Have we moved beyond the era of the “flip” this recruiting cycle?

Indeed in the Class of 2016 we have seen very few “flips” by its truest definition — where a prospect switches to a new school at the same time he backs out from a commitment to another. Don’t get me wrong, there have been plenty of prospects to switch programs, but usually this cycle, they’ve de-committed publicly, then waited for some period of time before committing to another institution.

Of course, one could argue that that’s the right way to handle it, but it has made for less instant drama and more dramatic build-up.

Nevertheless, there are still flips that will happen down the stretch this cycle and some will come out of left field as they always do. While that is surely to happen and impossible to predict, here’s a look at five prospects who are on “flip watch” right now.

Note: These are listed in alphabetical order



Sam Bruce, WR, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas

Flip: Miami (Fla.) to Florida

Bruce has been committed to the Canes since July of 2014, but still has the door ajar for other suitors with less than a month to go before national signing day (Feb. 3). The 5-foot-8, 180-pound speedster, who is ranked as the No. 6 prospect at his position nationally per 247Sports Composite rankings, plans to officially visit South Carolina this weekend, followed by Florida (Jan. 22) and then will take a visit to the U. Most observers believe that there is a very, very realistic chance he ends up in Gainesville when all is said and done and in nine days the Gators will get the chance to turn up the heat while he is on campus.

Royce Newman, OT, Nashville (Ill.) Community

Flip: Missouri to Ole Miss

The 6-foot-7, 255-pound Newman has been committed to Mizzou since June, but other schools — namely Ole Miss and Nebraska — have been pushing hard. This is a situation where the Rebels have made enough of a push to where some experts are openly predicting a flip. It will definitely be something to watch as we head toward signing day.

David Marshall, DE, Thomaston (Ga.) Upson-Lee

Flip: Auburn to Georgia

Marshall, who is considered by some (including this writer) to be the top sleeper in Auburn’s class, could very well sign with Georgia. The Bulldogs’ new coaching staff is making a strong push and Marshall had a good relationship with some of the Tigers former coaches, including Will Muschamp and Travaris Robinson, who now are both at South Carolina. It’s no surprise that Smart is making a move here. Alabama recruited Marshall before he committed to Auburn on the day before Halloween. Marshall visits Auburn officially this weekend and the Tigers will have the chance to shut it down. Trips to UGA (Jan. 22) and Ole Miss (Jan. 29) are on the docket as well.

Keil Pollard, ATH, Moultrie (Ga.) Colquitt County

Flip: Arkansas to South Carolina

One of the first prospects that new Gamecocks running backs coach Bobby Bentley went to see during the December recruiting period, Pollard is a prospect that South Carolina definitely wants. The Gamecocks get Pollard on campus this weekend for an official visit. Most believe that with a great trip to Columbia, a flip is likely to occur. That would give Muschamp, who earned the nickname “the flipper” while he was the head coach at Florida, his first true “flip” of his tenure at South Carolina.

Jaewon Taylor, S, Montgomery (Ala.) Park Crossing

Flip: Florida to Georgia



The 6-foot-2, 192-pound Taylor has been committed to Florida since August. But Georgia, under new head coach Kirby Smart, has been making a push. A flip definitely could happen here. Taylor has an official visit scheduled for Athens this weekend. He’s scheduled to go to Maryland the following weekend (Jan. 22) and then to Gainesville on the final weekend of the cycle. With a great official visit to Georgia, this could become more of a reality, though regardless of the progress the Bulldogs make, they still have to wait out the official visit to Florida at the end. This one should be very interesting to track.