10 largest recruiting flips in faculty soccer over the past decade

With a 2025 recruiting class that ranked within the mid-50s (in keeping with 247Sports Composite rankings) heading into this summer season, first-year Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore wanted a giant enhance to his class to assist push it in the precise path.

Mission completed.

Moore and the Wolverines have landed 10 verbal pledges within the 2025 class over the previous month, which included a large victory earlier this week after flipping four-star defensive again Ivan Taylor from Notre Dame.

Taylor, who’s the No. 54-ranked prospect within the nation and the sixth-ranked security within the 2025 class, had been dedicated to the Combating Irish since December 2023, and was seen because the crown jewel of Marcus Freeman’s 2025 class.

Whereas the information of Taylor’s dedication to the Wolverines made headlines throughout the school soccer information cycle on Monday, the concept of a recruit flipping his verbal dedication from one college to a different is nothing new. Actually, there have been loads of highly-touted prospects who had initially dedicated to 1 college after which made the choice to modify to a different.

Here’s a take a look at 10 notable gamers over the previous decade who’ve flipped their dedication from one college to a different:

Dalvin Cook dinner: Clemson to Florida to Florida State (Class of 2014)

One of the crucial completed operating backs in current reminiscence, Cook dinner loved a standout three-year profession at Florida State, however the Seminoles weren’t at all times his prime decide. Early on in his recruitment, Cook dinner made a verbal pledge to Clemson, the place he was set to affix Deshaun Watson as a member of the Tigers‘ 2014 recruiting class. Nevertheless, the previous five-star operating again prospect determined to move to Gainesville and go to the College of Florida for the Gators’ annual spring sport and made the choice to flip to UF. After the Gators completed the 2013 season with a depressing 4-8 document, together with a 37-7 loss to in-state rival Florida State within the ultimate sport of the common season, Cook dinner flipped to the Seminoles in December 2013 and enrolled there the next week.

Cook dinner shined at Florida State from 2014-16, speeding for 1,000-plus yards in all three of his collegiate seasons. He completed his faculty profession with 4,464 speeding yards and 46 speeding touchdowns, whereas additionally including 79 catches for 935 yards and two extra touchdowns by way of the air. He was a two-time All-ACC performer and a two-time first-team All-American. Cook dinner opted to forgo his senior season, leaving Florida State as this system’s all-time main rusher.

Saquon Barkley: Rutgers to Penn State (Class of 2015)

Barkley emerged as among the best big-game gamers in faculty soccer throughout his time at Penn State, however he may not have had the prospect to play in as many massive video games if he honored his unique dedication. Barkley, who spent most of his childhood in Jap Pennsylvania, initially dedicated to Rutgers earlier than flipping to Penn State in February 2014. Rutgers was in its first few seasons as a member of the Huge Ten and struggled throughout the years Barkley was in Comfortable Valley, going 10-26 over these three seasons. After all, Barkley might’ve supplied a spark for Rutgers if he opted to spend his faculty years in New Jersey.

As a substitute, Barkley helped revive Penn State as a contender within the Huge Ten. He made an affect straight away, speeding for 1,076 yards in 11 video games as a real freshman. That included a 194-yard efficiency towards top-ranked Ohio State. He adopted that up by speeding for 1,496 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2016, including 402 receiving yards and 4 receiving touchdowns. He rushed for 99 yards on simply 12 carries in Penn State’s monumental upset over Ohio State that season earlier than placing up 249 yards of whole offense in its loss to USC within the Rose Bowl. Barkley had one other stellar season in 2017, speeding for 1,271 yards and 18 touchdowns to go together with 632 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. He was a consensus All-American that yr, successful the Paul Hornung Award because the nation’s most versatile participant and the Huge Ten MVP award for the second straight season. 

Jake Fromm: Alabama to Georgia (Class of 2017)

Fromm, a four-star quarterback out of Warner Robins, Georgia, grew up a large Bulldogs fan. After not receiving a suggestion from Georgia early on in his highschool profession, Fromm dedicated to the College of Alabama halfway by way of his junior season. He remained dedicated to Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide effectively into his senior season, however when a suggestion from Georgia arrived, it was close to unimaginable for the lifelong Dawgs fan to show it down.

