It's been a busy summer with many of the nation's top players committing to colleges before the start of their senior seasons. But there are still plenty of great players undecided.
Six of the top 10 players in the ESPNU 150 have yet to commit, 24 of the top 50 are undecided and 63 members of the ESPNU 150 are still sorting it all out. That means will be a crazy run right up until national signing day Wednesday, Feb. 2.
So here's a look at the top 9 uncommitted players (it was 10 initially, but five-star RB Malcolm Brown committed to Texas on Wednesday night) and an update on their status:
Clowney
Jadeveon Clowney (Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe)
Five-star defensive end | ESPNU 150 rank: 1
The nation's top prospect loves two schools at this time, the home-state Gamecocks and the national champion Crimson Tide. Over the spring and summer Clowney, an Under Armour All-American, took unofficial visits to South Carolina, Alabama, Clemson and North Carolina. This fall he plans on officially visiting Miami, Florida State, LSU and Alabama. He'll make a fifth visit but hasn't decided which school it will be.
"That fifth one is up for grabs," said South Pointe coach Bobby Carroll. "It could be Auburn or it could be someone out of the blue. I don't think he will officially visit South Carolina or Clemson simply because they are close and he has seen both places a few times. "
Drew
Ray Drew (Thomasville, Ga./Thomas County Central)
Five-star defensive end | ESPNU rank: 3
Drew is proud of his 31 scholarship offers and is making sure to show the respect back to the schools. He's in the process of narrowing his school list to "seven to nine schools" and in the process of calling the colleges personally that didn't make his cut.
"I want to see LSU and I want to see UCLA," Drew said. "I want to make all five official visits. With some closer schools that I have seen a few times I may not waste an official visit. I want to make a decision around signing day. I want to soak in everything and I am looking at a number of things. I want to be successful in life after football."
Drew has taken unofficial visits to Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, USF, FSU, South Carolina, Clemson, Alabama, Auburn and Tennessee. He has relatives in South Florida, so Miami could be a team in the mix as well.
Crowell
Isaiah Crowell (Columbus, Ga./Carver)
Five-star running back | ESPNU rank: 5
It's shaping up to be a battle between Georgia, Clemson and Alabama for Crowell.
"If signing day were today I would sign with Georgia," said Crowell, an Under Armour All-American. "I have great relationship with the coaches and players. It also helps that Jarvis [Jones, a former teammate] is there.
"But I have to say that Alabama and Clemson are right there too."
According to insiders at his school, Crowell could ultimately sign with the national champion Crimson Tide. He loves Alabama running backs coach Burton Burns and so do his parents. It certainly helps that this is a team that loves to pound the rock. Running back Mark Ingram won the Heisman and could elect to go pro after this season. Crowell knows that Ingram's backup, Trent Richardson, is the next superstar in Tuscaloosa and Crowell could capture that reserve role next year.
In regards to Clemson, Crowell is a big C.J. Spiller fan and also really likes coach Dabo Swinney. If there is a dark horse it's Miami, which Crowell insists he will officially visit this fall.
Kouandijio
Cyrus Kouandijio (Hyattsville, Md./DeMatha Catholic)
Five-star offensive tackle | ESPNU rank: 6
Will Cyrus follow his older brother Arie to the Crimson Tide? That seems to be the common thought, especially with the way Alabama has recruited the past few years and all the success it's had on the field. But Kouandijio insists he's considering 11 schools -- Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Miami, New Mexico, Pittsburgh, Oklahoma, Tennessee, USC and Virginia. He has taken the time to see a bunch of schools already, such as Maryland, Alabama, Iowa, Virginia and Pitt. His plan is to narrow it down to five and then make his decision on national signing day.
Steward
Tony Steward (St. Augustine, Fla./Menendez)
Five-star inside linebacker | ESPNU rank: 9
Steward was first leaning to Florida State, then it was Clemson. So who has the upper hand today?
"It's dead even at this point," said Menendez coach Keith Cromwell.
Steward grew up a big Florida State fan and is very excited about coach Jimbo Fisher and the direction of the program. He has unofficially visited FSU on numerous occasions and each time grows more and more comfortable with the school, staff and players. One negative with the Seminoles is that they signed five linebackers last year. Clemson really blew Steward away on his visit this summer and he really likes the small town college feel there.
"They are out in the middle of nowhere and he loves that," Cromwell said. "He also likes the family atmosphere. Because there is not much to do, you are a part of a football family."
Still, he's going to take his official visits and Steward and his coach worked out a plan Monday.
"Tony's decided on Clemson, FSU, Florida, Alabama and UCLA," Cromwell said. "He is trying to reach all the coaches now to let them know."
O'Leary
Nick O'Leary (West Palm Beach, Fla./Dwyer)
Five-star tight end | ESPNU rank: 12
The nation's top tight end is quite the catch and one of the best big men the state of Florida has produced in a while. Many feel he could head south to Miami, while others think it could be Florida State. The Gators are also trying to lure him to Gainesville. Georgia and Alabama are also in the mix.
Thing is, no one knows what O'Leary will do in the end because he doesn't divulge much to the media. Odds are likely higher with Miami or FSU right now, but that's now and a lot can change in the future.
"I would say that FSU, Miami, Alabama and Georgia are his top four," said Dwyer coach Jack Daniels. "Florida, Tennessee and North Carolina are all battling right now for that fifth spot."
Farmer
George Farmer (Gardena, Calif./Junipero Serra)
Five-star wide receiver | ESPNU rank: 13
How would you like to be a state champion in three sports? Farmer nearly did it. He led his team to titles in both football and basketball, but his team fell one point short in track after he lost the state final of the 100 meters (which he ran in 10.32) by .01 seconds. So what does that have to do with recruiting? Basketball and track seasons occupied much of his post-football time and he couldn't get out to see many schools.
"George has been pretty low key," said Junipero Serra coach Scott Altenberg. "He went to see USC and UCLA this spring and summer and I know he went up to Stanford and Washington last year. But I know basketball and track seasons went so long that he didn't have a chance to see anyone."
While the rumors swirl that Farmer is headed to Southern Cal, Altenberg insists that's he's open and will explore all of his options.
"George has told me he's open," Altenberg said. "He's not counting out USC but it's not a sure thing. He likes UCLA, Washington and Oregon. I think he wants to see Cal. I know he would like to [officially] visit Florida and Miami."
Green
Aaron Green (San Antonio, Texas/James Madison)
Four-star running back | ESPNU rank: 13
Green is down to four schools, or is he? He recently named Nebraska, Cal, Florida State and Texas as his four favorites but that doesn't mean a few more can't play their way onto the list.
"I am not ruling anyone out," Green said. "Those four are my leaders and certainly some other teams could work their way up with me."
But if you apply a process of elimination, Green should be headed to Nebraska. Cal just committed Houston area running back Daniel Lasco and Texas has its sights set on Brown. FSU could land James Wilder soon. It also helps that Green's brother, Andrew, signed with Nebraska in 2009.
Bray
Quan Bray (LaGrange, Ga./Troup County)
Four-star athlete | ESPNU rank: 16
Bray, an Under Armour All-American, is one of the top playmakers in the 2011 class. Over the spring and summer months he unofficially visited four schools -- Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Clemson -- and is close to nailing down some official visits for the fall.
"I am planning on setting them up real soon," Bray said. "I am trying to narrow some things down and get this situated. Right now I am considering Georgia, Alabama, Clemson, FSU, Florida, Miami, Kentucky and Auburn. I am looking for the right fit and where I feel most comfortable."
Jamie Newberg has been covering recruiting both in the Southeast and nationally for 19 years. He can be reached at jamienewbergbw@yahoo.com.