The recruiting process did not play out like Rivals250 prospect Aaron Armitage thought it would. The Canadian defensive lineman that plays at Blairstown (N.J.) Blair Academy was hoping to take a number of visits this spring and summer before making his choice. Unfortunately, that couldn’t happen because of the pandemic and recruiting dead period so Armitage’s recruitment dragged on for much longer than he wanted.

After countless FaceTime calls and Zoom meetings with coaches from around the country, Armitage narrowed his list of options down to Florida, LSU, Oregon, Stanford, and USC. Of these schools, the only one Armitage was able to visit before the pandemic shut everything down was Stanford but Armitage built strong relationships with coaches at all of the schools in his final five. At the end of his recruitment, Armitage seemed like he was all set to pick USC but decided that Stanford was the place for him.

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CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State

CLASS OF 2022 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State

COVERAGE: Rivals Transfer Tracker | Rivals Camp Series

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"The two I narrowed it down to was USC and Stanford and Stanford has been in my heart ever since I visited," Armitage said. "I love it out there. It's hard to turn an opportunity like that down academically and athletically.

"That visit was big because it was really the only campus I got a feel for," he said. "I did get virtual tours with the other schools so sort of got a feel for them but not as much as I did with Stanford.

"The coaches want me to predominately to play a five-technique," said Armitage. "They run a 3-4 but will switch it up and play a 4-3 too so I could play rush end for them or bump down into a three-technique.

"I really like how Coach (Diron) Reynolds tries to get mismatches and one-on-one situations for the defensive linemen," he said. "He even does that in the 3-4 scheme. He does a great job.

"I don't know what I want to major in just yet but I do have interest in computer science and engineering," Armitage said. "I've already finished the application process and have been accepted."

Armitage only played in six games last season as a junior and his senior season has been postponed but he was extremely impressive. He is one of the more technically advanced prospects in this class with great hand techniques and a really good sense of timing of when to strike the offensive lineman.

Armitage shows really good balance and understands how to get around the edge and he routinely makes plays in the backfield. On film it’s easy to find Armitage chasing down plays from behind even though he has a fairly thick build already. He has the frame to hold up as an end in a 3-4 defense but he also has the skill set to play in an even front. Stanford will love the versatility and he should be able to play in a variety of situations.

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Even though Stanford was able to get Armitage on campus before the pandemic shut recruiting visits down it seemed like the Cardinal were playing from behind for most of his recruitment. USC and Oregon were getting most of the headlines and the Trojans nearly had this sewn up.

A last minute change of heart gave Stanford the lead and now they have their third and highest rated commitment of this recruiting class. Armitage should fit in very well with what Stanford likes to do with their defensive front and he has the versatility to play inside or outside for the Cardinal. Look for Stanford to try to add a couple more defensive linemen before the end of the 2021 recruiting cycle.