National Signing Day 2011: The Top 10 Recruits Who Might Make Surprise Decisions

National Signing Day is always a fun day to observe, not just in college football recruiting but sports generally. Many fanbases go through an array of emotions from happiness to disappointment to shock as recruits commit and de-commit throughout the day.

Full of shocking surprises, this year's National Signing Day on February 2 figures to be no different.

Let's check out 10 recruits who could make surprising decisions on NSD.

10. Tony Steward Bleeds Bruin Blue

Steward to tripped to UCLA in early December and stated it really opened his eyes to the west coast.

He's grown up in Florida State, yet Steward seems really intrigued by UCLA's location, campus, facilities and Los Angeles as a city. He's down to Clemson and Florida with UCLA lurking in the shadows.

The draw of great weather, beaches, Hollywood, and the laid back LA lifestyle could be too alluring for Steward who may opt for a Westwood culture change.

9. Brisset Becomes a Badger

Jacoby Brissett has long been considered a heavy Florida State lean, and it would not be a shock at all if he winds up in Tallhassee.

As Lee Corso would say, "Not so fast, my friend!"

Wisconsin is hanging around strongly in the Brissett sweepstakes and has even gone so far as to stop recruiting other quarterbacks to focus solely in landing him. He took a visit to Camp Randall in October, came back blown away, and Wisconsin has been putting the press on him since.

8. Christian Westermann Sticks to the Script

Westerman verballed to Texas early in the process, then in the late Fall decided to flirt with other schools.

Auburn and USC were mentioned as new possible destinations for the talented tackle prospect, with him visiting the Tigers in December. He also has a Trojan trip scheduled this month and is seriously considering both schools.

Many have expected Westerman to de-commit from Texas, yet he has never stated he was. Come signing day, expect Westerman to indeed stick to the original plan of blocking in Austin.

7. HaSean Clinton-Dix Burns 'Bama

HaSean Clinton-Dix is one of the elite safety prospects in this year's class and committed to Alabama in April of last year. He has been pretty solid in his pledge throughout the process.

During the Under Armour game practices however, he was quoted to saying he was torn between sticking with with the Tide and LSU. He even took a trip to Michigan prior to Rich Rodriguez's firing.

Could Clinton-Dix depart an historic Crimson Tide recruiting class to join a talented LSU class?

6. Ray Drew Has Faith in Canes

Drew's mother has been quoted on how often and fluid his top school's list changes. Drew has been pretty open during the process, but many expect Georgia to keep the defensive end recruit home.

Drew took a trip to Miami this past weekend and loved the location. He also hit it off with Miami assistant coach, Michael Barrow, who is an ordained minister like Drew, a man of deep religious faith.

With stating his love for Barrow and position coach Jethro Franklin, The U could be thanking the man upstairs every time Drew sacks an ACC quarterback for the next four years.

5. Kouandjio to the West...or Southwest

Cyrus Kouandjio has been linked to Alabama for months yet has routinely stated he is own man and will make his own decisions, not based on his brother being on the Tide roster.

The 6'6", 320-pound mammoth tackle has keenly observed USC and New Mexico and will have visited both schools before its all said and done. He is fond of New Mexico head coach Mike Locksley and has friends on the roster.

Los Angeles is appealing to Kouandjio and the early playing time opportunity and tradition of USC is also very attractive. He could chose to play for USC or shock the world in choosing New Mexico over Alabama.

4. Tim Jernigan Remembers His Childhood

Jernigan is down to three schools with LSU, Alabama, and Florida State all in the mix.

LSU may be the slight favorite, yet Jernigan is an admitted Florida Gators fan and has been so since he was a kid. Florida is not out of the mix and Will Muschamp has definitely put the press on the quick defensive tackle.

With Muschamp hot on his trail and Florida being close to home, Jernigan could get sentimental and choose to fulfill his childhood dream of being a Gator on NSD.

3. Grant Stays Home

Hermitage (VA) inside linebacker Curtis Grant has been steadily linked to Ohio State and Florida, with the Gators being the favorite.

Grant came back from his Ohio State visit very impressed, and will take a trip to Chapel Hill next weekend to see UNC.

With all that said, Grant decide to tell schools there's no place like and home by opting to becoming the next Ahmad Brooks and Kai Parham at Virginia.

2. Marquise Lee Sneaks out of Troy

Lee has been a USC lean since the process started and many felt he was cemented as a future Trojan when current teammate George Farmer committed to USC in early December.

But for some reason, Lee has yet to commit to USC and has seriously looked at Cal, Oregon and Miami. Trojan fans with recent memory remember the recruiting saga of Vern Telemaque, another safety who was considered a strong USC lean but bolted for Miami.

Could the Trojans be in store to be slighted again by another safety who was in their grasp?

1. Jadeveon Clowney Shocks the World

Many feel that Clowney, the top player in the country, is down to Alabama and in-state South Carolina.

Chris Rumph was hired by Alabama as their new defensive line coach and he and Clowney are extremely close. South Carolina is host to a constant pipeline from Clowney South Pointe high school.

Yet Clowney is also seriously considering LSU, Ohio State, Florida and Florida State. Though these schools are longshots, no one knows for sure what Clowney will do, and he could find one these schools is the best fit for him over 'Bama or South Carolina.