In a move that's shaking up the 2027 recruiting landscape, Miami St. Thomas Aquinas three-star quarterback James Perrone has officially decommitted from USF. The talented signal-caller made the announcement Wednesday evening, signaling a fresh start in his recruitment just before his senior season.

Perrone had been pledged to the Bulls since September 8, initially sticking with the AAC program through a coaching transition now led by Brian Hartline. But with official visit season on the horizon, he's decided to reopen his options. "I would like to thank the South Florida coaching staff for recruiting me through the coaching change and for all the support through this process. However, I am no longer committed to USF and my recruitment is 100-percent open," Perrone shared on X.

Ranked as the No. 642 overall prospect and No. 43 quarterback in the 2027 cycle by the Rivals Industry Ranking—a weighted average of major recruiting outlets—Perrone is also the No. 69 player in talent-rich Florida. His junior season at Miami Southridge was nothing short of electric: he completed 193 of 295 passes for 3,231 yards, 33 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. Add in 636 rushing yards and nine more scores on 58 carries, and you've got a dual-threat weapon who's now set to suit up for Florida powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas this fall.

USF originally won out for the local passer back in the fall, beating out a growing offer sheet that includes Virginia Tech, West Virginia, UCF, Pitt, Wake Forest, and others. Perrone even considered reclassifying to the 2026 cycle but chose to stay put. And he was all in on the Bulls just months ago. "I'm committed to USF and I love what is happening with that program," he told Rivals' Chad Simmons in February. "It is on the upswing with a great inflow of talent from the portal, a great head coach in Brian Hartline and the new stadium coming. I'm a Florida native, so I obviously love that it's in Florida. There's no reason they can't do what Indiana did."

Now, with his recruitment wide open, Perrone has already taken spring visits to Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. Expect those programs—and many others—to ramp up their pursuit as the 2027 cycle heats up. USF, meanwhile, holds two commits in its 2027 class: Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic three-star wide receiver Austin Busso and Jacksonville Mandari. The Bulls will undoubtedly look to reload at quarterback as Perrone explores his options.