National Signing Day: Jay Rome and The Top Prospects To Blow Off Major Programs

Great players like Jay Rome and many other top high school prospects are recruited by top programs. It is every recruits' dream to play at a big-time school, but it is hard to decide which one is for them.

Sometimes that decision is not to play at a "football factory" or the current hot college football program that dominates recruiting. At times, simply having the ability to play at home or getting early playing time is enough for a recruit to choose a school over a more major program.

Take look at a these players in the 2011 recruiting class who have declined offers from major programs.

Harvey Langi (Utah Commit)

In recent years, USC was talented enough to dominate recruiting. 

Harvey Langi, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound running back spurned the Trojans though to stay at home and play for Utah, the new team on the Pac-12 block.

Teddy Bridgewater (Louisville Commit)

Teddy Bridgewater was preordained to be a 'Cane.

He was a Jacory Harris clone; playing his same position, with his same frame, even hailing from his same high school.

Bridgewater committed to Miami in the middle of the recruiting process, but then decided he was a better fit at Louisville. While this may sound like the norm in hoops, this is a rare feat in football recruiting.

Marcus Roberson (Texas Tech Commit)

Marcus Roberson is a 6-foot-1 defensive back who could play safety or corner in college. He hails from national high school powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida and entertained offers from top programs such as Auburn, Miami, Florida, Alabama and USC.

Roberson decided last week that being a Texas Tech Red Raider suited him best, and he will begin there in the fall. There is some debate whether or not he will end up in Lubbock when it is all said and done, but as of now, Roberson is headed for west Texas.

Wayne Lyons (Standford Commit)

Wayne Lyons was interested in Rich Rodriguez and Michigan.

He is a safety prospect who envisioned himself making interceptions in the maize and blue for the next four years.

His incredible grade point average though prompted Rich Rod to nudge him west to Stanford. The Cardinal parlayed their Orange Bowl victory into getting a talented defensive back who will help them compete in the newly-restructured Pac-12.

Viliami Moala (Cal Commit)

Viliami Moala is a 6-foot-2, 320-pound beast of a defensive tackle who will be eating blockers and taking up space from day one in college.

He enjoyed the idea of playing of becoming a Trojan, but his good friend Mustafa Jalil headed to Cal.  Berkley is close to home, so Moala has decided to punish centers on Strawberry Hill rather than Los Angeles.

Aaron Green (Nebraska Commit)

One of the best players from Texas should automatically go to Austin to continue playing for Mack Brown at the University of Texas, right?

Someone should have told Aaron Green that, as the talented running back chose to head up to Nebraska to join Taylor Martinez and form a dynamic offensive backfield for the Cornhuskers.

Green could become a better back than Marlon Lucky and get on Lawrence Phillips' level for Big Red.

Albert Louis-Jean (Boston College Commit)

Albert Louis-Jean, a long and rangy defensive back prospect at 6-foot, 180 pounds, committed to Miami early in the recruiting process. He enjoyed Randy Shannon, the campus location and the allure of playing for "The U".

However, Randy Shannon was fired at the end of the season, and Louis-Jean returned home to play for Boston College where he will be an Eagle instead of a Hurricane.

Jay Rome (Georgia Commit)

Jay Rome was recruited hard by the likes of Alabama, Tennessee and Clemson, yet declined those offers for his beloved in-state Georgia Bulldogs.

Always considered a Dawg lean, Rome is part of the Georgia "Dream Team" recruit list the coaching staff has identified as must-haves for the future of Georgia football.

The allure of the Crimson Tide, Rocky Top or his father's alma mater of Clemson were not enough to sway Rome from heading to Athens.

James Wilder Jr. (Florida State Commit)

James Wilder Jr. is listed as ATH due to his versatility as a player, yet his 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame indicates he will likely be a running back or linebacker in college.

Wilder really liked Florida and the boys in Gainesville have enjoyed success more than rival Florida State the last few years. Yet Wilder decided to turn down the Gators to pledge Florida State, and along with Karlos Williams, they have become a formidable duo in helping recruit other players to Tallahassee.