Cravens to make Midwest visits

FULLERTON, Calif. - Before Su'a Cravens makes his commitment on June 6, the five-star safety said he plans to visit two Midwest schools.

Which two is still unclear because the Murrieta (Calif.) Vista Murrieta standout was intentionally coy on Sunday at the Passing Down SoCal Elite 7on7 Regional at Fullerton College.

Michigan, Ohio State and Nebraska are the three Big Ten programs being considered by Cravens, the top-rated safety and fifth-best prospect in the 2013 class by Rivals.com but he would not divulge which two schools he would be visiting within weeks.

Cravens, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound prospect who shines at safety, linebacker, wide receiver and running back in high school, said the plan is to make those two stops toward the end of May and then have his decision ready in early June.

USC is considered the favorite for Cravens, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound prospect who plays with the Frat Boyz in 7-on-7 tournaments (coached by former USC star Chris Claiborne), but he wants to keep the door open for the Big Ten schools before making his decision.

"It's relaxing now because I don't have every team asking me where I'm going to go," Cravens said. "It's gotten pretty easy and I have my trips cut down to the last week of school. I'll be taking my trips and everything so after that it will be decision time."

With only two Midwest trips planned, Cravens has virtually eliminated one of the Big Ten programs that made his initial cut but he's keeping tight-lipped about which one.

Asked multiple ways, Cravens let nothing slip.

"Somebody is out of there but I'm not going to say who," he said.

"I'm kind of leaning toward a school but other than that if I see something I really like on these visits and I have everything I need on the visit that might sway my decision so I can't pick (a frontrunner) right now."

The smart money is on USC.

Cravens does not hide the fact that he has a great relationship with the coaching staff, he's visited the school multiple times and other recruits have said the five-star has serious interest in the Trojans.

"USC is very high up there," Cravens said.

"I have had relationships with USC my whole life. I've been talking to the DBs coach (Marvin Sanders) and they have a whole plan for me. Coach (Ed Orgeron), coach (James) Cregg, coach (Kennedy) Polamalu, everybody up there is great, it's like a big family. I can probably say the same thing about Michigan, I can probably say the same thing about Ohio State and Nebraska and every other school recruiting me. Everybody loves USC and it's a great place to be but I'll decide after these visits."

If Cravens were to pick USC, he would be the third five-star prospect in its class joining Sammamish (Wash.) Skyline quarterback Max Browne and Elkton (Md.) Eastern Christian Academy defensive end Kenny Bigelow.

Ohio State has one five-star in Trotwood (Ohio) Trotwood-Madison defensive back Cameron Burrows. Neither Michigan nor Nebraska has one yet.

For Cravens, the competition for playing time at any of his finalists does not concern him. He wants to play with the best because he has the ultimate prize in mind.

"I want to win a national championship," Cravens said. "You can't be afraid of competition because then you're not going to win a national championship. If you're going somewhere because you want to play right away and not because the best talent is there then you're not going to be very successful in life.

"I want to go somewhere where great talent is around me that will help me get better, I'll help them get better and we can win a national championship."