Early Signing Day superlatives

The Early Signing Period kicked off on Wednesday and the fireworks didn’t wait to go off.

The first Signing Day brought had some firepower, with schools around the country making major moves involving some of the nation’s most sought-after recruits. On3 National Recruiting Analyst Sam Spiegelman hands out superlatives from the first day of signing action..

Oregon has statement finish

It’s becoming very clear that the Ducks can’t be counted out of any recruitment these days. Under Dan Lanning’s watch, Oregon has been in pursuit of some of the nation’s best, and on Wednesday overcame some serious obstacles to finish with a bevy of talented pieces to add to the roster.

That includes securing signatures from five-star EDGE Matayo Uiagaleilei over USC and Ohio State, and beating out Oklahoma and Notre Dame for five-star safety Peyton Bowen. There was buzz about Uiagalelei about USC and Ohio State before Oregon closed. The same goes for Bowen, who multiple sources believed would stick with the Irish after the Sooners began trending on the RPM.

Oregon also pressed the right buttons to flip several blue-chippers, including On300 QB Austin Novosad from Baylor, CB Daylen Austin from LSU, and RB Jayden Limar from Notre Dame, and now hold the No. 7 class before the new year. The Ducks are still heavily involved with the Consensus’ No. 1 David Hicks, who signs his letter of intent on Friday.

What we already know: Lanning’s Ducks are a heavyweight not only going toe-to-toe for some of the nation’s best, but winning those battles now.

Primed for the moment

Deion Sanders didn’t wait until the Early Signing Window to get active on the recruiting trail, but nonetheless lived to his reputation with a few flips. Four-star WR and one-time Auburn commit Adam Hopkins committed to Colorado, which also flipped SMU DB commit Jaden Milliner-Jones, who just captured a state title at DeSoto (Texas).

Prime isn’t done yet either. Three-star QB Kasen Weisman backed off his Kansas commitment after visiting Boulder last weekend. The Buffs have also been connected to five-star Miami CB commit Cormani McClain, whose mother announced on social media would not sign on Wednesday as previously scheduled. Deion’s Buffs are beginning to pick up steam on the RPM.

Tide goes back-to-back-to-back

If you blinked, you might have missed Nick Saban quietly reeling in three five-stars in a 24-hour stretch to plug in on both lines and continue to add reinforcements by way of some of the nation’s best. On National Signing Eve, five-star OT Kadyn Proctor committed to the Crimson Tide, a few days after returning home from a visit back to Tuscaloosa.

The five-star Montgomery (Ala.) Carver tandem of DL James Smith and EDGE Qua Russaw followed suit on Wednesday. Proctor, Smith, and Russaw are three of the six high school recruits and eight Crimson Tide signees overall ranked as either Nos. 1 or 2 at their positions in the country. Alabama is retooling at the right positions with this class.

Texas-sized flex

It was a massive victory in the summertime when the Longhorns beat out Alabama for a commitment from elite New Iberia (La.) Westgate Derek Williams. The Texas staff pressed all of the right buttons to get Williams to sign on Wednesday. The Consensus‘ No. 3 safety was originally planning to officially visit Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, and Miami and ink in February.

Williams is the defensive equivalent to Five-Star Plus+ QB Arch Manning for the Longhorns, who secured the Boot’s top offensive and defensive players in 2023. Steve Sarkisian’s SEC-tested staff has been knocking on the door for years before breaking through this cycle. Texas also polished off a stellar in-state foundation headlined by the nation’s No. 1 LB from the Metroplex Anthony Hill and other top-100 national recruits in WRs Ryan Niblett and Johntay Cook, CB Malik Muhammad and EDGE Colton Vasek.

Wolverines strike in the South

It’s a trend for Jim Harbaugh to win a few recruiting battles down in the South each year. This time, the Wolverines beat out Kentucky for Consensus top-200 WR Karmello English. English, the No. 25 wide receiver in the country out of Phenix City (Ala.) Central, is a one-time Auburn commitment. He vaulted Michigan to the No. 18 class in the country.

The last time Harbaugh plucked an explosive wide receiver from SEC territory was Nico Collins. I like this get, too.

Terps finish fast

Mike Locksley hasn’t lost his touch on the recruiting trail as Maryland’s head coach, and he’s lived up to his reputation of making substantial moves on Signing Day. The Terps notched a pair of flips in N.C. State safety commit Tamarcus Cooley and then four-star EDGE Neeo Avery away from Ole Miss. This program is turning around, and winning these sorts of battles continue to push it along.

Arizona State hits ground running

Kenny Dillingham wasted no time getting to work and beginning to put his staff’s stamp on the Arizona State roster. The Sun Devils piled up five new commitments on National Signing Day, including flips of DB Keith Abney from Utah State and WR Kaleb Black from Memphis.

Wednesday’s action also included commitments and subsequent signatures from Ashley Williams, S Shawn Russ and in-state RB Lenox Lawson.