Georgia recruit's plans to enroll early were changed by current players' NFL draft decisions

This was a no-win situation.

Monday, four-star running back Toneil Carter decommitted from Georgia.

In the span of 20 minutes, Carter said that he “had to do what’s best for me,” and “this was totally out of my control.”

So, what is really going on?

With Nick Chubb and Sony Michel coming back to school, Georgia apparently did not have room for the four-star running back to enroll early, an opportunity that Carter had worked hard to achieve.

If Georgia is going to drop a recruit, or tell one he cannot enroll for spring and must wait for the fall, it does make sense to do it at the position where it just got major unexpected news about players returning to school.

But it stinks for Carter. The Houston (Texas) Langham Creek prospect wanted to take a visit to Texas a few weeks back, but ended up not doing so, likely at the behest of Georgia.

Now, it’s the NCAA Dead Period, and visits cannot be taken. So Carter will have to figure out his destination via phone calls — far from ideal.

On the other hand, Georgia is in a very weird spot here, too. It would be recruiting malpractice to not assume that Nick Chubb would leave. And telling Chubb, a player already on scholarship, that he cannot come back so that UGA can honor its scholarship offer to Carter does not make much sense, either.

Michigan adds the No. 1 center

Michigan added another major piece to its 2017 class on Monday as Cesar Ruiz, the nation’s No. 1 center recruit, picked the Wolverines over Alabama, Auburn, and 30 other offers.

Ruiz is 6’3, 315 pounds and moves well for his size. He can pull, reach, and scoop effectively, and has heavy hands to jolt rushers. And he can anchor to provide a spacious pocket for the QB to step up in. Maize ‘n Brew has a good breakdown of his highlights.

The Wolverines now have the No. 4 recruiting class nationally, with 15-of-23 commitments being rated four- or five-stars.

You must look out for No. 1 in college football because nobody else is.

I have absolutely no problem with players like Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey skipping bowl games to prepare for the NFL draft.

This is just logic and economics. Football is the most dangerous major sport. Players have the shortest careers. They are giving away some of their prime earning years (in the case of running backs, arguably their most valuable years) for fractions of pennies on the dollar.

Once a player has secured a prime draft position, it does not make sense to continue playing for free in an exhibition game. Why risk the injury? Insurance does not adequately cover the risk.

This will become a “thing,” but it will be limited to the small number of players who are no-doubt locks to be picked in the first round.

Quickly

What a year for quarterbacks in the ACC. Lamar Jackson. Deshaun Watson. Mitch Trubisky just got a first-round grade from the advisory committee. Brad Kaaya is a legitimate pro prospect. Pitt’s Nathan Peterman was the league’s leader in passer rating. Thanks in part to that group of QBs, there is a legitimate argument that the ACC was the best league this year.

Penn State picked up Lamont Wade, one of the best corners in the country. It’s an important win over Pitt and others for James Franklin’s staff.

LSU got four-star QB Lowell Narcisse to recommit to the Tigers. Now Narcisse, and fellow four-star QB Myles Brennan are back in the fold.

Florida and Michigan open the 2017 season in Dallas, but their defensive rosters are both getting gutted. Should be interesting.

Bowl game stats should be counted for everyone, or not at all. An arbitrary cut-off year in which bowl game stats begin counting is disingenuous.

Need a calendar with all the bowls? Here you go.

Previously

Schools betting big on JUCO recruits

BREAKDOWN: The recruiting of the four CFB playoff teams.

Matt Rhule can win at Baylor, if the Bears are patient

Tom Herman inherits a talented Texas roster and favorable recruiting situation

Ed Orgeron can be LSU’s Dabo Swinney

The SEC’s quarterback play might be really good again, really soon