Jalen Flowers’ top 10 list is still locked in, but a source close to his recruitment just dropped a bomb: the real frontrunners heading into the end of his junior season are not who everyone’s been talking about. While no programs are officially eliminated from the four-star safety’s stacked list, the word coming out is that the schools previously seen as locks due to family connections might be slipping faster than we thought.
The Longhorns and Sooners Just Got Blindsided
For a while now, all the buzz around Flowers, a super talented and versatile safety out of Palos Verdes who also shined as a receiver against Inglewood on Friday, has centered on Texas and Oklahoma. And it made sense, right? Flowers’ mom is originally from Oklahoma, and his grandparents still live there. There’s been talk about the family wanting to return to Oklahoma or the Dallas area after he finishes high school. That had everyone thinking a decision about staying closer to family was already made, putting the Longhorns and Sooners way out in front. But according to this source, that’s just not the case.
Oregon, Ohio State, Miami, Notre Dame, USC, UCLA, and LSU are apparently the real standouts right now. That’s a huge shift from what we’ve all been hearing! Even though Flowers has spoken highly of Texas and some still see them as a major contender, the insider info says that while Texas is still heavily considered, it’s “probably more likely than not” that the Palos Verdes star ends up elsewhere. Ouch. Neither Texas nor Oklahoma are completely out of it, not even close, but the source insists others have moved higher. This is getting crazy.
Jalen’s Weekend Hustle Is Shaking Everything Up
You want to talk about commitment? Right after his game on Friday afternoon, Flowers literally rushed to LAX to catch a flight up to Oregon. That’s dedication! He was there for the Ducks’ game against UCLA over the weekend. Sure, Oregon lost to the Bruins, and the message is that it definitely helps UCLA in his recruitment, but it doesn’t necessarily hurt Oregon at all. The Ducks have been high on his list for so long, they’re not going anywhere.
The visits are clearly making a difference. An early season visit to LSU really stood out, and let’s be real, their history with defensive backs is something you gotta watch. Plus, Flowers already knows Lane Kiffin and his son, Knox, from their time together back at Palos Verdes. And what about the hometown heroes? USC and UCLA are right there in his backyard and everyone knows they’re sticking around until the very end. The hustle continues this weekend, too. Flowers is expected at Miami’s game against Florida State, joining a bunch of other California prospects and recruits from across the country. Miami is a serious contender, and a great visit there this weekend could push the Hurricanes even higher. This kid is really putting in the work.
The Race Is Still Wild, But The Pack Is Thinning
So where does that leave us? Oregon has been pushing forever and remains a contender despite that loss to UCLA. Ohio State has an elite defensive back tradition, and a recent visit there “could not have been better.” Miami is up next, and they’re looking strong. Even Notre Dame, which might seem like a long shot on paper, actually isn’t. Flowers has a tremendous amount of respect for that program, so don’t sleep on them.
While Texas and Oklahoma aren’t completely out of the picture, it’s clear the landscape of Jalen Flowers’ recruitment is shifting dramatically. With his junior season winding down, all eyes will be on his upcoming visits, especially the one to Miami, to see just how much higher those “surprising” frontrunners can climb. This thing is far from over, but the next few weeks are gonna be HUGE.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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