A day that began with Ohio State atop the 247Sports.com team recruiting rankings ended on a sour note, with a few hiccups in between for good measure.
Late Wednesday night, and as had been rumored throughout the days leading up to the first Early Signing Period, long-time Ohio State commit Jaiden Woodbey flipped to Florida State and signed with the Seminoles. The five-star safety from California had been committed to OSU since February.
Prior to FSU jumping into the fray under new head coach Willie Taggart, USC was thought to be OSU’s most significant competition for the defensive back.
I am officially NOLE BLOODED #Tribe18🍢🍢🍢 pic.twitter.com/pjjSS7ZUV3
— The Problem ‼️ (@JaidenWoodbey) December 21, 2017
⚡️ From Cali to Tally. ⚡️
— FSU Football (@FSUFootball) December 21, 2017
Welcome to FSU, @JaidenWoodbey!#Tribe18 » https://t.co/XoSMEzil5b pic.twitter.com/BOKDWQg6Ct
The 6-2, 204-pound Woodbey is rated as the No. 2 safety in the country and the No. 27 player overall on 247Sports.com‘s composite board.
With the loss of Woodbey, Ohio State officially lost its top spot in the team recruiting rankings to Georgia.
UGA began the Early Signing Period No. 4 in 247Sports.com‘s composite rankings, a rather sizable distance (35 points) behind No. 1 OSU. By the time Wednesday night was put to bed, the Bulldogs and their monumental recruiting haul had leapfrogged the Buckeyes for the top recruiting class at the moment.
On the day, UGA landed three more five-star recruits -- there are now a nation’s best six in this class; next closest is Clemson’s four -- flipped a pair of four-star cornerbacks and, as the first day of the 72-hour signing period wound down, added a four-star linebacker for good measure. Add in OSU losing out on not only Woodbey but a five-star offensive lineman to Clemson and a four-star quarterback to Florida as well, and it was the perfect storm for the Bulldogs to race past the Buckeyes.
Those rankings aren’t set in stone, however, as there are still two days or so left in this early 72-hour window, plus the original National Signing Day in February that will now serve as the second signing period.