma, which has a commitment from just one player listed: Arlington Seguin athlete Xavion Brice (No. 55).

While Oklahoma has had the on-field advantage over its rival as of late, as it’s won eight of the last 10 games between the two, the Cowboys have had better success pulling top recruits from the D-FW area. Oklahoma State did, however, just beat Oklahoma on the field.

Bedlam on the recruiting trail

Oklahoma and Oklahoma State routinely cross state lines to recruit North Texas. A look at the number of commits from the SportsDayHS Top 100 over the past six seasons to go to the Sooner State’s top two football programs:

Also notable

• Oregon landed three commitments from players on the SportsDayHS top 100: Duncanville offensive lineman Cameron Williams (No. 13), Mansfield Timberview safety Landon Hullaby (No. 22) and DeSoto wide receiver Stephon Johnson (No. 34). Will coach Mario Cristobal’s recent move from Oregon to Miami have an impact on those potential signings?
• Among the notable recent flips is Rockwall-Heath quarterback Josh Hoover, No. 31 on the SportsDayHS top 100. He decommitted from Indiana on Monday and committed to TCU later that day.
• Lewisville wide receiver Winfield had been committed to Texas since January, but he decommitted in late November. A four-star recruit ranked eighth on the SportsDayHS top 100, he’s the area’s top uncommitted wide receiver, and per 247 is favored to choose Michigan State.
• The top area recruits who aren’t on the SportsDay top 100, per 247, are Lancaster three-star running back Isaiah Broadway (New Mexico State pledge), Mansfield Legacy three-star tight end Kyirin Heath (Ole Miss pledge) and Southlake Carroll offensive tackle Joe Baker (Kansas).
• San Diego State and UNLV landed commitments from a combined eight players on last year’s iteration of the SportsDayHS top 100. This year? Zero.

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