Despite a late push from several SEC schools, Gulf Shores defensive back Ronnie Royal III signed with N.C. State on Wednesday.

Royal was the MVP of the Dolphins’ victory over Ramsay in the Class 5A championship game. He played offense, defense and special teams for coach Mark Hudspeth’s squad, which went 15-0.

Royal rushed for 1,069 yards and 17 TDs. He finished with 27 total touchdowns, including four on punt returns, two each in kickoffs and interceptions and one each receiving and passing. He made 49 tackles on defense.

He’s expected to play defensive back in college.

The 5A champs had two other players sign as well on Wednesday. DB Braden Jackson signed with Arkansas State and LB/DL Kingston Lowe signed with North Alabama.

Headed to Rocky Top

Vestavia Hills’ EDGE Jordan Ross is the highest rated senior to sign with an out-of-state school.

The 6-foot-4.5, 233-pound EDGE signed with Tennessee on Wednesday. He is No. 5 in the 247 composite rankings of the top 2024 recruits in Alabama.

Ross finished his senior season with 72 tackles, 23 tackles for a loss, 12.5 sacks and 10 QB hurries for the Rebels. He also had 6 pass deflections and a blocked field goal.

He is currently No. 11 on AL.com’s A-List of top seniors in the state.

Calling the Hogs

Arkansas and coach Sam Pittman hit it big in Alabama again this year.

The Razorbacks announced the signings of Clay-Chalkville DB Tevis Metcalf, St. James QB KJ Jackson and Leeds DL Kavion Henderson.

Metcalf’s older brother, T.J., signed with Arkansas last year.

Houston, we have a problem …

A problem for opposing defenses that is.

The Cougars signed Davidson running back D.J. Butler, who was a long-time Coastal Carolina commit.

The 6-foot, 190-pound Butler rushed for 1,936 yards and 20 touchdowns on 204 carries for the Warriors as a senior.

He played in Friday’s North-South All-Star Game in Mobile before taking an official visit to Houston.

Flowers finds a new home

Baker QB Josh Flowers, a longtime Mississippi State commit, signed with Arkansas State on Wednesday.

The dual-threat standout decommitted from the Bulldogs in the midst of that team’s coaching change.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Flowers rushed for 1,435 yards and 14 touchdowns on 159 carries and passed for 2,126 yards and 20 TDs.

He left Friday’s North-South game in the third quarter to visit Arkansas State.

Warhawks doing work

Former UAB coach Bryant Vincent, now the head coach at Louisiana-Monroe, appears to be building his team with largely Alabama talent.

Among the in-state high school players signed by the Warhawks were Fairhope DB Ameyr Adams, Spain Park WR Jonathan Bibbs and Jacksonville QB Jim Ogle.

Vincent also signed some transfers from the state of Alabama, including former Spanish Fort stars Carl Fauntroy and Jake Godfrey and former McGill-Toolen star Korian Wilson.

Win 2, lose 1

Miami signed two in-state high school players but lost one big commitment.

Tuscaloosa County RB Kevin Riley flipped his commitment to Alabama and signed with the Crimson Tide on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Miami did sign Spanish Fort DE Cole McConathy and Theodore LB Bobby Pruitt.

Waiting it out

Andalusia coach Trent Taylor said former Auburn RB commit J’Marion “Phat” Burnette will not sign today.

Taylor said Burnette had several things going on so he decided to wait.

He helped the Alabama All-Stars to a win in the Alabama-Mississippi Classic on Saturday in Hattiesburg, Miss.

Home state flip

Enterprise RB/athlete flipped Keion Dunlap flipped his commitment from Indiana to Troy on Wednesday.

Dunlap rushed for 1,077 yards and 16 touchdowns on 130 carries for Ben Blackmon’s team. He also caught six passes for 87 yards and a score.

He also played safety for the Wildcats.

This post will be updated