College Football Programs Most in Need of a Big 2020 National Signing Day
The first Wednesday of February isn't the final time for a college football prospect to send in a letter of intent, but national signing day is the beginning of the end.
Granted, because the number of prospects left unsigned is relatively small, the programs most in need of a productive signing day aren't facing identical situations.
Yes, some programs are desperate to fill a class. Several others have a couple of high-profile players left on the board, and the absence of a big signing day means that program whiffed on the top remaining prospects. That's not great, either.
Rather than a ranking, the teams are ordered alphabetically.
Arkansas Razorbacks
1 of 8
After arriving in December, head coach Sam Pittman worked quickly to patch together the class before December's signing period. The Razorbacks flipped 4-star safety Myles Slusher from Oregon and brought 4-star receiver Darin Turner back into the class.
Pittman and Co. have stayed awfully busy.
Over the last five weeks, Arkansas added verbal pledges from seven prospects plus Florida transfer Feleipe Franks and JUCO cornerback Jerry Jacobs. The high school players cannot sign until Wednesday, and the Hogs are hoping a few others will join them.
Key remaining targets include 4-star quarterback Malik Hornsby and 3-stars in offensive lineman Jalen St. John, wideout Savion Williams and tight end Allen Horace.
Florida Gators
2 of 8
Florida has already assembled the nation's No. 8 class, so signing day isn't a "make-or-break" moment for the program. Still, the Gators have high-priority targets at stake.
Leading the way is 4-star safety Avantae Williams, who's also considering Miami. The staff is battling another ACC school for Jahmyr Gibbs, a 4-star running back currently committed to Georgia Tech. Gibbs recently took an official visit to Gainesville.
Florida is trying to fend off rival Tennessee for 3-star athlete Damarcus Beckwith while making a run at three other players.
Four-star high school teammates Ashaad Clayton (Colorado) and Sedrick Van Pran (Georgia) are committed elsewhere but both recently visited Florida. The Gators also hosted 4-star Princely Umanmielen shortly before February's signing day.
All of them are top-400 players. Whiffing on them all—especially Williams and Beckwith—would be a poor finish.
Georgia Bulldogs
3 of 8
How could the nation's No. 1 class possibly need a big signing day? Two of Georgia's key commits didn't sign in December.
Those players are 5-star offensive tackle Broderick Jones and 4-star center Sedrick Van Pran. The Dawgs are trying to keep Auburn away from Jones, then Alabama and Florida from Van Pran.
Four-star lineman Marcus Henderson, 3-star safety Charles Bell VI, 3-star defensive tackle Cameron Kinnie and 3-star athlete DJ Lundy all recently headed to Athens for an official trip.
Throw in recent commit Daijun Edwards, a 4-star running back, and Georgia has some important loose ends to tie.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
4 of 8
When the No. 5 commit in program history is considering a late move, keeping him in the class is nothing short of imperative.
Georgia Tech faces that dilemma with 4-star running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who elected not to sign in December. He committed to the Yellow Jackets in May 2019 but is still considering Florida, where he took an official visit in late January.
Sign him, and the rest is a bonus.
Four-star defensive lineman Jayson Jones put Georgia Tech in his finalist group with Alabama, Baylor and Oregon. In-state three-star linebacker TJ Davis is also available; the Jackets must beat out Arizona and Florida State for his signature.
South Carolina Gamecocks
5 of 8
Jordan Burch. He alone qualifies as a big signing day for South Carolina.
Although the 5-star defensive lineman committed to the hometown school in December, he didn't sign. While it may truly be Burch wanting to sign alongside his teammates—including 4-star commit Alex Huntley—the decision means he's still available.
Burch took an unofficial visit to LSU in late January, so the reigning national champs are a threat.
Beyond the duo, though, South Carolina is hoping to lock in 3-star wideout Ger-Cari Caldwell.
Tennessee Volunteers
6 of 8
Currently ranked 14th, Tennessee has a path to a top-10 class.
Over the last month, the Vols have suddenly become a factor for 5-star running back Zachary Evans, 4-star receiver Malachi Wideman and 3-star offensive lineman Dylan Spencer. They all visited Knoxville at some point in January.
Tennessee remains in pursuit of Damarcus Beckwith, who made a few unofficial visits before his official trip in January. Florida is the primary competition for the 3-star athlete. Ger-Cari Caldwell, a 3-star receiver, is also in play for the Vols.
While the worst-case scenario isn't problematic, it would be disappointing for Tennessee's late momentum to not prove meaningful.
Texas Longhorns
7 of 8
Texas can solidify a top-10 class if a couple of high-value targets commit to Tom Herman and the Longhorns.
Four-star defensive end Alfred Collins is the prized player at No. 62 overall. Along with Texas, his finalists are Alabama and Oklahoma, according to Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports.
The Longhorns also hosted 4-star defensive end Princely Umanmielen for an official visit on the final weekend before signing day. Four-star athlete Kelvontay Dixon headed to Austin a week earlier, and both 3-star wideout Savion Williams and cornerback Ennis Rakestraw remain on the board.
Heading into a critical year for Herman, some positive news to begin the offseason would be welcomed.
USC Trojans
8 of 8
January addition Gary Bryant Jr. dragged USC's ranking from the 70s/80s into the 50s. Considered the No. 45 player nationally, the wide receiver is the only top-300 prospect in the class.
USC should be desperate to add talent.
Three-star tight end Jack Yary will choose between the Trojans and Pac-12 foes Arizona State and Washington. Four-star running back Michael Drennen II is still a possibility, while 3-star quarterback Blake Shapen and running back Elijah Turner recently took official visits to USC.
Clay Helton's uncertain job security undoubtedly affected the class, which entered February with only 12 commits.
All recruiting information via 247Sports. Stats from NCAA.com, cfbstats.com or B/R research. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
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