Flip Watch: Top programs not slowing their pursuit of coveted current commits

Flip Watch season is very much upon us. Between now and the Early Signing Period that begins on December 21, the recruitment of top prospects around the country is only going to get more heated. That’s the case for the remaining uncommitted recruits, but it’s also the reality for some of the country’s top prospects already committed.

Based on recent visits and intel, there are a number of coveted commits that programs aren’t giving up on just yet as they try to add to their own classes.

4-star EDGE Colton Vasek — Oklahoma commit

School: Austin (Texas) Westlake
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 136

The Skinny: After losing out to Oklahoma for four-star hometown EDGE Colton Vasek, Texas has turned up the heat in a big way on the local target. With the Sooners’ defense struggling early on this year and some promising returns from the pass-rushing spots on Texas’ defensive unit, the Longhorns are giving Vasek something to think about. The 6-foot-5, 235-pounder has now been at two Texas games this fall, and he told InsideTexas’ Justin Wells that the hometown ‘Horns are in consistent communication with him.

“I live in Austin, and Oklahoma isn’t doing well,” said Vasek. “I’m close with the Texas staff. I talk to Coach PK (Pete Kwiatkowski), Coach Sark, and a lot of the Texas staff pretty much weekly. It’s a really good connection with them. “

5-star safety Peyton Bowen — Notre Dame commit

School: Denton (Texas) Guyer
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 18

The Skinny: While Oklahoma is trying to keep its own commits from being poached, the Sooners are looking to do some big-game hunting with five-star Denton (Texas) Guyer safety Peyton Bowen. The On3 Consensus No. 2 safety has been pledged to Notre Dame since January, but both Texas A&M and Oklahoma, as well as Oregon and Michigan, have been in his ear, especially after Notre Dame’s early-season struggles. Bowen has been on campus in College Station and Norman multiple times since this summer, and he tripped to Oregon on an unofficial visit this past weekend. A decision on whether he’ll stick with the Irish or flip to another school is expected before Guyer makes a run at the Texas state championship in December.

“I don’t know when real soon is, but I’m not going to let it rain out until my playoffs,” he told On3’s Sam Spiegelman over the weekend. “I’m going to try end it before state.”

5-star RB Cedric Baxter — Texas commit

School: Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 43 (No. 22 in the On300)

The Skinny: Cedric Baxter was a massive recruiting win for Steve Sarkisian, running backs coach Tashard Choice and the Longhorns over the summer. But as with any top recruit, other programs aren’t giving up easily. Both Florida and Florida State are pursuing the Sunshine State star. And after taking an unofficial visit to Tallahassee two weeks ago, Baxter announced on Sunday that will take an official visit with the Seminoles this coming weekend. The On3 five-star running back is a one-time Florida State commit, and the in-state program is working to get him back in the fold a second time.

4-star WR Carnell Tate — Ohio State commit

School: Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 42

The Skinny: Tennessee was — for a short time — considered to be the leader to land Carnell Tate before he ultimately committed to Ohio State in June. Despite losing out on him though, the Vols have remained in contact, with On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons saying those conversations picked up in recent weeks. Tennessee worked to get him on campus for the Alabama game two weekends ago, but it didn’t materialize. And he was back in Columbus for his official visit this past weekend.

Five-star Vols quarterback commit Nico Iamaleava hasn’t given up on him, and the two have a strong connection dating back to Overtime’s OT7 event over the summer. Tate remains committed to the Buckeyes, but Tennessee won’t stop its pursuit until the ink dries in December.

4-star LB Suntarine Perkins — Ole Miss commit

School: Raleigh (Miss.)
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 63

The Skinny: Few programs have gone harder after a prospect currently committed elsewhere than Alabama has with four-star Raleigh (Miss.) linebacker and Ole Miss commit Suntarine Perkins. The Crimson Tide over earlier this year, but they really put the press on over the summer with the Rebels’ top commit in this cycle.

A handful of flip predictions were put in back in mid-July in favor of Alabama, but to date, the Rebels have held onto him. He tripped to Tuscaloosa for an unofficial visit earlier this month, where he posted a video of him celebrating Alabama’s last-second win over Texas A&M. A week later, he was back at Ole Miss. This one will go down to the wire as the Rebels and Lane Kiffin look to keep the state’s No. 1 player at home.

“I’m still 100 percent committed to Ole Miss,” Perkins told OM Spirit’s Zach Berry. “But it’s hard, Alabama is making it tough.”

4-star WR Deandre Moore — Louisville commit

School: Los Alamitos (Calif.) St. John Bosco
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 90

The Skinny: Beating out USC for Deandre Moore — even after it had hired Lincoln Riley away from Oklahoma — was one of Scott Satterfield’s biggest recruiting wins to date at Louisville. Holding onto him might be an even bigger feat, especially as the Cardinals sit at 4-3 in the ACC with four more games against top-25 teams before the end of the year. Moore hasn’t stopped hearing from other programs, namely Texas and Georgia, and he now has official visit dates with both in the month of November.

He’ll head to Athens on the weekend of November 5 and is expected in Austin the following weekend. Louisville has a strong core of recruits in the 2023 cycle, and Moore is part of the program’s highest-ranked recruiting class ever. But other teams have at a minimum gotten his attention.

“I felt like I’d be doing a disservice to me if I didn’t go look at those other places,” Moore told On3’s Chad Simmons. “Of course, I still love Louisville. I love Louisville a lot. My family loves Louisville. But we’re gonna get out and see some new places.”