Leyton Nelson, who was committed to UCF since August, has instead flipped to an SEC program on the eve of National Signing Day. He’ll play at Vanderbilt.

Nelson, a 6-foot-4 and 275-pound offensive tackle, is rated the No. 43 player at his position in the country, and the No. 73 player in the state of Florida, according to the 247Sports Composite.

Rivals reported that he committed to UCF after summer officials to Louisville, Pitt, Miami, UCF, and Utah. SMU and Washington State were other schools that entered the mix for Nelson in late December.

He is recruit No. 23 for Vanderbilt, and he joins December signees Levi Harber, Grayson Morgan, and David Siegel on the offensive line.

“Education, the cost of attendance stipend is huge there compared to everywhere else and then just the staff, what they’re gonna do, rebuilding it,” Nelson told 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins regarding why he committed. “… I know coach (Clark) Lea very well. He has come down on visits, all of them came down on visits.”

Vanderbilt initially offered Nelson in April 2021, and offensive line coach AJ Blazek kept in consistent contact with Nelson even after he committed to UCF. After a trip to SMU last weekend, Nelson decided to sign with the ‘Dores.

Here are his highlights from Hudl: