Live Blogging: 2009 National LOI Day

Throughout the day I will be posting my comments and some news that happens during the first day that the 2009 High School class can sign their letters of intent. Usually we have a few shockers and a few switches, so we could be in for a long ride. All times posted are EST just for your information. So if you are stuck at work, keep hitting the refresh button and I will keep you posted all day.

5:11 PM EST- Trent Richardson, one of the best running backs in the nation, is going to play for Alabama and not join his friend Sam Montgomery at LSU.

4:59 PM EST- Markish Jones has done it AGAIN. This two-star JUCO recruit has sent in, not one, but two LOI's for the second time. He sent one in to Colorado and another one to Cal.

4:15 PM EST- The Austin American Statesman has a great article to keep the "numbers" of National Signing Day in perspective. Those who read the blog on a regular basis know I am highly skeptical of reported 40 yard dash times, often because they are self-reported and quite frankly, highly inflated. It's good to see reporter Alan Trubow set the record straight when it comes to this issue.

Mansfield Timberview running back Eric Stephens — the No. 36-rated recruit on the Fabulous 55 — is 5-11, 200 pounds and has 4.38 speed on texasfootball.com. On Rivals.com, the Texas Tech-bound Stephens is 5-8 (three inches shorter), 177 pounds (nearly 25 pounds lighter) and, according to the site's analysis, "doesn't have home run speed."

Stephens, insists Timberview coach Terry Cron, is 5-8, 200 pounds and runs about a 4.56.

"I don't know where some of these guys get their numbers from," Cron said. "It seems like they heard it from a guy who heard it from a guy who heard it from a guy, and that's good enough to report."

I encourage you to read the rest of the article, which deals with the "magic" number of a sub 4.6, which many prospects know they must report to even be considered for a FBS offer. Frankly, this whole obsession over 40-times as THE basis for evaluating and offering players is getting out of hand (posted by Adam Nettina.)

3:57 PM EST - Receiver Kenny Bell adds to Alabama's late day push by pick the Tide over LSU.

3:55 PM EST - Rivals.com is reporting that the choice that Trent Richardson makes in about an hour will decide which team wins the #1 recruiting class between LSU and Alabama. As noted earlier Richardson is good friends with Sam Montgomery and that could be a reason why he chooses LSU.

3:47 PM EST - Marlon Brown picks Georgia.

3:43 PM EST - Wide receiver Marlon Brown is up next. Earlier today I heard that Ohio State was making a big push, but in the end I think he ends up with Georgia.

3:28 PM EST - With news slowing down a bit, the famous LSUFreek made a video that is his Ode To Signing Day.

3:07 PM EST - Dre Kirkpatrick who is a big time CB prospect, especially with his size picks Alabama over Texas. The Tide are going to start challenging LSU for the #1 class.

3:04 PM EST - Oregon gets an LOI from a 4 star WR Tyrece Gaines who picked the Ducks over the Sooners. One of my contacts mentioned how it is amazing that Oklahoma can't get a top WR to come to Oklahoma with Sam Bradford coming back.

2:55 PM EST - Kendall Kelly picks Alabama and now his teammate Dre Kirkpatrick is up next.

2:43 PM EST - The wide receiver commitments keep rolling in as CSN is reporting that Je'Ron Stokes has picked Michigan over Tennessee.

2:42 PM EST - After striking out earlier with Jenkins, Penn State got a commitment from Justin Brown who is a 4 star wide receiver from Delaware. He chose the Nittany Lions over Rutgers, and he DID NOT use a coin flip.

2:40 PM EST - Xavier Su'a Filo an offensive tackle from Utah picks UCLA over BYU, Utah, LSU, and USC. Big pickup for Slick Rick!

2:18 PM EST - In the craziest way to commit to a school, I noted earlier that Ka'Lial Glaud picked Rutgers over West Virginia, but what I didn't tell you is how he did it. Glaud decided that a coin flip would be the best way to pick his school, so that's what he did. Now how many want to bet he transfers before he graduates>

2:11 PM EST - Houston Nutt gets his quarterback for this class as four star QB Raymond Cotton picks Ole Miss.

2:05 PM EST - I have learned from my mistakes and will just let Vols fans know that people close to Michigan are quite optimistic that WR Je'Ron Stokes will sign with them over Tennessee. 1:56 PM EST - Rueben Randall signs with LSU. Also four star WR Kenny Bell is a verbal commit to LSU, but there have been talks the past few days that he is considering Alabama.

1:48 PM EST - Well I got some apologies to make to Tennessee fans. I thought Nu’Keese Richardson signed with Florida but he has announced AND signed for the Vols. That's the last time I listen to ESPN Radio. The Vols also add three star LB Robert Nelson.

1:43 PM EST - You have to love Houston Nutt's theory of just trying to sign everyone and anyone possible. As of now, Ole Miss has 34 commits. Any guesses on how many won't qualify?

1:38 PM EST - I jumped the gun a bit earlier by saying that DE Jarvis Jones was going to Georgia, but he has indeed signed with USC. A good get for USC considering what they have lost today.

