Winners and Losers on College Football Recruiting Trail for November
November is a defining month for college football programs that are attempting to navigate toward postseason opportunities. It also represents a new chapter in each recruiting cycle, as final in-season official visits occur and the countdown to national signing day ticks under 10 weeks.
While some teams maximized potential with key prospect pickups during the month, others struggled to maintain consistency and, in some cases, lost talented pledges. Here's a look back at programs that spent November on both ends of the spectrum.
Winner: Baylor
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The Baylor Bears have dealt with significant injuries at quarterback this season but still rank No. 13 nationally in passing yards per game (324.5) and No. 1 overall in points per game (50.8). Don't expect head coach Art Briles' offensive attack to suffer a lull next fall or beyond.
Baylor landed 4-star wide receivers Devin Duvernay and Tren'Davian Dickson in November, securing commitments from two of Texas' top playmakers. Both prospects carry plenty of clout in the 2016 recruiting cycle.
Duvernay, a 5'11", 195-pound Sachse High School standout, is an all-state sprinter. He caught 62 passes for 1,142 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, adding 520 yards and six scores on the ground, per Bleacher Report's Damon Sayles.
His twin brother, Donovan Duvernay, pledged to Baylor in September. That played a factor in the decision to choose the Bears over Oklahoma, Alabama and other schools.
"I knew that when I made my decision, I had to make the best choice for me and not for [Donovan]," Duvernay told Sayles. "I wanted to look at all my options and take some visits to scan everything out. But I know Baylor's the best place for me. I know they'll get the ball in playmakers' hands and spread the ball around."
Dickson initially committed to the Bears before his junior season, but the 6'0", 171-pound Navasota High School star entered his senior year as a Texas Longhorns pledge. His latest change of heart occurred Nov. 9, sending him back to Baylor's class.
He set a national high school record in 2014 with 39 touchdown receptions. Expect both athletes to compete for reps as true freshmen.
Loser: LSU
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We now know longtime LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles will retain his job in Baton Rouge, but previous rampant speculation appeared to cost the program's recruiting efforts dearly as November closed.
LSU spent time atop 2016 national recruiting class rankings this month but failed to sustain that position, suffering a pair of pivotal decommitments during the past week. Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks, an Elite 11 finalist, and high-ceiling New Orleans defender Clifford Chattman departed the Tigers' class.
Franks, a 6'5", 220-pound passer, has thrown 30 touchdowns and just two interceptions through 13 games at Wakulla High School, per MaxPreps. He served as a foundational member of the class, committing to LSU shortly after his sophomore year.
Franks, who swiftly switched his commitment to the Florida Gators, leaves LSU searching for alternative options at a position where it must improve. Chattman, whose national profile rose rapidly after a February pledge, is among the most compelling defensive prospects in this cycle.
The 6'4", 175-pound athlete possesses the range to play safety or outside linebacker, with enough to size to provide pass-rush support when called upon. Oklahoma welcomed him to campus for an official visit earlier this fall.
LSU also suffered a blow in its 2017 class, losing a commitment from Tennessee wide receiver/defensive back JaCoby Stevens. The 4-star recruit rates No. 3 overall among "athletes" in their junior year.
Winner: Florida
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Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain finally found his blue-chip quarterback prospect Nov. 29 when Feleipe Franks announced his commitment. The Elite 11 finalist ended a 17-month pledge to LSU less than a week earlier and didn't waste time developing revised college plans.
Franks, an in-state stud who stands 6'5", 220 pounds, is rated No. 5 nationally among pro-style passers and No. 45 overall in 2016 composite rankings. He fills a key void in Florida's class following a 2015 signing day that didn't feature a scholarship quarterback.
With Franks, 2016 3-star recruit Kyle Trask and 2017 4-star quarterback Jake Allen now committed to the Gators, Florida will have options moving forward. The team's offensive attack has regressed since sophomore Treon Harris took over for redshirt freshman Will Grier, who is suspended until next October.
Florida also bagged November commitments from junior college wide receiver Dre Massey, defensive end Jachai Polite, former Miami offensive lineman pledge Jawaan Taylor and cornerback Antonio Nelson, a high school teammate of 5-star Alabama linebacker and top Gators target Lyndell "Mack" Wilson.
