College Football Recruiting 2013: Ranking Top 9 Decommitments from 2012 Season

There have have been many de-commitments in this roller coaster recruiting cycle. Big names have made commitments and pledged to schools, only to change their mind and back off their commitments.

De-committing is always a big deal, and we saw several major major de-commitments this fall during the regular season. We're in the middle of a crazy a fall in the world of recruiting, and we'll take a look some of the top prospects who changed their minds after making a commitment.

These are the top de-commitments that occurred during this 2012 football season.

9. Alex Collins, RB

Collins had a great junior season in Florida, and that really got many schools' attention. He's a 5'11", 195-pound speedster that can blow by people.

He verballed to Miami in January of this year and things seemed to be locked in. Yet, earlier this month Collins backed off the Canes, and I think Florida State could be the school to beat now. 

8. Richard Benjamin, WR

Benjamin is another Florida prospect and is a great WR. He's 5'11" and close to 200 pounds, showing good skate ability, speed and good RAC skills.

Central Florida had Benjamin locked up, but right before this season started in August he chose to de-commit from George O'Leary's program. While he could re-commit, look for Louisville and Arkansas among many more to pursue him. 

7. Doug Randolph, OLB

Randolph was a Stanford commit at the start of this 2013 cycle. He is from Virginia and pledged to David Shaw in June of 2011.

I don't know what went wrong, but after awhile Randolph began to waver and Notre Dame started lurking around. By the time this season started, Randolph announced he was no longer committed to Stanford and committed to play in South Bend. 

6. Isaac Savaiinaea, LB

A 6'3", 230-pound 'backer from Hawaii, Savaiinaea was also committed to Stanford initially. The Cardinal once had a good LB class but now it's fallen apart.

Savaiinaea de-committed from Stanford earlier this month, and I doubt he ends up re-committing. UCLA and Texas A&M are the schools to watch out for here.

I think there's a good chance he ends up in Westwood. 

5. Gareon Conley, CB

This is one of the most recent and up-to-date de-commitments, as Conley changed his mind from his longtime Michigan pledge last week. He's a 6'1", 170-pound athletic and instinctive CB that will be a good player in college.

The Wolverines have a shot, but 247Sports.com shows that none other than Ohio State presents the biggest competition to Big Blue re-landing its prized CB recruit. 

4. David Dawson, OG

Right when Michigan was wrapping up its 2012 class, it received a verbal pledge from Dawson, a 6'4", 290-pound OG. He's a very good interior line prospect that can really lean on defensive tackles.

However, Big Blue saw Dawson flirting with other schools and that ultimately led to a mutual de-commitment by both parties in October. Florida was thought to be the leader, but now, reports are surfacing otherwise.

247Sports.com lists Michigan and Michigan State as his two leaders, along with Alabama, Florida and Ohio State in the mix. 

3. Max Redfield, S

Redfield gave USC a commitment in July of this year, but he may have only done that because he felt pressure to not let his slot get taken by another prospect.

By the time the fall rolled around, you started to get the sense that Redfield wasn't done with recruiting and wanted to look around. A trip to South Bend took place and in November he de-committed from the Trojans. 

I like the Irish in this one but watch out for Oregon and Washington. 

2. Ricky Seals-Jones, WR/TE

I know Seals-Jones de-committed from Texas before the season began, but Texas taking him off its board during the season was still a big happening.

Some Longhorns fans feel their program shouldn't have to wait for Seals-Jones, while I think otherwise. This is a 6'5", 230-pound beastly pass-catching prospect from your own state we're talking about.

Waiting for him and continuing to recruit him should have been the action taken. Now Seals-Jones will end up at either LSU or Texas A&M.

1. Robert Nkemdiche, DE

Nkemdiche committed to Clemson in June of this year, and many were shocked at this move by the country's top prospect.

Speculation ran daily as to how it was a matter of when he would de-commit, and those of you who were in the November pool won out.

Nkemdiche is now has Ole Miss, Alabama, LSU, Florida and Georgia on his case with Clemson still in the mix somewhat. I think it'll come down to 'Bama and Ole Miss, with the Rebels winning this one.

Edwin Weathersby is the College Football Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. He has worked in scouting/player personnel departments for three professional football teams, including the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and the Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena League. He spent a year evaluating prep prospects and writing specific recruiting and scouting content articles for Student Sports Football (formerly ESPN Rise-HS). A syndicated scout and writer, he's also contributed to WeAreSC.com, GatorBait.net and Diamonds in the Rough Inc., a College Football and NFL Draft magazine.