[Farm93]

I think the idea that Peppers and other 5 star recruits verbal to the best available opportunity makes a lot of sense.  He can tell the obsessed local media that he is going to "Big State U".  Great.  Then everyone will let that be.  And it probably is helpful for his on the field development to reduce or eliminate that commitment noise and hype.

Then he might, or might not, tell that same "Big State U" that he will definitely go to Big State U if Stanford says no.  That staff would likely accept that information without disclosing it to the media.  They probably would keep it close just so that other schools don't chase him as an uncommitted.  As a 5-star recruit that quasi-verbal would be better than the silly hat on a table 8 months from now.  That same staff could then focus their messaging on the their Big State U vs. Stanford storyline for the next several months.

Then if he ultimately gets accepted to Stanford he can switch his verbal, which happens all of the time anyway, or he can stay aligned with "Big State U".

If a recruit does not verbal at all, then the media and 30+ schools will probably hound him relentlessly for months.  I must say if I was in that situation I would verbal to my best available option at this point too.

[Farm93]

I think the idea that Peppers and other 5 star recruits verbal to the best available opportunity makes a lot of sense.  He can tell the obsessed local media that he is going to "Big State U".  Great.  Then everyone will let that be.  And it probably is helpful for his on the field development to reduce or eliminate that commitment noise and hype.

Then he might, or might not, tell that same "Big State U" that he will definitely go to Big State U if Stanford says no.  That staff would likely accept that information without disclosing it to the media.  They probably would keep it close just so that other schools don't chase him as an uncommitted.  As a 5-star recruit that quasi-verbal would be better than the silly hat on a table 8 months from now.  That same staff could then focus their messaging on the their Big State U vs. Stanford storyline for the next several months.

Then if he ultimately gets accepted to Stanford he can switch his verbal, which happens all of the time anyway, or he can stay aligned with "Big State U".

If a recruit does not verbal at all, then the media and 30+ schools will probably hound him relentlessly for months.  I must say if I was in that situation I would verbal to my best available option at this point too.