National Signing Day: 5-Star To A&M, LSU Or Georgia; Nick Saban Left Alabama At Top

The attention of the college football world falls on the tiny Texas town of Timpson - population about 1,000 - Wednesday on national signing day part two.

Five-star prospect Terry Bussey (5-foot-10, 180 pounds) is the No. 1 ranked player in the nation in the Athlete category and is No. 11 overall by 247 Sports out of Timpson High, a school of 224 students 70 miles southwest of Shreveport, Louisiana. He is one of the two highest ranked players who remain unsigned. Bussey is scheduled to sign at 10 a.m. at Timpson High. Most of the nation's best players signed during the early signing period in December.

Timpson High School (Texas) star Terry Bussey is the No. 1 ranked player in the nation in the "Athlete" category. (Photos Courtesy Of Jason Howell/TexAgs.com) 

"He is about as good a player to come out of a small school in Texas," Timpson coach Kerry Therwanger told 247 Sports. "He’s a one-cut-and-go guy. He makes people miss without having to sit there and dance. He can shut one side of the field down (at safety). 

Down To Texas A&M Aggies And LSU Tigers For 5-Star Terry Bussey

Bussey, who projects as a running back, receiver or defensive back, committed to Texas A&M in September before the Aggies fired coach Jimbo Fisher and replaced him with Duke coach Mike Elko in November. But LSU has a strong chance of flipping him as does Georgia. Word has it, though, as a two-school race between A&M and LSU. 

As a junior in 2022, Bussey rushed for 2,596 yards and 46 touchdowns. He passed for 2,096 yards and 28 touchdowns last season while rushing for 1,320 and 19 TDs. In 2023, he led Timpson to its first state championship title as the Bears won the 2A Division 1 crown. 

In his prep career, Bussey scored 93 rushing touchdowns, intercepted 24 passes with four pick sixes and returned six punts for touchdowns. Deciding where and when to play the fast Bussey (10.6 time in 100-yard dash) should be fun for Texas A&M, LSU or Georgia.

"One of them is going to be pretty happy," Therwanger said.

Bussey visited Texas A&M last weekend, LSU the previous week and Georgia two weeks ago.

The only unsigned player ranked higher than Bussey is Ryan Williams - the No. 3 wide receiver in the nation by 247 Sports and the No. 4 overall prospect out of Saraland, Alabama. Williams re-committed to Alabama and new coach Kalen DeBoer on Jan. 25 after a prior commitment to former Alabama coach Nick Saban. But Texas A&M is trying to stay in the hunt. Williams visited the Aggies on Jan. 12. He is expected to sign on Wednesday.

DeBoer will try to make sure he keeps Williams to his commitment while also re-recruiting his offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb on Wednesday. Grubb followed DeBoer from Washington to Alabama, but the Seattle Seahawks have targeted Grubb for their offensive coordinator opening. 

Former Alabama Coach Nick Saban Left New Coach Kalen DeBoer Top Players

Despite Saban's retirement on Jan. 10, the class he left has remained largely intact. The Tide lost top quarterback signee Julian Sayin to Ohio State via the transfer portal. But Alabama remains No. 2 in the latest 247 Sports rankings with 28 commitments, including five of the 5-star prospects. Georgia is No. 1 with 28 and five 5 stars. Oregon (27 commitments, three 5-stars), Miami (27, 3) and Ohio State (22, 4) complete the top five in the rankings.

Saban left a particularly strong class at defensive back with three 5-star cornerbacks ranked at No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. Those are Jaylen Mbakwe of Clay-Chalkville High in Pinson, Alabama, Zabien Brown of Mater Dei in Santa Ana, Califorinia, and Zavier Mincey of Mainland High in Daytona Beach, Florida. Nice parting gifts for DeBoer.

"You know, there's only one Coach Saban," DeBoer said at the Senior Bowl last week in Mobile, Alabama. "We're working toward the 2025 class, but making sure the guys from 2024 are still with us. I think we're in a really good spot."