With the principal opportunity for the Class of 2022 to sign with their picked school football programs approaching, it's an ideal opportunity to monitor which projects get an opportunity to catch the arguments from the early marking time frame. Later an abnormal 2021 enlisting cycle, which didn't permit any authority visits and cleared out the assessment time frame, the 2022 class defeated one more spring of no assessment period, however essentially it had the June camp period, official visits that month and afterward fall authorities.
Still, far less Top247 prospects are committed and expected to sign this week than since the advent of the early signing period due in large part to several major coaching changes, a still-relatively limited official visit calendar and other circumstances pushing more decisions into January and February. Nevertheless, there will be some big news coming this week, and a few schools are expected to make a big splash Wednesday. (Some already have in the lead up to the early signing period.)
Join us on Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 9 a.m. ET for Signing Day Live on CBS Sports HQ as our 247Sports experts cover all the ins and outs of the early signing period. From live commitments to updated class rankings and everything in between, Signing Day Live will be your one-stop shop for live coverage as the top programs in the nation sign the Class of 2022.
Texas
Is Texas ... back? Well, it's at least back in the top 10 of the 247Sports Composite team rankings. The Longhorns got a commitment from five-star Kelvin Banks, the long-time Oregon pledge, on Saturday. The No. 2 offensive tackle nationally per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, he was a big win for the Horns, who beat Texas A&M, his runner-up when he picked the Ducks in June. Texas took advantage of the departure at Oregon of coach Mario Cristobal and Banks deciding to open things up. And then came the bigger news on Sunday when Ohio State quarterback Quinn Ewers, the No. 1 ranked prospect in the 2021 class (after reclassifying from 2022, where he was already the No. 1 ranked prospect), announced he was transferring to Texas. A one-time UT commit who opened things up last October and then enrolled early at Ohio State, Ewers is right back where he started.
Texas may not be done with OT Cameron Williams potentially joining Banks as former Oregon commits now committed to Texas. The Horns are also Crystal Ball favorites for five-star Devon Campbell, the 247 Composite No. 1 interior offensive lineman, four-star running back Terrance Gibbs and four-star offensive lineman Malik Agbo. All of a sudden, the Horns could be finding themselves, well, back in the top five nationally -- in the recruiting rankings.
Alabama
Look, its December, so we're usually talking about Alabama in some capacity, like how the Crimson Tide are playing in the College Football Playoff (which they've done seven of the eight years the CFP has existed) and how they're in a position to potentially sign the top class in the country. Then there is the buzz from their quarterback, Bryce Young, winning the Heisman Trophy (and yes, Young was one of those elite former signees). Young's former high school teammate, Domani Jackson, the No. 2 cornerback and No. 7 overall prospect nationally, is also a former USC commit like Young. While the Trojans are trying to get him back, don't think Jackson seeing his former Mater Dei teammate win a Heisman in the SEC isn't making an impression.
But it's not just Jackson the Tide are seeking sign sign. Five-star EDGE Marvin Jones Jr., five-star OL Josh Conerly Jr. and five-star OL Kiyaunta Goodwin all have Alabama on their short list. Same with four-star defensive lineman Khurtiss Perry and four-star OL Earnest Greene as well as former Clemson pledge Daylen Everette, who visited this weekend.
Georgia
While Georgia might not get enough juice to take over Alabama or hold off Texas A&M, it's not completely unrealistic. The Dawgs are the heavy leader for five-star safety Kamari Wilson, while five-star EDGE Marvin Jones Jr., took his official visit to Athens this weekend. So too did four-star linebacker Shemar James. The Dawgs are also trying to stay out front for Green. Plus, in-state DL Christen Miller is still a strong possibility, and with his decommitment from Clemson, Everette has the Dawgs in consideration but has not visited Athens since June.
Texas A&M
The team positioned best to be No. 1 on Wednesday that isn't in the playoff? That would be Jimbo Fisher's Aggies. In the last two weeks, they've pulled in commitments from five-star DL Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy and five-star wide receiver Evan Stewart, a top 10 overall player nationally. And they are still in the mix for more? Five-star DL Shemar Stewart, five-star LB Harold Perkins, five-star CB Denver Harris, four-star safety Jacoby Mathews and four-star OL Kam Dewberry. And if they can just hold on to five-star DL Walter Nolen, that should not only solidify Texas A&M in the top three but give it plenty of points to contend for the top overall spot.
USC
Why list a school that is ranked No. 103 overall, 12th in a 12-team conference and has only four known commits? Because USC could start building momentum for a strong close to 2022 and an even bigger 2023. Flipping five-star Mater Dei running back Raleek Brown has offset the handful of decommitments from USC (some encouraged, some not). But USC could still land three more players from Mater Dei in Jackson, four-star LB David Bailey (committed to Stanford but looking) and four-star WR C.J. Williams (committed to Notre Dame but looking). Then there is Green, a rival from Trinity League, who the Trojans are trying to sign. Also on their radar is five-star OT Josh Conerly Jr., the No. 1 tackle nationally by 247Sports. While Conerly won't announce until February, the Trojans could start the momentum this week but the days of Clay Helton's mediocre recruiting days are done and Lincoln Riley is already starting to get things rolling in Los Angeles.
