One quarterback commitment - or decommitment - can set off a chain reaction that affects nearly every team in the country.
August 5, 2013
Ricky Town commits to Alabama
The Ventura, California, prospect was pursued by Alabama, USC, Arizona State, Georgia and others. He initially chose Alabama when offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier was on the staff.
Nov. 23, 2013
Blake Barnett commits to Notre Dame
Barnett, the top-ranked pocket passer in the class, hadn't seen his recruitment fully take off when he committed to Notre Dame. He chose the Irish over Tennessee, UCLA and a few other schools. His recruitment was far from over, though, as he would soon find out.
Jan. 25, 2014
Ricky Town decommits from Alabama and commits to USC
Nussmeier decided to leave Alabama in early January to take the same position at Michigan, prompting Town to look elsewhere. After visiting USC, Town decommitted from Alabama and committed to the Trojans. That decision created an opening at QB in Tuscaloosa.
May 2, 2014
Brady White commits to Arizona State
Alabama wasn't the only team searching for a QB; Oregon was also on the hunt. The Ducks offered the Newhall, California, prospect only a few days before he committed to Arizona State. That left the Ducks still searching for a signal-caller.
May 6, 2014
Brandon Wimbush commits to Penn State
The Jersey City, New Jersey, prospect was among the first to feel the reverberations from Town's decommitment, but Wimbush turned down the Tide's offer and committed to Penn State. He was solid in his commitment at the time, but as he would find out, the entire quarterback landscape would soon change.
May 12, 2014
Zach Gentry commits to Texas
The Albuquerque, New Mexico, signal-caller was yet another quarterback offered by Alabama, and the 6-foot-7, 237-pound recruit took a visit in April to see the Tide. But the Tide couldn't beat out Texas for the ninth-ranked QB-PP in the class, and Gentry picked the Longhorns.
May 28, 2014
Kyler Murray commits to Texas A&M
Notre Dame had offered Murray early in the process, but Barnett took the spot. It's likely the Allen, Texas, native wasn't seriously considering the Irish. Oregon was still looking for their man, though, and received a visit from the No. 1 quarterback. The Ducks missed, though, as Murray elected to play for the in-state Aggies.
June 4, 2014
Blake Barnett decommits from Notre Dame
When Nussmeier landed at Michigan in early January, he offered Barnett a scholarship, and Alabama wasn't far behind in doing the same. Oregon also tried to get into the mix once other schools started to offer and convinced Barnett to visit. He decommitted from Notre Dame not long after that.
June 18, 2014
Blake Barnett commits to Alabama
Coach Nick Saban got Barnett to visit Alabama and Barnett pulled the trigger for the Crimson Tide, once again leaving Oregon looking for a quarterback in this class.
July 1, 2014
Travis Waller commits to Oregon
Between Barnett's decommitment from Notre Dame and subsequent commitment to Alabama, both the Irish and Tide offered Waller, out of Anaheim, California. Oregon got into the mix as well once it lost out on Barnett, and Waller chose the Ducks a few weeks after the offer came through.
October 7, 2014
Brandon Wimbush decommits from Penn State, commits to Notre Dame
Waller's commitment to Oregon meant that Notre Dame was left looking for a quarterback -- again. Enter Wimbush, who committed soon after visiting. The Irish had finally found their man.
Nov. 10, 2014
Tommy Stevens decommits from Indiana, commits to Penn State
The decommitment of Wimbush forced Penn State to search for a replacement. Since it was late in the process, the coaches looked for someone willing to flip. The Nittany Lions convinced the Indianapolis prospect to visit and eventually flip to Penn State. That left Indiana with an open spot, which was eventually filled by Austin King out of Alpharetta, Georgia.
Jan. 24, 2015
Zack Gentry decommits from Texas, commits to Michigan
Gentry had been committed to Texas since May, but the Longhorns showed interest in Murray and then-Florida State commit Kai Locksley. New Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh flipped Gentry while on his visit to Ann Arbor. Texas filled the hole left by Gentry's decommitment with Locksley on Monday.