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Loser: Michigan State
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Michigan State, still seemingly in control of its own playoff destiny, dealt with a slight unsteady stretch in the immediate aftermath of its only loss. The Spartans parted ways with four pledges in the week following a Nov. 7 defeat at Nebraska.
No, this isn't a "sky-is-falling" moment for Michigan State. In fact, the Spartans coaching staff may have contributed to at least one or two of these cases by creating intentional distance with prospects as the class nears completion and other targets take priority.
Regardless, these departures leave holes to fill and impact both the 2016 and 2017 classes.
Michigan State legacy Hunter Rison, a wide receiver just like his father Andre Rison, is most likely to still land in East Lansing. The 5'11", 183-pound playmaker pledged in June, when he was just wrapping up sophomore year.
Now a junior, Rison holds offers from Alabama, Arizona State and UCLA. Expect him to keep Michigan State in the mix as he explores alternative opportunities.
Ohio linebacker Jonah Morris, Illinois defensive tackle Naquan Jones and new Oklahoma running back pledge Abdul Adams each departed the Spartans' 2016 class in mid-November.
Winner: Auburn
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The Auburn Tigers scored a major recruiting victory over SEC rivals Nov. 25 when wide receiver Kyle Davis committed. The 5-star recruit chose Auburn over fellow favorites Georgia and Tennessee.
The Bulldogs were viewed as a slight leader for the 6'1 ½", 218-pound Peach State product, but he opted to head beyond state borders after delaying a scheduled October commitment announcement. Davis, rated No. 1 overall among 2016 receivers in composite rankings, further enhances an Auburn offensive haul that includes dynamic Florida pass-catcher Eli Stove and 4-star dual-threat quarterback Woody Barrett.
The Tigers are now one of just three programs, along with LSU and Ohio State, that hold multiple 5-star commitments. Davis joins Alabama defensive end Marlon Davidson as Auburn pledges in that rare company.
Head coach Gus Malzahn also added key November commitments from Georgia defensive back Marlon Character and junior college athletes John Franklin and Paul James.
Loser: Texas
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The Texas Longhorns enjoyed an impressive late flurry on the 2015 recruiting trail, but mounting losses may make a recurrence unlikely this winter. Head coach Charlie Strong, now 10-14 as head coach in Austin, lost grips on his top-rated 2016 commit in November.
Wide receiver Tren'Davian Dickson, who set a national prep record with 39 touchdown receptions last season, backed off a verbal pledge and bolted for Baylor's class. He was the lone Longhorns commitment considered a top-20 prospect in Texas.
It's a tough loss for Texas, where the passing attack has been inconsistent at best during recent years. The big picture is even more concerning for Strong.
The Longhorns enter December rated sixth among in-state universities in composite recruiting class rankings. Baylor, Texas A&M, TCU, Texas Tech and Houston sit above Texas, which carries just one player considered a top-20 prospect at his position (Shane Buechele is No. 2 among dual-threat quarterbacks).
These recruiting developments reinforce the fact Texas is facing a long road in its attempted return to national prominence. It must build the foundation for a turnaround with elite in-state playmakers.
Winner: Michigan
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The Michigan Wolverines landed a pair of premier defensive linemen in November, picking up commitments from Colorado end Carlo Kemp and Texas tackle Jordan Elliott.
Kemp, who also considered Notre Dame, tallied 81 tackles—seven for loss—and four sacks in 10 games this season, according to MaxPreps. Elliott, a former Houston commit, is an outstanding interior pass-rusher who stands 6'4", 305 pounds.
These acquisitions give Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh an even larger stockpile of promising players in the trenches. He holds seven 4-star pledges from prospects expected to play along the offensive or defensive line.
Still more than two months shy of national signing day, the Wolverines continue to look solid in the chase for several premier uncommitted prospects.
New Jersey running back Kareem Walker decommitted from Ohio State in November, while Michigan defensive back Lavert Hill ended his pledge to Penn State. The Wolverines are now favored to sign both 4-star talents in their respective 247Sports Crystal Ball.
Despite a disheartening loss to Ohio State, Michigan remains on track to close the 2016 cycle in strong fashion.
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