10/31/2016 football Edit

2018 4-Star OL Cole Blanton expecting Clemson offer soon

Nick Krueger • Rivals.com

Recruiting Analyst

Nick Krueger joined Rivals.com as a multimedia producer in 2011 and has covered recruiting in the state of Texas since 2016. He also co-hosts and produces Rivals' weekly podcast, Commitment Issues.

2018 four-star offensive tackle Cole Blanton has caught the eye of many programs early on in his recruitment, but three teams immediately come to mind when he thinks about early favorites.

“I really like (Texas) A&M, Oklahoma, I’m still waiting on an offer from Clemson,” he said. “I want to go visit out there again, I want to visit Ohio State but I really don’t know where I’m going yet. That’s for after the season - right now I’m just focused on being the best Mustang I can be.”

Blanton has already visited the three of those schools, and will likely be at each a few more times before making his commitment. Although he is still without that offer from the Tigers, he feels as though that will come sooner than later.

“I really like the coaches, I really like what they got going there,” he said. “The campus is beautiful and education is top-notch. I talk to Coach (Robbie) Caldwell, the offensive line coach out there daily.”

In the meantime, it’s clear that the familiarity that he has with the Aggies and Sooners have put them as the presumed early leaders. Both teams already have a top offensive line commitment in 2018 as it is; A&M with one from guard Luke Matthews and Oklahoma with tackle Brey Walker.

Blanton projects as a tackle but is a menacing blocker whose athleticism makes him an option to slide in anywhere along the offensive line. He’s spent plenty of time thinking about where he might make the best use of those qualities, but the answer seems to change pretty frequently.

“For a little while I thought it was Texas A&M, then I flipped back to OU,” he said. “I really like Coach (Jim) Turner at A&M. At OU, I have some family out there and I really like some of the coaches out there as well.”

Blanton said that he’s hoping to make a commitment sometime next summer. In addition to that, he said that ideally, his first commitment will also be his last.

“That way other schools might come in during the spring to take a look at me and maybe see a teammate that stands out as well,” he said. “Once I commit, I’m done - I’m not talking to any other school - I’m going to be what I am.”