1:29 PM EST - In the soap opera that is the recruitment of Rueben Randall, he is going to announce today which means all signs point to LSU. This has been posted a few other places like at EDSBS, but if you are stuck at work and want to watch some ESPNU coverage, check it out here.

1:25 PM EST - The Vols get plucked two more times as Damien Thigpen signs with UCLA after previously commiting to the Vols, and OT Morgan Moses picks Virginia over UT.

1:13 PM EST - Nu’Keese Richardson ends up signing with Florida (ESPN) while considering Tennessee. There are also a lot of rumors floating around about Trent Richardson...they have him going anywhere from Alabama, to Georgia, to LSU.

12:41 PM EST - The news is slowing down but here are a few recent LOI signees...Defensive Tackle Sheldon Richardson picks Missouri after a roller coaster last few weeks. Jarvis Jones, a 4 star defensive end is rumored to be down to USC and Georgia.

12:18 PM EST - Manti Te'o takes his place at the signing table and chooses Notre Dame over UCLA, BYU, and USC. Big get for the Irish and another huge blow to USC. Alabama gets a commitment, which is good cause their fans were going to start jumping off bridges, as Eddie Lacy a 4 star running back commits to Saban.

12:12 PM EST - Te'o's announcement has overshadowed fellow Hawaiian and four star offensive guard Stan Hasiak who surprised us and picked UCLA over Washington and USC.

11:57 AM EST - As noted earlier Vontaze Burfict, flips from USC and signs with Arizona State. Also, Xavier Su’a Filo is down to two schools, USC and BYU.

11:45 AM EST - Lane Kifflin and Coach O are proving to be a thorn in Urban Meyer's side getting Marsalis Teague to commit to Tennessee. Teague was a Florida commit but changed at the last minute.

11:37 AM EST - With committing DeAngelo Benton to Auburn, there are strong rumors saying that Rueben Randall has told Oklahoma that he is going to go to LSU.

11:32 AM EST- Need a break from all the ESPNU hyped-up press conferences? Here's a feel-good commitment out of Arizona, where Notre Dame Prep Running back Patrick Foley passed up offers from several FBS schools (including Stanford) to take his services to the University of Pennsylvania and its business program. Foley is an all-state selection in the 100 meters in track while also an all-region selection at running back in football. Best of luck Patrick! (via Adam Nettina)

11:20 AM EST - I forgot to note this earlier but Trent Richardson is looking like he is going to switch from Alabama and add to that great LSU class. Montgomery said that him and Richardson are close and want to go to the same school.

11:09 AM EST - After a long winded speech and describing the matrix him and his family created to pick his school...going against the school that is noted as Linebacker U, Jelani Jenkins chooses to go to Florida and play there. He would have been a great get for the Nittany Lions. Four star athlete Denard Robinson from Florida decides to play at Michigan.

10:59 AM EST - As reported in my initial post this morning DeQuinta Jones picks Arkansas over Michigan.

10:54 AM EST - Stand out safety from Atlanta, Georgia Darren Myles picks Tennessee over LSU, and Alabama. Myles makes a prediction that he will be a freshman All American. Texas Tech is another school quietly putting together a decent class getting 4 star DT Pearlie Graves and big time JUCO DT Myles Wade.

10:39 AM EST - Defensive tackle Sam Montgomery chooses LSU over North Carolina and Tennessee. Also, Rutgers is quietly putting together a good class getting Ka'lial Glaud who will play LB and picked Rutgers over WVU (HT:Logan). The Scarlet Knights are also hoping that Justin Brown, a Wide Receiver from Delaware will pick them over Penn State.

10:34 AM EST - Big news out of Alabama has WR DeAngelo Benton picking Auburn over LSU which might seal the deal for Rueben Randall to come to LSU. Benton was a previous LSU recruit who did not qualify and now that he has, he has decided to spurn the Tigers of LSU for Auburn.

10:19 AM EST - Patrick Patterson, a big 6 foot 4 in wide receiver from Mississippi stays in-state and signs with Ole Miss. If you are following any of the coverage on ESPNU, Rivals, or Scout you are seeing a trend that I think will only get worse as the years go on. More and more you will start seeing recruits waiting till after LOI day to sign.

10:10 AM EST - Byron Moore kicks off the coverage on ESPNU picking USC over Colorado and Notre Dame. Moore did the hat trick but again I hate the hat trick. He had his high school coach pick the hats for him; throwing the ones he wasn't going to over his shoulder.

10:04 AM EST - I know there are some of you out there checking out the live blog. A few questions for you guys: Who do you think will be the big impact freshman in 2009? And what do you think will be the biggest switch today from a recruit going from one school to another?

10:01 AM EST - Nu'Keese Richardson has reportedly changed his commitment from the Gators to the Tennessee Vols. Richardson is a 4 star wide receiver from Florida.

9:57 AM EST - A little hint to the readers out there and for those calling into Rivals Radio, please don't eat while talking on the radio. No one can understand you, so put down the donuts before you talk.

