College Football Recruiting 2012: The Top De-Commitments and Wavering Prospects

For this read, I'm going to give you various recruits who either have de-committed from a commitment already this cycle, or based on their actions and what they're saying, showed signs of a potential bailout from their commitments. 

For the wavering prospects, I'm not saying these players will de-commit, I'm just saying they are showing signs of wavering.

Here we go.

Kyle Kalis De-Committing from Ohio State

This was a shocker because it just happened so fast. Kyle Kalis felt he shouldn't be punished (incoming sanctions for Ohio State for the Terrelle Pryor/Jim Tressel scandal) for something with which he had no involvement. 

Kalis is a 6'5", 305-pound lineman's type of lineman. He's a lunch-pail type that works on the fronts on each snap, whether at right or left tackle. He's best in the run game, showing an ability to play with good leverage at the point of attack and displaying solid finishing ability.

Wavering: Dante Fowler, DE

Fowler keeps saying he's solid to Florida State, but nobody really believes him.

Why, you ask?

Because he was in Gainesville more times than Florida State this fall on various unofficial visits. Fowler has constantly flirted with the Gators and even has said in the past that he was going to commit to UF if Urban Meyer hadn't retired.

Fowler even has been spotted wearing Gator gear. I wouldn't be shocked at all to see Fowler sign with Florida and not Florida State on NSD.

Jordan Payton De-Committing from USC

We all figured at some point Payton would de-commit from USC. He took various trips to other schools and spoke highly of other programs.

Then, when he finally did it, we yawned.

Yet it was still big news, since Payton is viewed as one of the top 100 players in the nation. He was even close to committing to Michigan.

Then came UCLA, Notre Dame and ASU. In the end, Payton committed to...Cal.

Jarron Jones De-Commiting from Penn State

Jones gave a soft verbal to Penn State early in the process.

The combination of his commitment being a soft verbal and saying he would take some trips led many to expect a de-commitment.

For me personally, I always thought Jones would end up at Syracuse.

I was wrong all along. Jones is headed to Notre Dame, where he could play LT.

Shaq Thompson Backs out from Berkeley Then Pledges Again

Thompson committed to nearby Cal in the spring, but a week later he de-committed without letting too much information be known. 

Many expected him to wind up at Cal, and for him to back out was a shocker.

Yawn. Thompson re-committed to Cal last week at the Army game, as expected.

Wavering: Jameis Winston, QB

With Winston, it doesn't seem like he's ready to bail, but where there's smoke there's fire. In the summer, he committed to FSU over Alabama and LSU and seemed locked down to the 'Noles.

But Winston has taken a couple unofficials to Tuscaloosa and will likely take an official trip there. This is huge news because Winston is an Alabama native and the local pressure may be causing him to waver.

Also look out for LSU, Stanford and Ohio State.

Arik Armstead De-Committing from USC

Armstead committed to USC as a junior and with his brother Armond there, people thought it was a done deal.

Wrong for everybody who thought this.

Armstead de-committed from USC earlier this month and the Trojans are out. He's keen on Cal, Texas, Auburn, Oregon and Notre Dame.

Wavering: Mario Edwards, DE

ESPNU's top ranked prospect, DE Mario Edwards, a Florida State pledge, is pretty much looking around.

Edwards says he's committed to FSU, "but Oklahoma and LSU are standing out." He also told Scout.com that he will likely take trips to Baton Rouge and Norman—and maybe a few others, say, like Texas, whom he had second when he chose the Seminoles.

Scout.com also lists him as an uncommitted prospect, so that is also a bad sign for FSU right now. 

Gunner Kiel De-Committing from Indiana

Wasn't this supposed to be the feel-good story of the recruiting cycle?

Local big-shot QB prospect commits to stay home and play for the in-state school, turning down offers from more prestigious national programs.

Not anymore it isn't. Kiel de-committed from Indiana in a shocker. He re-opened things up, and now is a devout LSU commitment.