College football recruits Dominique Sanders and Matt Brown share little in common.

They don't know each other. Sanders played defensive back at Fort Worth Dunbar, and Brown quarterbacked at Allen.

Sanders had committed to Louisiana Tech, Brown to Arizona.

But in the weeks leading up to Wednesday's national signing day, the two endured the same aftershocks caused by a shift in three college coaching positions.

By the time the dust settled, Sanders and Brown had decided to pursue football elsewhere.

Across the country, there are high school seniors scrambling to deal with the fallout from turnover in the college coaching ranks just before they sign their national letters of intent. But for Sanders and Brown, there is no consolation derived from the shared experience.

"I was kind of scared," Sanders said. "I felt comfortable with that school. They felt comfortable with me. And then all of sudden this happens. And you're like, 'Whoa.' "

On Jan. 15, Louisiana Tech coach Derek Dooley took the reins at Tennessee, which had lost Lane Kiffin to USC. Five days later, Louisiana Tech hired Arizona offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes as Dooley's replacement.

Neither Brown nor Sanders saw the changes coming, not this late in the recruiting process.

Brown thought he had developed a strong rapport with Dykes, so much so that the two talked every week, strengthening a relationship that became Brown's sole reason for committing to the Wildcats last April. On the day before Dykes accepted the Louisiana Tech job, the Arizona offensive coordinator dropped by Brown's house.

"And as he was leaving, he was like, 'I will see you next week,' " Brown said. "He sounded so sure. Then the next day, he left. It crumbled real quickly. It was definitely something I didn't expect."

Both recruits weighed their options. Each talked to his family. Brown met with his high school coaches and toured TCU's campus the following weekend. Sanders entertained the idea of visiting programs that were in hot pursuit of him before he had committed to Louisiana Tech.

Days later, they changed their plans. Brown committed to TCU, Sanders to Houston.

Arizona called Brown last Friday to reassure him, but by then, he was reconsidering his initial choice.

As much as recruits should remain vigilant, "you can't anticipate certain things to happen," said Jim Jeffcoat, the University of Houston's defensive line coach.

Jeffcoat is well-versed in recruiting. Not only is it his job to try to woo players for the Cougars, he once was a prized high school prospect himself and his son, Plano West defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat, is one of the nation's most coveted players. Throughout the recruiting process, Jeffcoat guided his son, who ended months of speculation Friday by committing to Texas. He offered his child a bit of advice.

"You shouldn't pick a school because of a coach," he said. "Coaches will come and go, but the school will always be there. You have to look at the big picture."

That picture has become increasingly unclear. High school players deliver oral commitments earlier than ever, fearful of missing out on a scholarship offer that could be gobbled up by another promising prospect. The dog-eat-dog recruiting scene can be just as volatile as the current college coaching landscape. And when the two worlds collide, watch out.

"Sometimes you come down to the wire and a youngster changes his mind, and sometimes you come down to the wire and an institution changes its mind," said Grant Teaff, executive director of the American Football Coaches Association. "Coaches are going to get fired, and coaches are going to leave for other jobs. It's an inexact science any way that you look it,"

In other words, Jim Jeffcoat said, "expect the unexpected."

Last year, the AFCA tried to take the element of surprise out of the equation by proposing an early signing period take place in the first week of December. That way, a prospect could be assured his scholarship would still be on the table before the coaching carousel began its first cycle. Many conference commissioners opposed the idea and ultimately rejected it. After all, what would happen if a coach changed jobs and a player wanted to follow him to wherever he landed? Would that high school senior be afforded that flexibility?

All Brown and Sanders know is that they are glad they had options.

"You have to understand that these things are going to happen," Brown said. "You should pick a school because you want to be there and see yourself there for four or five years, because a coaching staff could leave at any time. Believe me, it's a lesson learned."

We welcome readers' contributions on National Signing Day, too. Here's how you can take part. Coaches: Send your lists of confirmed signings to jzimmerman@dallasnews.com. Pictures, blog: Upload your photos, videos or news stories from your Signing Day ceremonies on your school page at HS GameTime.