#BlueChipBattles -- Jan. 25

RecruitingNation breaks down the nation's top 10 football recruiting battles

Updated: January 25, 2013, 11:02 AM ET
ESPN RecruitingNation

RecruitingNation has summoned its writers from around the country to compile a list of the top 10 battles for elite football recruits leading up to February's signing day. We'll update our rankings periodically to reflect a change in a player's status (i.e., new offers, trimmed-down list or a positive/negative official visit).

Here is this week's panel of writers: Kipp Adams (@KippLAdams), Dave Hooker (@DaveHookerESPN), Radi Nabulsi (@RadiNabulsi), Corey Long (@CoreyLong), Erik McKinney (@EMcKinneyESPN), Blair Angulo (@bangulo), Derek Tyson (@DerekTysonESPN), Greg Ostendorf (@GregO_ESPN) and Mitch Sherman (@mitchsherman).

Get your tweet on

Our scouts have their ears to the streets and will update accordingly, but we also want to hear from you, the fans.

Use the hashtag #BlueChipBattles to comment on the list, make a prediction or if you disagree with anything we say. Your tweet could end up on that week's page.

What's your top 10?

Check out our list and then take your shot at ranking the top 10 recruiting battles.

Matthew Thomas

Miami Booker T. Washington | OLB | 6-4/210 | ESPN Rank: No. 6

Last week's #BlueChipBattles rank: No. 7

Commitment status: Undecided

Who's in the driver's seat: Miami

Other candidates: Florida State

Dark horse: Alabama and Georgia

@coreylong's take: What a difference a day makes? With the move of offensive coordinator James Coley from Florida State to Miami, it makes the Hurricanes the team to beat. No coach has spent more time recruiting Thomas over the past two seasons than Coley. Florida State is supposed to host Thomas on his official visit this week and the 'Noles staff will be scrambling to replace the relationship Thomas has with Coley. I'm not ready to completely pencil in Thomas as a member of the Hurricanes' recruiting class -- because the five-star OLB has said that he's very close with FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher -- but with his two favorite assistants (Coley and Miami defensive coordinator Michael Barrow) in the same place, that appears like a lot to overcome.

Georgia and Alabama remain on the board because of the scheduled visits, but this is an FSU-Miami battle until the end. Thomas took a visit to USC over the weekend but according to a source he called Miami and FSU coaches during the visit to tell them how the trip was going. Also Thomas wants a stable coaching situation, and nothing about USC's current situation can be considered stable.

RecruitingNation ranks Thomas' recruitment as the No. 10 battle in the country. Tweet us your opinion using the hashtag #BlueChipBattles @RecruitingESPN.


To check out which school is now in the driver's seat for No. 1 recruit Robert Nkemdiche or to see which way recently decommitted DL Dee Liner is leaning, you must have an Insider account.

SPONSORED HEADLINES

MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HEADLINES

MOST SENT STORIES ON ESPN.COM