National Signing Day Predictions 2015: Forecast for Nation's Top Prospects

National signing day is quickly approaching, and that means many of the nation's top prospects have some potentially life-changing decisions to make. 

It's often impossible to get into the minds of these teenagers and accurately predict what they are thinking. But there's no denying what kind of major impact their decisions can have on the programs involved, so it's worth discussing what to expect. 

With that said, let's break down some of the country's top uncommitted players. 

Martez Ivey, OT

Rated as the No. 2 overall prospect in 247Sports' composite rankings, Martez Ivey has scholarship offers from pretty much every major college in the country. But he has narrowed his decision down to just two. 

“Right now I would say I’m 50/50 between Florida and Auburn,” the 6'5", 275-pound future left tackle told GatorCountry.com's Andrew Spivey in late January. 

For someone as talented as Ivey, immediate playing time figures to be a key factor in his decision. 

Patrick Miller was a surprise NFL draft entrant, but the Tigers still have three players returning—Shon Coleman, Braden Smith and Avery Young—who logged starts at either tackle position in 2014. For Florida, starting left tackle D.J. Humphries is off to the NFL and starting right tackle Chaz Green is graduating, leaving the Gators with just one returning offensive lineman. 

Ivey has the physical tools to make an impact as a true freshman with either school, but he would have the easier path at Florida. 

Throw in the proximity to home—Ivey attends high school in Apopka, Florida, which is less than two hours south of Gainesville—and this is looking like a huge get for Florida's new coaching staff.

Prediction: Florida

Byron Cowart, DE

First, just to know what's at stake with Byron Cowart, here's this, via Rivals' Mike Farrell:

Yikes. 

Just like with Ivey, we're looking at a top-three prospect—Cowart is No. 3 in 247Sports' composite rankings—and Florida native whose decision has been narrowed down to Florida and Auburn. Florida State may still be in the mix, but the Seminoles are on the outside looking in after Cowart canceled a visit to Tallahassee. 

Call it the Will Muschamp Effect. The former Florida head coach had developed strong relationships with the state's best recruits, and now that he's defensive coordinator at Auburn, these high school seniors are torn between the two. 

And it's not just the players, either. Cowart recently talked about the effect Muschamp had on his mother, via The Gainesville Sun's Zach Abolverdi:

"

I have to take the Florida official for my mom. She wants to get a feel for coach Mac and see, ‘Who is this guy?’ That’s the biggest thing. And she wants to meet coach (Geoff) Collins.

She was so tied in with coach (Brad) Lawing, and then she was really hurt when coach (Will) Muschamp got fired, but everything worked out. She likes Auburn, too. But the biggest thing for Florida is for her to be able to talk to coach Mac and coach Collins. It’s really important.

"

While Florida will be able to keep Ivey, Muschamp—a defensive guy—seems to have the strong relationship to bring Cowart over to Auburn with him. 

Prediction: Auburn

Iman Marshall, CB

Good luck figuring out this one. Since December, Iman Marshall, the No. 4 recruit in 247Sports' composite rankings, has made official visits to Notre Dame, Florida State, LSU and Michigan, per ESPN's Erik McKinney. Also still in the mix are in-state schools USC and UCLA. 

He seems to like something different at every program. 

"At Florida State, the football atmosphere and the coaching staff is great," he told McKinney. "At Michigan, the networking and the new coaching hire. And LSU, that's DB U." 

USC has long been considered the favorite—247Sports' Crystal Ball Predictions have it over 90 percent in favor of the Trojans—but this one is far from settled, as the recent success of FSU or the allure of Jim Harbaugh being at Michigan could easily pry him out of state. 

I'm sticking with the hometown favorites for now, but the confidence on this one is low. 

Prediction: USC