High School football seasons have started throughout the Midwest, so it is time to look at four more top prospects across the region and identify which schools are sitting in the best position in those recruitments.
The Situation: Thomas has been hesitant to name any favorites and he does not have any official visits scheduled. What he does have is an offer list of nearly three dozen schools and the option to enroll early. That means a lot of recruiting is left and a shortened amount of time in which it will be accomplished.
The Frontrunner: Michigan
After a rough start to this recruitment, Michigan has rallied and is now considered the team to beat, if there is such a thing, for Thomas. The key to Michigan’s resurgence has been the developing relationship between the Detroit native and defensive coordinator Don Brown.
The Other Option: Michigan State
If Michigan is not the team to beat, then Michigan State is. In fact, the Spartans were the team most had in that spot until just recently. The relationships for Thomas are strong in East Lansing, including his former teammate Donnie Corley, who is a freshman for the Spartans this fall. No team recruits Detroit as well as Michigan State right now, and they should probably be considered 1b to Michigan’s 1a at this stage.
But Don’t Count Out: Florida
Thomas made his first visit to Gainesville in July, and was so impressed that he recently noted Florida is the only school he decided on preseason that would definitely receive an official visit. While overcoming the local pressure of the in-state programs will be difficult, the Gators have landed a state of Michigan prospect in three of the last six classes, so there is a precedent there.
The Situation: Jones proved to be a decisive young man when he came out with a solid top five two months before his junior season had even started. That top five consisted of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Northwestern. With his list already pared down, it is likely his college selection will be made early as well.
The Frontrunner: Notre Dame
Jones went out to Notre Dame’s Irish Invasion Camp in June and put on an impressive showing that yielded an offer from the Fighting Irish. Their inclusion in his top five after that offer was a given, then, because of their proximity to his Chicagoland home and the respect he has expressed for the program throughout his recruitment. This definitely feels like Notre Dame’s recruitment to lose at this point.
The Other Option: Michigan State
The Chicagoland area is always a difficult one for teams to consistently recruit well, but the Spartans have found a way over the last few classes. Jones’ first experiences in East Lansing further endeared him to the campus and the program after growing up following the Spartans closely.
But Don’t Count Out: Illinois
Lovie Smith has served notice early in his tenure at Illinois that the Fighting Illini are putting a premium on in-state talent. The former NFL head coach is also showing he can attract top talent, landing top prospects from St. Louis and going down to Miami to reel in four-star Carmoni Green. The appeal of representing the home-state school exists for a lot of kids, and combined with Illinois’ current recruiting momentum, it should not be counted out.
The Situation: Irving-Bey’s stock skyrocketed this off-season as he was able to get out and test himself against other FBS prospects. He passed those test with flying colors and accumulated a healthy list of offers from top schools in-region and several from out-of-region. Irvinig-Bey plans to take several official visits this fall before making his college selection in December.
The Frontrunner: Michigan State
The Flint pipeline is best known for sending basketball players to East Lansing, but the Spartans' football program has culled top talent from the city regularly over the years as well. With Irving-Bey, they got in early and made a huge impression, eliciting strong emotions from the state’s No. 9 ranked prospect with their offer. The relationship has only grown since then and you have to look at the Spartans as the team to beat here.
The Other Option: Michigan
Irving-Bey has been forthcoming about he and his family being Michigan fans prior to starting the recruiting process. The Wolverines got in on the Flint native later than their in-state Big Ten counterparts, however, and Irving-Bey has made his only visits to Ann Arbor as a recruit in the last month. Their chances likely increase after losing a defensive line commit recently, but they have work to do to catch the Spartans.
But Don’t Count Out: Maryland
Tennessee is another possibility for this section, as Irving-Bey plans to take an official visit to Knoxville in October. However, he has already visited the Terrapins and liked it so much he is planning a return trip this fall for an official visit. His stop in College Park was part of an East Coast trip Irving-Bey took this summer, and he was impressed with their coaching staff and facilities.
The Situation: Babb is coming off an outstanding weekend performance that saw him catch two touchdown passes and record two interceptions on defense. He boasts an offer list of 16 schools, but has indicated no urgency in making his college selection. Several college game visits are planned for this upcoming fall, but Babb plans to take his recruitment into senior season so he can take official visits.
The Frontrunner: Ohio State
With 16 offers to his credit already, Babb is going to have his pick of schools when decision time comes. There are some offers, though, that have elicited a certain level of awe from the Rivals100 prospect, and Ohio State is certainly in that group. The Ezekiel Elliott-St. Louis connection definitely comes into play here for the Buckeyes, and Babb plans to be back on campus for a game in November.
The Other Option: Michigan State
Like Ohio State, Michigan State was an offer that obviously resonated with Babb. The Spartans' success over the last few seasons did not go unnoticed by the St. Louis product, and his visit to their campus this summer further endeared him to the program. There is no connection like the Elliott-Ohio State one here, but Michigan State has plenty of time to develop a relationship that puts them on top.
But Don’t Count Out: Nebraska
The St. Louis area is stocked with talent in the 2018 class, and Nebraska was one of the first teams to recognize that. The Cornhuskers were the first to offer Babb and have done nothing to hurt their standing in his recruitment since. Look for the four-star to make a game visit to Lincoln this fall, possibly with his acquaintance and fellow Missourian Jaevon McQuitty, a four-star Nebraska commit in the 2017 class.
