National Signing Day 2015: Rumors and Predictions for Coveted Football Recruits

Many of the top recruits in the class of 2015 have already made their college selections. There are still some high-profile prospects who continue to weigh their options ahead of national signing day, however, which leaves plenty of intrigue.

Every year is different. Sometimes a couple of early commitments turn the tide in favor of a particular program while other years it's more like mass chaos. When the latter occurs, it's hard to get a read on the rankings until the dust finally settles.

All told, it creates one of the most unique days on the sports calendar. So let's check out some of the most talented recruits still in the decision-making process and examine some of the latest talk about where they may land on national signing day.

Byron Cowart (DE)

Byron Cowart has all of the tools coaches look for in a defensive end. He pairs good size and athleticism with terrific instincts and an explosive first step. He'll benefit from further technique coaching to add more moves to his repertoire, but the raw tools are tremendous.

He's a top-five prospect based on 247Sports' composite rankings. Thus, it doesn't come as much of a surprise his recruiting became a bit hectic down the stretch. He explained to Safid Deen of the Tallahassee Democrat that he was trying to get away from the hoopla toward the end: "In text messages with the Tallahassee Democrat on Tuesday, Cowart said he's 'just trying to get away from recruiting'—a statement he's echoed in recent weeks as his recruitment has become one of the most intriguing sagas for players in the Class of 2015."

That's not uncommon, of course. Being wanted is the fun part of the recruiting process, but when it comes time to make a final decision and the pressure level rises, it can be difficult. Cowart just wanted a chance to consider his numerous options.

247Sports lists Florida and Auburn as the clear front-runners. From there, it's a virtual toss-up. The Gators have been a heavy presence throughout the process, but with Will Muschamp helping to put together a strong defensive class for the Tigers, they get the slight edge.

Prediction: Auburn

Martez Ivey (OT)

It's hard to find any flaws with Martez Ivey. He possesses the size and the power to dominate in pass protection without sacrificing the quickness necessary to get to the second level while run blocking. He's extremely far along in his development for an incoming freshman.

The 247Sports composite rankings agree with the bullish outlook. He has a nearly perfect grade and checks in as the No. 2 recruit in the class. Justin Hokanson of Auburn Undercover believes the Tigers are the favorite over Florida after the tackle delayed his decision:

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After all of these developments, one source that spent some time with Ivey at the Army Bowl thought it would be Auburn in the end, citing Ivey's teammate in Chandler Cox, saying he believed the blue-chipper would go play with his 'brother.' At the Top Gun camp this summer in Dublin, Ohio, players that hung out with Ivey thought it would be the Tigers in the end.

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This is an example of the phenomenon mentioned previously. Cowart and Ivey are both considering the same schools. If they make the same decision, it could swing the momentum firmly in favor of either Auburn or Florida.

That said, there have been no definitive indications the big names still available are all leaning the same way. So, even with the late surge from Auburn, Florida continues to hold the top spot here. It would be a massive addition for the Gators, who can probably offer him a quicker route to playing time.

Prediction: Florida

CeCe Jefferson (DE)

CeCe Jefferson is a bit undersized for a modern defensive end. He still has time to grow, however, and he more than makes up for it with high-end athleticism and outstanding short-area quickness. More than anything, it probably means the transition to the collegiate level may take a little longer.

The entire package still makes him a top-10 recruit, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. The outlet also lists several programs as still heavily involved in the sweepstakes. Scout's John Garcia (via Yancy Porter) noted in December that Ole Miss was the school to beat:

Now, the question is whether anything changed enough over the past handful of weeks to alter that outlook. He's another player with Florida and Auburn in the mix, which leaves the door open for a monster day for either of those programs.

If the tide has turned, it will likely be in favor of the Gators. They could certainly use a late rush of signings, and there's a chance for Jefferson to get on the field quickly. But the Rebels are still the pick with a few days to go.

Prediction: Ole Miss