B/R Recruiting Notebook: Commits, Decommits, Top Schools Announced and More

Mid-October is the primary time for recruiting to see major shakeups. That could be good news for some teams and bad news for others.

There were several reported commitments involving 2017 targets since Friday. In turn, there were also some reported decommitments, including one out of the Big 12 and another out of the Big Ten.

As official visits continue, don't be surprised if the recruiting world sees more of the same.

West Virginia is the latest school to benefit from recruiting, as the Mountaineers scored a pledge from 3-star in-state safety Derrek Pitts Monday morning. After decommitting from Penn State earlier this month, Pitts announced his pledge to West Virginia via Twitter:

Florida International landed two in-state commitments in linebacker Terry Straughter and athlete Shemar Thornton. Houston also added to its growing class with a pledge from 3-star junior college defensive end Joe Anderson.

Toledo can hold its head high after winning a recruiting battle against a couple of Power Five schools. Travis Koontz, a 3-star tight end from Youngstown, Ohio, chose Toledo on Sunday over offers from Maryland and Iowa State, among others.

Here are a few additional recruiting updates regarding some of the top athletes in the country. National signing day is less than four months away, and programs are at full throttle in their attempts to land the premier athletes.

New Wisconsin commit eyeing 2 targets

Wisconsin may not have gotten the win on the field against Ohio State on Saturday, but it scored a big weekend victory on the recruiting front.

Pembroke Pines, Florida, cornerback Faion Hicks ended his recruiting process during an official visit to Wisconsin, choosing the Badgers over Iowa State, Illinois, Central Florida, Florida International and others. Hicks is the 11th commit and the second cornerback for the Badgers, joining North Carolina 3-star Madison Cone in the class.

Hicks, a Charles W. Flanagan High School standout unrated by Scout.com, said the decision was easy for him once he arrived on the Wisconsin campus.

"Once I felt the atmosphere of the fans and got to know the coaches personally," he said, "I knew it was the place for me."

Now the goal is to help add players to the growing class—and Hicks is eyeing two players in particular. Hicks said he's hoping to flip high school teammate and 3-star wide receiver Clevan Thomas, who is committed to Kentucky. He also said he is eyeing Detroit 4-star defensive back Jaylen Kelly-Powell, who was on the official visit with Hicks.

"I feel Clevan fits the style of play in the Big Ten. He's a big, physical, but also fast wide receiver and will do well in the offense," Hicks said. "I got a chance to watch Jaylen at a couple offseason camps, and from his film, he's a baller. I wouldn't mind having him on the defensive side of the ball with me."

Pac-12 school in pursuit of Texas decommit

Credit: Student Sports

Colorado fans are hoping to capitalize on a Sunday decommitment, as DeSoto, Texas, offensive lineman Xavier Newman formally announced his decommitment from Texas on Sunday.

Newman has been one of Colorado's biggest targets for a few weeks, and after he took an official visit to Boulder this past weekend—a visit he rated "a 10" in a brief interview Sunday with Bleacher Report—you can bet the Colorado coaching staff is looking to close the deal.

"

Thank you and God Bless❗ pic.twitter.com/pje4EQcMfi

— Xavier Newman 5⃣5⃣ (@XavierNewman55) October 17, 2016"

Newman said he was impressed by the campus and overall game-day environment at Colorado. The Buffaloes did their part on the football field as well, dominating Arizona State in front of the largest crowd at Folsom Field since 2011.

Colorado was Newman's first official visit, and he said he's uncertain as of now as to which school will be official visit No. 2. Newman had been committed to Texas since April 20.

The Buffaloes, with the help of co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini, have recruited the state of Texas well in the 2017 class. Of the 14 commitments, six are from the Lone Star State.

Chiaverini, who also serves as the team's recruiting coordinator, is hoping commitment No. 15 comes in Newman, an interior lineman who can play guard and center at the next level. Newman said he is looking at four things in particular when making a final decision.

"Education, the campus, the town and the play style," he said.

          

Tennessee WR Payton announces top 6

Tennessee, Memphis and Middle Tennessee State are three schools looking to close its 2017 recruiting cycle strong by keeping its top in-state targets close to home. One of those targets is wide receiver JaVonta Payton out of Nashville.

They'll have to fight off Louisville, Purdue and Western Kentucky in the process.

Those six schools made Payton's top six, which he posted on Twitter on Sunday. Tennessee and Louisville are two schools to watch as he gets closer to finalizing a decision.

"

I would like to thank all the coaches that a recruiting me. I am truly honored but as of right now my top 6 schools are in no order. pic.twitter.com/u6y3QsvrAf

— JaVonta Payton (@_Goldenburro) October 16, 2016"

"All the schools on my list, I've talked to the coaches, and they make me feel at home," Payton said. "They don't just care about me as an athlete; they care about me as a person, too. Those six [schools] have everything I want."

Payton said he's looking to verbally commit in December, but also said he's not planning any official visits until after the completion of Hillsboro's season. Whether or not he'll take more than one official, he said, is to be determined.

"Since I'm a receiver, I want to make sure I go to a school that has great coaches and the team gets along and works well on and the off the field," he explained. "I want a team that's going to succeed and be at a place that will help me be the best I can be."

QB on the rise: All eyes on The Mailman

Credit: Student Sports

Roughly eight months ago, quarterback Stetson Bennett IV earned the nicknames Mailman and Postman after wearing a U.S. Postal Service cap in multiple Elite 11 regional camps. And while he didn't qualify for the Elite 11 finals, he left a lasting impression on those watching him with his play and perseverance.

Bennett hasn't disappointed during his senior year of play, either. In seven games for Pierce County High School in Blackshear, Georgia, Bennett has thrown for 2,170 yards and 24 touchdowns, per MaxPreps. He's coming off a game against Long County in which he threw for 388 yards and seven touchdowns in a win.

Bennett is averaging 310 passing yards per game this season. Additionally, he has rushed for three touchdowns. Bennett threw for 2,924 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushed for 610 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior.

Bennett has reported offers from Middle Tennessee, Georgia Southern, Mercer and Columbia.

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of Scout.com. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles