Sting Factor: January’s biggest recruiting burns

December was a wild month for decommitments and whereas January was not almost as busy there have been nonetheless some vital gamers backing off their pledges. Here’s a have a look at the ten largest stings of the month as 22 prospects decommitted throughout that stretch.

Word: 5-star Ryan Williams won’t be included within the prime 10 since he decommitted from Alabama however then rejoined the Crimson Tide’s class.

Probably the greatest receivers within the 2025 class, Alabama landed an early dedication from the Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin standout however after coach Nick Saban left and place coach Holmon Wiggins left for Texas A&M, Ffrench reopened his recruitment. Now all people is swarming with Florida State, Ohio State, Miami, Texas A&M, Georgia and others reaching out and attempting to get entangled. The Crimson Tide’s new employees is just not giving up, both, so issues ought to keep attention-grabbing.

Sting Issue: 9

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Ewald decommitted from Michigan earlier than coach Jim Harbaugh took the Los Angeles Chargers job however the writing was on the wall that Harbaugh was gone and so the excessive four-star defensive again determined to take a step again. The Wolverines are most likely not going to get again in with Ewald on a critical degree because it seems to be like – proper now anyway – that Miami and Auburn are essentially the most concerned with Florida State and others are within the combine, too. It seems to be just like the shutdown nook will find yourself someplace within the Southeast.

Sting Issue: 8

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The four-star offensive lineman from Evans, Ga., ruffled some feathers when he selected Alabama over Georgia early in his recruitment however lower than per week following former coach Nick Saban’s retirement, Brief was again available on the market. Georgia and Clemson have emerged as two of the principle contenders for the 6-foot-7, 295-pound four-star prospect however new Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer has re-engaged with Brief in order that may very well be one thing to look at as nicely.

Sting Issue: 8

The highest-ranked weakside defensive finish picked Alabama over quite a few SEC powers and others in mid-November however solely a pair months later mainly all the things modified in Tuscaloosa and so Grady backed off his pledge. This one may notably sting the Crimson Tide within the coming years since Auburn is one program to look at for the Enterprise, Ala., standout together with Georgia and LSU. There’s a great likelihood Grady will find yourself elsewhere within the SEC West and virtually a lock he’ll be someplace in that convention.

Sting Issue: 8

In December, the four-star defensive finish dedicated to Alabama however over the following few weeks Hilson noticed Saban retire and a completely new teaching employees come into Tuscaloosa. Just a few days after Saban’s choice, the Cocoa, Fla., not solely decommitted from the Crimson Tide however flipped to Florida State. He’s an in-state four-star standout, his father is a giant Seminoles fan and Hilson grew up watching that program so it seems to be like he’s now locked in with FSU.

Sting Issue: 8

Carter’s father, Dexter, performed at Florida State so it was not a significant shock when the 2026 four-star standout made an early pledge to the Seminoles. Nevertheless it took some folks aback when the Ellenwood (Ga.) Cedar Grove prospect backed off his pledge in late January particularly after FSU had such an excellent season. Lots of SEC applications will likely be concerned with Carter however since he’s a legacy at FSU it wouldn’t be a shock to see him again within the Seminoles’ class both.

Sting Issue: 7

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Heading into the All-American Bowl, Carter was ranked as a three-star defensive finish. It was a pleasant pickup for Washington however not one of many Huskies’ largest. The Peoria (Ariz.) Centennial standout had an excellent week in San Antonio and moved as much as four-star standing so his choice to again off his Washington dedication after which flip to Alabama when coach Kalen DeBoer left one for the opposite undoubtedly hurts the Huskies.

Sting Issue: 7

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The four-star defensive finish from Tucson (Ariz.) Salpointe dedicated to Washington in late October and it seemed prefer it was one other huge win for the Huskies, who ended up taking part in for the nationwide championship in DeBoer’s second season. However then DeBoer left for Alabama and Wilhite received out of his letter of intent. Michigan State, Nebraska and UCLA are the three finalists for him as Washington had a standout defensive finish signed however nonetheless couldn’t hold him.

Sting Issue: 7

Texas scored a giant recruiting win over the summer time when the four-star defensive deal with picked the Longhorns over Florida and a late push from Alabama however Robinson gained’t find yourself in Austin. After place coach Bo Davis left Texas to return to LSU, Robinson backed out of his letter and flipped to the Gators. At 6-foot-5 and 290 kilos, the four-star has loads to work with however is just not a completed product so growth will likely be key at Florida.

Sting Issue: 7

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Towards the again finish of an excellent junior season the place Kollock threw for 3,174 yards with 41 touchdowns and 5 picks and ran for eight extra scores, the four-star quarterback from Laguna Seaside, Calif., dedicated to Washington. However only some months later, DeBoer was off to Alabama and Kollock needed to restart his recruitment. This spring may very well be big for the four-star quarterback as groups throughout the nation come to see him.

Sting Issue: 7

The others who de-committed this month had been: Ryan Williams (Alabama), Zaydrius Rainey-Sale (Washington), Rahshawn Clark (Arizona), Robert Bourdon (Duke), Dash Beierly (Arizona), Caden Knighten (Vanderbilt), Josiah Sharma (Washington), Izayia Williams (Louisville), Blake Tabaracci (UCLA), Rahim Wright (Arizona), Justin Hylkema (Arizona) and Ratumana Bulabalavu (Washington).