Fresh off a state championship and an appearance at the Army All-American Bowl, Gilbert Williams Field kicker Brandon Ruiz decided to flip his verbal commitment from SEC powerhouse Alabama to his hometown school- Arizona State.

Ruiz said his decision ultimately came down to the best fit for him. "I've been to a few ASU games, and I had a chance to talk with (ASU transfer QB) Blake Barnett, a west coast guy like me who went out to play at Alabama. It just became clear that this type of environment is a better fit for me."

Ruiz felt good about his commitment to Alabama throughout the high school season, a commitment he says he made to Nick Saban over the phone. "I remember my high school coach calling me and saying it was right to commit, because you never know what they're going to do with that offer (if you hesistate)." Ruiz didn't want to be in a situation where he rendered an offer uncommitable, but over the last few months he's been developing a relationship with Arizona State special teams coach Shawn Slocum, which he says played a large factor in his decision to flip to ASU.

Ruiz said it wasn't about him wanting to bring his current skillset to fill a need at ASU as much as it was an opportunity to improve under Slocum's tutelage. "I look at what he's done with Zane (Gonzalez) from his sophomore year to this last year (when he won the Groza award), and there was a time when his kickoffs could only reach the 10 yard line."

Ultimately, Ruiz said the biggest factor in his decision came down to what feels most line home. "This is where my family is."

Rated as one of the top kickers in the country, Ruiz hit 17/20 field goal attempts in 2016, and over the course of his junior and senior seasons, placed 95% of his kickoffs in the end zone for touchbacks. He'll join Cade Cote as the second scholarship roster member from a Williams Field team coached by former ASU QB Steve Campbell.

Here's some of the reaction to Brandon Ruiz' commitment news.