Had he remained dedicated to Alabama, Fromm would have been a member of a category that included the likes of Najee Harris, Jerry Jeudy and DeVonta Smith. As a substitute, Fromm flipped to Georgia and loved a standout three-year profession at UGA, throwing for greater than 7,200 yards and 78 touchdowns whereas serving to lead the Bulldogs to a mixed 36-7 document, which included an SEC championship and a spot within the 2018 CFP Nationwide Championship Recreation, the place they misplaced to … Alabama.

Cam Akers: Alabama to Florida State (Class of 2017)

All eyes had been on Akers popping out of highschool and what the five-star operating again would do together with his faculty dedication. Rising up in Clinton, Mississippi, Akers developed into one of many top-ranked prospects within the nation. He dedicated to Alabama for a prolonged seven months throughout his junior yr of highschool earlier than flipping his dedication to ACC powerhouse Florida State in December 2016.

Whereas Akers ended up at FSU, fellow standout 2017 operating again Najee Harris elected to move to Tuscaloosa to affix Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide. Akers loved a standout three-year profession at Florida State, ending with 2,875 profession speeding yards, which ranked sixth all time in program historical past. Akers additionally added 27 speeding touchdowns throughout his time at FSU, together with 14 throughout his junior season.

Akers elected to skip his senior season and enter the 2020 NFL Draft, the place he was a second-round decide.

Jonathan Taylor: Rutgers to Wisconsin (Class of 2017)

Taylor completed his faculty profession as probably the most productive operating backs in Wisconsin historical past, however he wasn’t at all times destined to be a Badger. The now Indianapolis Colts operating again dedicated to Rutgers in Might 2016. He remained dedicated to his hometown college for six months earlier than finally flipping his dedication to Wisconsin in November.

Taylor loved a record-setting profession in Madison, speeding for six,174 yards and 50 touchdowns in three seasons, changing into the primary operating again in NCAA historical past to hurry for greater than 6,000 yards in a three-year span. He was a two-time unanimous All-American and a two-time Doak Walker Award winner, given to the highest operating again in faculty soccer. Taylor was drafted forty first general by the Colts within the 2020 NFL Draft and has developed into among the best operating backs within the NFL.

Watch Jonathan Taylor’s highlights vs. Michigan & postgame interview

Justin Fields: Penn State to Georgia (Class of 2018)

The 2018 recruiting class featured a battle for the No. 1 spot between Trevor Lawrence and Fields. Whereas Lawrence caught together with his unique pledge to play at Clemson, Fields initially opted to decide to Penn State. Fields’ relationship with then-Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead performed a big position in his preliminary dedication. As soon as Moorhead’s title started to emerge amongst potential teaching vacancies, Fields made the choice to decommit from Penn State in June 2017 after which introduced his dedication to Kirby Good and the Georgia Bulldogs in October of that yr. 

Fields backed up Fromm throughout his freshman season, showing in 12 video games and finishing 27 of 39 cross makes an attempt for 328 yards and 4 touchdowns, whereas additionally including 266 yards and 4 scores on the bottom. Had he stayed at Georgia, Bulldogs followers might need had the chance to see Fields play in an offense that includes the likes of D’Andre Swift, Zamir White and George Pickens.

As a substitute, Fields made the choice to switch to Ohio State following his freshman marketing campaign and went on to take pleasure in two standout seasons in Columbus, totaling greater than 5,300 yards and 63 touchdowns by way of the air, along with including 867 yards and 15 touchdowns on the bottom. Fields was the Huge Ten’s Offensive Participant of the Yr each years he was at Ohio State, and he was a second-team All-American in 2019. He led the Buckeyes to the Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship in 2020, the place they fell to Alabama, 52-24. Fields entered the 2021 NFL Draft, the place he was the No. 11 general decide by the Chicago Bears.

Justin Fields returns from harm to throw a 30-yard strike to Garrett Wilson

Ja’Marr Chase: Kansas to Florida to LSU (Class of 2018)

Earlier than selecting to play faculty ball with the highest workforce in his house state, Chase made a number of commitments to different faculties and was on the precipice of committing to a 3rd. He initially dedicated to Kansas in February 2017, however decommitted shortly after. He additionally dedicated to Florida in July 2017. 

