Stefon Diggs: 5-Star Athlete's Feb. 10 Decision Will Have Major Impact

Stefon Diggs is one the best athletes in the class of 2012, and once he makes his college decision, it will greatly impact not only the team he chooses, but also the several teams he turns down. 

A 5-star athlete, and the No. 8 overall player by Rivals, Diggs told Derek Tyson of ESPN that he will make his decision on Feb. 10, which is nine days after national signing day.

In doing so, Diggs is putting several teams in a tight spot as they have to ensure they hold a scholarship for him, meaning the losers of the Diggs sweepstakes will have missed out on other key players in addition to him. 

Listed at 6'0", 185 pounds, Diggs has blazing speed, and he is most likely going to play a huge role on offense wherever he ends up. He has the skills to play running back and wide receiver, plus he is a super return man. 

His final schools are realistically down to the ones he's visited: Ohio State, Auburn, Florida and Cal. Since he is scheduled to visit with Maryland, his home state team, this weekend, the Terrapins should also be added to that list. 

All of those schools have a huge need for a skilled playmaker like Diggs, and the program that gets him will definitely be jumping for joy because their offense will have picked up a big boost. 

The programs that don't land Diggs will be feeling the pressure, and they'll likely scramble to add someone at the last minute if at all possible. 

At Ohio State, the Buckeyes are hoping to get Davonte Neal, as well as Diggs. Neal is a four-star athlete, and it's unknown when he will decide. He's supposed to make a visit to Arizona or possibly Oklahoma on Feb. 10, so his decision should hopefully come soon after. 

Should Diggs pick the Buckeyes, Ohio State may not get Neal since these two athletes have similar skill sets. Urban Meyer will be disappointed, but at the same time he has loaded his class with tons of speed and talent, so it won't be the end of the world. 

If the Buckeyes don't get Diggs, then the chances of Neal landing in Columbus are definitely greater. Then again, they might both choose to play for Meyer. College football recruiting is crazy and unpredictable, so it's a huge mystery as to where Diggs will end up at. 

For Auburn and Florida, if either were to win they would have a big plan to use Diggs immediately.

Both schools need to fill the void of the playmakers they lost. However, should Diggs not pick either one, then the 2012 season will be much harder for each. 

The Tigers and the Gators will have to look to others for big plays. They'll do this anyway, but adding Diggs into the mix definitely makes them stronger. 

I don't think Cal has much of a shot because all the other school have much better things to offer. Cal might be a better place than Maryland, but since they're close to home, the Terrapins get the advantage. 

After an ugly season this past year, Maryland is the one team that needs Diggs the most. Keeping the elite recruits in state is something Maryland has to do consistently, but should the Terrapins miss out on Diggs, then they too will suffer greatly. 

In the end, the winner of the Diggs sweepstakes will get a player that will be ready to shine as a freshman, but the losers will feel the heat and hope that the talent they currently have or can scrounge after Diggs makes his decision is enough to help them win big.