9:49 AM EST - Rueben Randall has officially postponed his decision to a later date as reported by ESPN Radio. Strong word is that Randall wants to sign with LSU, but is feeling family pressure to sign somewhere else.

9:45 AM EST - Wide Receiver Emory Blake from Austin Texas has decided to sign with Auburn over Colorado and Texas Tech. Sam Montgomery is looking like he is going to go to North Carolina. Finally, right now Ronnie Wingo has stuck with his original commitment and stay with Arkansas.

9:33 AM EST - More word about USC is that Randall Carroll could end up going to Westwood and it is sound more and more likely that they will lose ILB Vontaze Burfict to Arizona State. This makes Te'o even more important for the Trojans, and maybe we'll find out more on Pete Carroll's twitter.

9:25 AM EST- A little chink in the armor of the USC Trojans as Alshon Jeffery has switched USC's and has signed with the South Carolina Gamecocks. Big time receiver decides to not go to the Trojans and stay in state with Spurrier. The word on Rivals Radio is that both USC and Florida could lose some key recruits today.

9:22 AM EST- This isn't much of a surprise, but after his super performance in the Army All-American game, Clemson fans can rest as Tajh Boyd has sent in his LOI to the Tigers.

9:18 AM EST- Any Razorback fans out there who want to follow the commitments of Arkansas should check out this site. (HT:MJ4H)

9:14 AM EST- I was wrong with my early prediction of Marlon Brown going to Georgia, as reports are coming out he is going to sign with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Although, Mike Farrell of Rivals.com thinks that he will still sign with Georgia.

9:12 AM EST- Kraig Appleton, a 4 star wide reciever has switched his choice from Illinois to Wisconsin.

8:58 AM EST- Aubrey Phillips faxed his LOI to Florida State.

8:45 AM EST- Talk About getting no respect. After leading the state of Arizona in rushing last year (2,570 yards, 42 TDs) and posting very respectable numbers at a Scout.com combine over the summer (4.55/40, 34' vertical), St. Johns' Shad Bride was holding out for an FBS offer before signing day. But his recruitment will end today as he faxes in his LOI to Big Sky up-and-comer Northern Arizona after the 5'11 senior failed to garner any FBS interest. What more does a kid like this have to do?

8:38 AM EST - I don't know whether to laugh at this or shake my head. But in an NY Times article Brian Butler who is the "advisor" for Bryce Brown stated, "he would explore the possibility of Brown’s skipping college and going to the Canadian Football League next season. He mentioned the idea of a team paying Brown $5 million a year for three years. But the salary cap for entire C.F.L. teams is $4.2 million Canadian. "

8:31 AM EST - There is growing speculation on the net and the Radio that Rueben Randle will not sign today. He and his family is strongly concerned with the growing competition on the LSU depth chart and might wait and see who all signs with the Tigers. Right now he is down to LSU an Alabama.

8:25 AM EST - Safety Bradley McDougald, from Dublin, Ohio faxed his LOI to Kansas. McDougald had verballed to Ohio State earlier in the year.

8:18 AM EST - Michael Carter who announced at the Army-All American Bowl that he wanted to spend the next 3 years at West Virginia, has decided that he would rather spend those 3 years at Minnesota. Strong rumors coming out that Manti Te'o will be a Trojan.

8:15 AM EST - On Rivals Radio there is a strong feeling that Je'Ron Stokes will actually sign with the Wolverines, spurning the Vols. Also Pearlie Graves, a big DT prospect will pick Michigan over Texas Tech, but the only bad news for them is Sam Montgomery will not pick them .

8:08 AM EST- Grumblings around the boards and this story on Scout.com point to Justin Green, who is the #9 ranked cornerback, switching his verbal commitment from Ohio State to Illinois.

8:00 AM EST- The Washington Post is reporting that 5-star linebacker Jelani Jenkins, will choose Florida over Penn State.

7:57 AM EST- Looks like we will go another signing day where the #1 overall recruit for Rivals.com does not sign with a team. Running Back Bryce Brown is going to follow in the foot steps of Terrelle Pryor and not sign on signing day. In that report, it says he has one official visit left, and USC, Tennessee and Auburn are still in the running for that.

7:45 AM EST- While most of us will be glued to the "big three" of ESPN, Rivals.com, and Scout.com today, fans of players in the Buckeye State can follow all the latest commitments from Ohio's top prospects over at ScoutingOhio.com. Because those MAC schools need to get some love too, don't ya know.

7:42 AM EST- It is confirmed that Aubrey Phillips has committed to Florida State. I am also hearing that four star wide receiver Marlon Brown is going to end up at Georgia. Most say he is between Georgia and Tennessee, but it seems last night that he told both Ole Miss and Tennessee that they are out, leaving Georgia as his leader.

6:45 AM EST- Four star defensive tackle DeQuinta Jones, who was a soft verbal to Michigan, is reportedly leaning towards signing his LOI with Arkansas. Also, Aubrey Phillips, soft Tennessee verbal, supposedly committed to Florida State last night at the basketball game.