College football recruiting is a year-round grind. Coaches have to keep working to bring in talent, and that often means spending weekends visiting teenagers and trying to persuade them their program is the right fit. Even then, a recruit can change course at the last minute.
Li’Marcus Jones, a highly regarded offensive tackle from the Nashville area, had been verbally committed to Colorado. But with the Buffaloes having a difficult season, he decided Monday to flip to Mississippi State and stay closer to home.
The Bulldogs had a promising start to the season, particularly with quarterback Kamario Taylor and running back Fluff Bothwell healthy. Their offense looks like it could be on the rise, so it’s easy to see why an offensive lineman might want to join them.
Then, just 30 hours after announcing his move, Jones changed his mind again and recommitted to Colorado.
It’s a quick turnaround, to say the least. You might think a recruit would take a little time to weigh things before making a decision public. But these flips happen, and Jones isn’t the only one to change direction during this recruiting cycle.
In June, another recruit switched between Colorado and a Mississippi school, Ole Miss. Two similar twists in one year is an odd coincidence. If I had a nickel for each one, I’d have two nickels—not much, but still a surprising pair.