In between his commitments to Kansas and Florida, Chase was also set to commit to TCU. He was reportedly scheduled to announce his dedication to TCU on the 2017 Opening Finals, however on the final minute, producers of the occasion let one other prospect’s time on the air spill into the phase that Chase was supposed to make use of to announce he was going to be a Horned Frog. Chase by no means dedicated to TCU because of this. Whereas he might’ve finally fashioned a prime QB-WR tandem with Kyle Trask at Florida, Chase re-opened his dedication once more. He finally dedicated to LSU in February 2018, choosing the Tigers over Auburn.

Chase’s determination helped LSU have among the best offensive seasons within the historical past of the game and win a nationwide title in 2019. He had 84 receptions for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns that yr, a season so good that he did not must play in 2020 to spice up his draft inventory. 

Bryce Younger: USC to Alabama (Class of 2020)

Younger was the consensus top-ranked QB prospect within the 2020 recruiting class. The previous Mater Dei star dedicated to USC again in July 2018, pledging to play for Clay Helton and the Trojans. The next summer season, Younger took a go to to USC forward of the 2019 marketing campaign and finally made the choice to decommit from the Trojans and decide to Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide in September 2019.

If Younger made the choice to remain at USC, he would have had the prospect to throw to a receiving group that included future NFL standouts Drake London and Amon-Ra St. Brown. As a substitute, Younger had the chance to focus on the likes of Jameson Williams, John Metchie, Brian Robinson Jr. and Jahmyr Gibbs throughout his time in Tuscaloosa. 

Younger’s sophomore season was one of many biggest particular person seasons by a university quarterback in current reminiscence, ending with 4,872 yards and 47 passing touchdowns whereas main the Crimson Tide to a 12-1 season and a spot within the Faculty Soccer Playoff. Younger and the Crimson Tide defeated Cincinnati within the Cotton Bowl earlier than falling to SEC rival Georgia within the CFP Nationwide Championship Recreation. Younger gained the Heisman Trophy that season, changing into the primary Alabama quarterback to win the award.

Quinn Ewers: Texas to Ohio State (Class of 2021)

The world of faculty recruiting is usually a humorous factor. Once in a while, there’s a participant who commits someplace, decommits, after which finally ends up at that unique college through the switch portal. That’s precisely what occurred to 2024 Heisman hopeful Quinn Ewers, who initially dedicated to Texas again in August 2020 earlier than decommitting simply over two months later and finally signing with Ohio State. After one yr at Ohio State, Ewers made the choice to switch again to the college he initially dedicated to – the College of Texas.

Since transferring to Texas in 2021, Ewers has seen his collegiate profession take off. Had he stayed at Ohio State, Ewers would have had the chance to encompass himself with stars on the offensive aspect of the ball, together with the likes of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, however as a substitute, he discovered nice success at his hometown college.

Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Ohio State’s Will Howard headline the listing of QB’s with essentially the most to show!

This previous yr, the proficient signal-caller threw for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns whereas serving to lead the Longhorns to a 12-2 document and its first look within the Faculty Soccer Playoff. Ewers enters the 2024 marketing campaign with the second-best odds to take house the Heisman Trophy, currently listed at +800.

.Travis Hunter: Florida State to Jackson State (Class of 2022)

Hunter, a famend two-way participant from Collins Hill Excessive Faculty in Suwanee, Georgia, shocked the school soccer world when he flipped from Florida State to Jackson State in December 2021. Hunter, who was the consensus top-ranked participant within the 2022 recruiting class, selected to affix recently-hired head coach Deion Sanders at Jackson State, main JSU to a 2022 SWAC championship.

When Sanders was named Colorado’s head coach in December 2022, Hunter adopted his coach to Boulder and put collectively a formidable sophomore marketing campaign on each side of the ball en path to being named a consensus All-American. He recorded 31 tackles and three interceptions on protection, whereas additionally catching 57 passes for 721 yards and 5 touchdowns on offense. Hunter is a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate and is projected to be one of many prime choices within the 2025 draft.

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