National Signing Day was the year’s biggest event in recruiting, but that doesn’t mean the dust has settled on 2016’s top prospects. Several top high school stars are still waiting to make their college choices. The impact of their moves could shake up the national recruiting rankings, with one likely to impact the top 15 classes.
2016’s top 10 unsigned recruits, including one who could alter the top 5 classes
Demetris Robertson and nine other unsigned prospects still have to find a program to call home for 2016.
The biggest name on the list of remaining talent is five-star wide receiver Demetris Robertson. The Savannah, Ga., athlete is rated as the No. 14 player in the nation and No. 1 receiver, according to the 247Sports Composite.
His decision could cause a major shakeup in the final recruiting rankings. He seems set to choose between about half a dozen schools in the next couple weeks, with a visit to Stanford to go. Notre Dame recently parked its giant equipment truck at his high school.
An extra five-star player wouldn’t just pad the rosters of these programs. If Georgia were able to add Robertson, he’d push the Bulldogs past Michigan and into a top-five spot in the Composite rankings. If Robertson committed to Notre Dame, his pledge would move the Irish ahead of Tennessee and into 14th place. A commitment to Stanford would move the Cardinal past Tennessee and Notre Dame into that 14th slot.
| The top 10 unsigned recruits after National Signing Day | |||||
| Composite rating | Contenders? | What's happening? | |||
| Demetris Robertson | 5-star WR | Notre Dame, Georgia, Alabama, Stanford, Georgia Tech, Cal | Targeting decision between Feb. 13 and 17. | ||
| Auston Robertson | 4-star DE | Michigan State, Ohio State, Alabama, Notre Dame | Facing a battery charge, "re-opening" his options. | ||
| Maxs Tupai | 4-star DE | Utah, UCLA, Oklahoma, USC | Needs an extra week to decide. | ||
| Emmit Gooden | 4-star DE | Mississippi State (committed, no LOI yet), Kentucky | Going to community college for at least one year. | ||
| Grant Holloway | 3-star WR | Florida (committed, no LOI yet), Georgia | Already signed with Florida's track team. | ||
| Steffon McKnight | 3-star WR | Boise State, Utah | Will choose between BSU, Utah "once academics are cleared up." | ||
| Kentrail Moran | 3-star RB | Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Louisville, Wisconsin | Decommitted from Illinois late, waiting to sign after NSD. | ||
| Deion Jackson | 3-star CB | Miami, Cincinnati, NC State, North Carolina | Former Miami recruit, current status unclear | ||
| Stephen Davis Jr. | 3-star ATH | Auburn, South Carolina, Clemson, Florida | Family issue. | ||
| Jamil Dukes | 3-star DT | South Carolina, East Carolina, West Virginia | Likely headed to junior college. | ||
Robertson isn’t the only player who could shift the rankings. Michigan State fell from 18th to 22nd when it lost Auston Robertson’s bond, but the team could reclaim that spot if he drifts back to East Lansing, which would presumably require a lack of legal baggage. If Ohio State found a way to add the mercurial defender, the Buckeyes would move into the top three.
Adding Maxs Tupai would move UCLA from 12th to 11th in the ratings, for another example.
There are still dominoes that have yet to fall, and their impact could rearrange the top 25, top 10, and even top five when it comes to overall class ranks.
