It ain’t over until it’s over, a mantra Alabama is hoping to prove by day’s end.
When National Signing Day 2016 began, Ohio State held an 88-point lead on No. 2 LSU and a nearly 300-point lead on No. 3 Florida State in the Rivals.com team recruiting rankings. With more than half of NSD in the books, FSU had not only caught OSU, but the Seminoles had put a seemingly comfortable margin between themselves and the Buckeyes. And the rest of the field for that matter.
At around 2 p.m. ET, and after a hugely successful start to the day, FSU sat atop Rivals’ rankings with 2,816 points, 112 points ahead of an OSU class that was essentially signed, sealed and delivered before lunch -- they picked up commitments today from a three- and four-star in an uneventful day, in a good way, for Urban Meyer. At the same time, surging Alabama, which began the day No. 12, had climbed to No. 3.
Shortly thereafter, however, five-star linebacker Lyndell Wilson announced his commitment to Alabama over Georgia, pushing the Tide past the Buckeyes and within striking distance of the Seminoles. UA remains in the running for at least five more prospects who will make their decisions over the next five or six hours, meaning that the 66-point edge the Seminoles currently hold on the Tide could potentially be erased as FSU’s class is essentially complete.
Thus far today, the Tide has picked up commitments from a pair of five-, four- and three-star recruits each. FSU’s commitment haul Wednesday consists of five four-stars and a three-star.
Alabama has claimed the Rivals recruiting crown six times the past eight years, and is looking to regain its title after being stripped by USC last cycle.
UPDATED 3:23 p.m. ET: As of this upate, Alabama has moved past Florida State and into the top spot as the Tide has taken a 69-point lead on the Seminoles.
