Midwest Army prospects starting to close in on college decisions
SAN ANTONIO, Tex. -– The Midwest is well-represented this week at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, including four prospects who remain uncommitted. Here is the latest on the recruitments of those four prospects.
WR Donnie Corley, Detroit (Mich.) King
Latest: Corley just finished an online English class and is eligible to graduate high school and enroll in college early. The Rivals100 prospect is set to announce his commitment during the Army Bowl telecast. The four hats on the table will be for Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Tennessee. He has officially visited all but Michigan, and received head coach in-home visits from all but Michigan State.
In his words: “I decided probably a week ago (to announce). I am trying to make up my mind here and I am down to a few schools. I am going to talk to my parents about it and make a decision.”
Prediction: Michigan State. Corley called Ohio State his best official visit of the process, and there is no doubt he has a strong vibe with Tennessee, but Michigan State has been the team to beat since the summer and the timing works right for them.
OT Matt Farniok, Sioux Falls (S.D.) Washington
Latest: Even though he lives in lightly-recruited South Dakota, Farniok drew scholarship offers from each of the Power Five conferences. In recent months, though, the three-star has narrowed his choices down to three Big Ten programs –- Iowa, Michigan State and Nebraska. He took his first official visit of the process last month to Nebraska and has official visits scheduled to Iowa and Michigan State in January.
In his words: “I’ve locked into this top three and just want to keep looking (at those schools), keep talking to those coaches and make my decision.”
Prediction: Nebraska. Michigan State is more of a new entrant in this race, but Iowa and Nebraska have been favorites for a long time. Sioux Falls is a Cornhusker town and the pull to Lincoln is strong there.
LB Brendan Ferns, St. Clairsville, Ohio
Latest: Ferns has had the same top two of Penn State and West Virginia since the end of the summer. He had originally planned to make a commitment prior to his senior season, but now that choice is not expected until National Signing Day. Official visits have been scheduled, and he will travel to West Virginia on Jan. 15 and Penn State the weekend of Jan. 29. Ferns wants to major in Petroleum Engineering and both schools offer that degree.
In his words: “At this point, I’m very comfortable with either decision I make. I am hoping other (recruits) are there the same weekends I am there. I want to make sure the guys that surround me are guys I want to spend the next four years with.”
Prediction: Penn State. This decision is undoubtedly going down to the wire. Ferns’ brother is at West Virginia, so that connection is in place. Brendan, though, has always proved to be a unique individual throughout this process and at the end I see him forging his own path.
CB Lavert Hill, Detroit (Mich.) King
Latest: Hill had toyed with the idea of announcing his commitment at the Army Bowl with his teammate, Corley, but his mother vetoed those plans. Official visits have already been taken to Tennessee and Michigan. He will take his final three official visits to USC on Jan. 15, Michigan State on Jan. 22 and Clemson on Jan 29. There has long been speculation that Hill and Corley would end up at the same school, but Hill said this week that was not necessarily the plan.
In his words: “I am just trying to get a good relationship with the coaches and see how the colleges are.”
Prediction: Michigan. If Corley picks Michigan State, that will certainly give the Spartans added momentum. But, Hill’s brother plays safety for the Wolverines, so a connection is already in place in Ann Arbor. If he clicks with new defensive coordinator Don Brown, I like the Wolverines here.