College coaches changed schools, and players followed suit.
Mission Hills High School quarterback Troy Huhn flipped his college commitment from Penn State and signed with Virginia Tech on Wednesday, the first day of the NCAA Division I football early signing period.
Bishop’s QB Cash Herrera flipped from Indiana to Boise State. Cathedral Catholic quarterback Brady Palmer went from Cal to Minnesota.
And St. Augustine lefty Vincent Smith jumped from USD to Penn.
But there may not have been a bigger flip Wednesday than Carlsbad linebacker Rocky Cummings jumping to Texas from Cal.
“I went to Texas’ game against Arkansas and the atmosphere was amazing,” said Cummings, a rock-solid 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds. “It was a great atmosphere. Ultimately, I want to win a championship, and we can do that at Texas.
“It was a tough decision to leave Cal because I was treated well, but I believe I made the right decision.”
A three-star player, Cummings will graduate early from Carlsbad and enroll at Texas in time for spring ball.
In 10 games this season, he had 33 tackles, five tackles for losses, 2 1/2 sacks and 10 quarterback hurries.
As a tight end, he had 13 catches for 236 yards and eight touchdowns.
“Everybody’s recruiting process is different, but this guy’s growth and evolution into his senior year, the length that he has, his ability to play off-the-ball linebacker and off the edge, was big for us,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian told 247Sports.com. “We’re really pumped about Rocky Cummings.”
Cummings’ Carlsbad teammate Nathan Allen, an offensive lineman, signed with Arizona; Carlsbad linebacker Chase Harris signed with Carnegie Mellon, one of the top academic schools in the nation, and quarterback Eli MacNeal signed with Cornell of the Ivy League.
MacNeal, the son of Carlsbad coach Thadd MacNeal, is one of six quarterbacks to sign Wednesday. That group includes Smith, Herrera, Huhn, Palmer, Lee Norman-Lester of Helix (Southern Utah) and MacNeal. And the list doesn’t include senior college prospects Quinn Roth of La Costa Canyon, Kreet Makihele of San Marcos, Trevor Taumoepeau of Mt. Carmel and Trey Arnold of Mission Bay, all of whom could sign in February in the NCAA’s regular signing period.
“I’ve never seen a quarterback group this deep or this talented,” said Thadd MacNeal, who has had 19 high school quarterbacks play in college.
Mount Miguel led the county with seven players signing Wednesday. The list includes five-star defensive back Brandon Arrington, who is headed to Texas A&M, and defensive lineman Frank Fanua, who signed with Cal.
Cathedral Catholic had five players sign, including Palmer and offensive lineman Chase Deniz, who is headed to USC.
Oceanside’s EZ Tokio (4) runs the ball against El Camino’s Qayden Coleman (7) during their game at Oceanside High School on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 in Oceanside, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
After signing in the morning at school, Palmer and teammate Honor Fa’alave-Johnson, a junior who has 40 scholarship offers, went to Oceanside to support long-time friend EZ Tokio, an edge rusher who signed with Washington.
“Looking around, seeing my relatives and friends, I choked up a little,” said Tokio, who will graduate early and enroll in college in time for spring ball. “Washington reminds me of home. And they want me as a stand-up linebacker who can drop into pass coverage. Playing here. Wearing Pirates’ green has been a highlight.”
Three players chose military academies. La Costa Canyon offensive lineman Justin Lee and Mt. Carmel receiver Atticus Enriquez are headed to the Air Force Academy, while Oceanside receiver Kymani Nua is off to West Point.
Oceanside has a tradition of sending players to Army, with the list including Jordan Smith, Amadeo West, JB Hunter and Jonah Zimmerman, who is on the roster now.
“Jonah Zimmerman and I are close,” Nua said. “Jonah and the players we’ve had play there influenced my decision. Obviously, playing at a service academy is a big decision, a big obligation. But it’s the best opportunity for me and something I embrace.”
Cathedral Catholic’s Brady Palmer passes against Carlsbad during the CIF San Diego Section Open Division finals at Southwestern College on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
San Diego Section football players signing with four-year schools
Name;High School;Pos.;College
Nathan Allen;Carlsbad;OL;Arizona
Brandon Arrington;Mount Miguel;DB;Texas A&M
Ryan Banse; La Costa Canyon;LS;Northern Arizona
Rocky Cummings;Carlsbad;LB Texas
Junior Curtis;Lincoln;RB; Utah Tech
Chase Deniz;Cathedral Catholic;OL;USC
Carson Diehl;La Jolla;WR; San Diego State
Atticus Enriquez;Mt. Carmel;WR;Air Force
Sua Faleagafua;Mount Miguel;OL;San Jose State
Frank Fanua;Mount Miguel;DL;Cal
Jesus Garcia;Lincoln;OL; UNLV
Chase Harris; Carlsbad;LB; Carnegie Mellon
Coby Herman;La Costa Canyon;RB; UC Davis
Cash Herrera;Bishop’s;QB;Boise State
Troy Huhn;Mission Hills;QB;Virginia Tech
Malachi Jackson;Mount Miguel;DB;Weber State
Josiah Jefferson;Mater Dei Catholic/Southwestern College;TE;USC
Justin Lee;La Costa Canyon;OL; Air Force
Bronx Letuligasenoa;Cathedral Catholic;LB;San Jose State
Jayden Luckett;Mater Dei Catholic/Palomar College;OL;Texas State
AJ Logan;Mount Miguel;WR;Boise State
Eli MacNeal;Carlsbad;QB;Cornell
Lee Norman-Lester;Helix;QB;Southern Utah
Kymani Nua;Oceanside;WR;Army
Brady Palmer;Cathedral Catholic;QB;Minnesota
Landon Schrom;Army-Navy;WR;Idaho
Cade Smith;Cathedral Catholic;LB;USD
Vincent Smith;St. Augustine;QB;Penn
Prince Tavizon;Lincoln;LB; Oregon
EZ Tokio;Oceanside;DE;Washington
Cammeron Purnell;Lincoln;DB;San Diego State
Sebastian Tucker; Cathedral Catholic;TE;Davidson
Parris Vernon;Mount Miguel; WR; San Jose State
Dristan Williams;Mount Miguel;DL;Northern Arizona
Lucas Winkler;Rancho Bernardo;OL;UC Davis
JOHN MAFFEI