All-star games could shake up team recruiting rankings
The front lines for three college football teams got an injection of local talent as three of Floyd County’s top linemen marked the start of the early signing period.
Darlington offensive tackle Tate Ratledge held true to his original commitment, signing his National Letter of Intent to play for the University of Georgia next fall.
Meanwhile, Rome High defensive tackle Rayquan Jones signed with Coastal Carolina and his teammate, center Aidan Gaines, marked his commitment to attend West Point and play for Army.
Georgia fans were allowed a sigh of relief last Wednesday morning as Ratledge put pen to paper and officially signed with the Bulldogs.
The five-star recruit admitted his staunch commitment to Georgia took a hit with the departure of offensive line coach Sam Pittman last week to become the head coach at Arkansas, but the quick hiring of Matt Luke gave the 6-foot6, 322-pound lineman some peace of mind.
“It’s started with coach Pittman leaving. Of course, that was a big shock to me. It made me question everything,” Ratledge said. “But in the next few days (head) coach (Kirby) Smart and coach Luke both flew in and me and coach Luke started building that relationship. And I built a relationship with him faster than I have with any other coach, and that was a big part of it.”
Ratledge, who is the thirdranked offensive tackle in the class of 2020 according to 247Sports, committed to Georgia in May and will be in San Antonio, Texas, the week after Christmas to play in the All-American Bowl.
He has been a two-way player for Darlington, earning all-state accolades and region lineman of the year twice. With his college choice official, Ratledge said he is relieved to finally call his recruiting complete.
“There is a lot of stress gone, a lot of stress off of me and my family,” Ratledge said. “I feel like it’s a relief to finally know where I’m going after coach Pittman left and coach Luke came in. It’s a lot of stress off all of us.”
Ratledge had several offers from Power Five teams, including most SEC teams and a number of other schools from the ACC, Big 10, Big 12 and Pac-12.
“He’s had an unbelievable career here at Darlington on the field, and I think a lot of this too is a testament to the work he’s done and the coaches have helped him accomplish in the weight room,” Darlington head coach Tommy Atha said. “And his teammates who have pushed him every single day to help turn him into the player he is and prepare him go on to play college football at the highest level.”
Jones is set to head to the coast and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, next fall to play for the Chanticleers of the Sun Belt Conference. He said his connection with former Cartersville head coach and current Coastal Carolina receivers coach Joey King played a part in his decision.
“When I went on my official (visit) it was like family. The coaches welcomed me with open arms, and it really didn’t feel strange. It felt like home,” Jones said. “And I know coach King personally from when he was at Cartersville, so me and him hit it off pretty quick. As soon as my recruiting opened he contacted me right away and told me they were interested.”
A three-star recruit at 6-1, 285 pounds, Jones had 29 tackles in his senior year for Rome, including seven sacks and four tackles for loss.
Gaines made his commitment to Army in the summer and said during last Wednesday’s ceremonious signing arrived without much anxiety.
“It’s an odd feeling of calm. It doesn’t feel too underwhelming or overwhelming,” Gaines said. “It’s just right in the middle for some reason.”
A three-star rated player and a 2018 All-State selection, Gaines has been a three-year starter for the Wolves, helping them win the 2017 Class 5A state title and getting to the semifinals in 2018.
He said he understands what will be expected of him when he begins at West Point.
“I think I have what it takes as far as going there,” Gaines said. “I’m ready for the challenges it will present and I’m very excited to meet the rest of the guys and get with the program.”
College football’s early signing period closed with several top-100 prospects still officially uncommitted.
That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re undecided.
Nine of the nation’s top 100 prospects according to composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports are listed as uncommitted, but the majority of them plan to announce their college decisions over the next two weeks.
Cornerbacks Kelee Ringo (ranked No. 8 overall) and Dontae Manning (No. 76), tight end/athlete Darnell Washington (No. 10), wide receivers Gary Bryant Jr. (No. 57) and Xzavier Henderson (No. 59) and running backs Zachary Evans (No. 14) and Daniyel Ngata (No. 80) are scheduled to announce at their respective high school all-star games. The Under Armour All-America Game takes place Jan. 2 in Orlando, Florida, and the U.S. Army All-American Bowl is Jan. 4 at San Antonio, Texas.
“It’s just an opportunity to do it on national television and just sort of make a moment out of it,” said Barton Simmons, the director of scouting for 247Sports.
While these all-star games have long served as showcases for elite recruits to announce their college decisions, the arrival of the early signing period two years ago has created a new wrinkle because it leaves open the possibility that a player could sign with a school and try to keep it quiet until he announces his decision on television.
Simmons said the all-star game announcements could provide good news for Georgia and Oregon since both schools are contending for a number of top players who haven’t announced decisions, including Ringo and Manning. Georgia also is a contender for Washington and Evans.
Clemson closes the early signing period ranked atop the team recruiting rankings after landing seven of the nation’s top 29 prospects, but Alabama is close behind. Clemson and Alabama are followed in order by Ohio State, Georgia and LSU.
“Alabama could absolutely top Clemson depending on whether they can figure out a surprise here in January, but I think Georgia is probably the team that is most dangerous for Clemson,” Simmons said regarding the race for No. 1.
Southern California is a team looking to boost its recruiting class over the next couple of months. USC never has ranked outside the top 20 in the history of the 247Sports Composite, which has had team rankings dating back to 2008. After the early signing period ended, the Trojans were left with a class ranked last in the Pac12 and outside the top 75 nationally.
USC only has signed 11 players thus far but could boost its class in February. The Trojans are considered prime contenders for Bryant.
“There’s still targets out there for us to acquire that we’re in the hunt for,” USC coach Clay Helton said.
First-year coaches find recruiting harder than ever now because the early signing period often arrives only a couple of weeks after they’re been hired. Those new coaches often have the most work to do in stocking up their classes in January and February.
As of Friday afternoon, the only program with a coaching change listed among the top 20 teams in the recruiting rankings was Washington, which announced that Chris Petersen would be stepping down after the Las Vegas Bowl and that defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake would be taking over.
Washington was ranked 14th, while Florida State and Mike Norvell were ranked 21st. Washington had an advantage over other teams making coaching changes because Lake already was part of the Huskies’ staff.
“The best anyone has done among the new coaches is just to hold things together,” Simmons said. “That’s sort of what Mike Norvell has done. (Arkansas’) Sam Pittman has climbed in the rankings a lot but only because there was nowhere to go but up. (Mississippi’s) Lane Kiffin probably lost more than he’s gained.