ASU Football: Sun Devils flip kicker Brandon Ruiz from Alabama

The Arizona State Sun Devils have garnered the verbal commitment of 2017 kicker Brandon Ruiz a day after he decommitted from the Alabama Crimson Tide, Ruiz announced via Twitter on Monday.

Ruiz, who committed to the Crimson Tide last June, tweeted he was re-opening his recruiting process Sunday. According to 247 Sports, the Sun Devils had recently been “making a heavy push” for the Gilbert (Ariz.) Williams Field senior.

Ruiz held offers from Alabama, Arizona, ASU, and Tennessee, among others. He’s a consensus three-star prospect across major scouting boards (Rivals, Scout, 247 Sports, and ESPN).

ASU has now received commitments from 14 total players for its 2017 signing class. Ruiz is the eighth in-state pledge the Sun Devils have earned.

The 5-foot-10, 165-pound product is considered one of the best kicking prospects in the country. He earned All-American recognition from CBS, MaxPreps and USA Today, and participated in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl earlier this month.

Ruiz will compete with redshirt junior John O’Brien for ASU’s starting placekicker job being vacated by Zane Gonzalez. Gonzalez won the 2016 Lou Groza Award, given to college football’s top kicker, and earned All-American honors during his final season in Tempe amidst becoming the highest-scoring kicker in Division I history.

Below are highlights of the Sun Devils’ newest recruit.