Midwest Region: Recruiting Four-Cast
August tends to see a wave of commitments as prospects who want to focus on their final high school seasons erase the pressure and distraction of recruiting. Several prospects in the Midwest are candidates for August commitments, while others look to take their recruitment into the season. Here are predictions on four prominent Midwesterners.
The Situation: Thomas started out his recruitment like another former East St. Louis Rivals100 prospect, current Missouri defensive lineman Terry Beckner, in that he basically did not take an active role in the process and did not plan to decide on a college until National Signing Day. That changed in just the last few months, with Thomas making a few unofficial visits and a pre-season decision is now possible.
The Frontrunner: Alabama
Thomas and his East St. Louis teammates made their way to Alabama for a 7-on-7 camp in June and what I have heard is the Rivals100 prospect gave thought to making a commitment to the Crimson Tide. They remain the team to beat in this recruitment and the only school I could see him committing to before his senior season.
The Other Option: Missouri
If Thomas’ recruitment lasts beyond the summer, the chances for Missouri to be the ultimate recipient of his commitment greatly increase. Besides being close to home, they have several of his former teammates on the roster and recently offered one of his closest friends, quarterback Reyondous Estes.
But Don’t Count Out: Florida State
Florida State assistant coach Tim Brewster has made strong inroads at East St. Louis over the years and the Seminoles are bound to land one of the Flyers' top recruits in the near future. Will Thomas be the one to beat a path from East St. Louis to Tallahassee? It does not look likely, but Florida State is among his favorites and cannot be counted out.
Monday, 12:30 pm UPDATE: James Hudson Goes Blue
The Situation: Hudson originally committed to Kentucky prior to his junior season, and maintained that commitment for nearly 10 months before re-opening his recruitment in May. A top 10 followed soon after, but Hudson pared that list even further early this month in naming Michigan and Michigan State his top two. He now plans to announce Monday, Aug. 8.
The Frontrunner: Michigan
Hudson announced his plans to announce a decision on Monday while he was in Ann Arbor, attending the Wolverines' BBQ at the Big House. That immediately generated a wave of assumptions that Michigan would be his choice, but the next 36 hours presented tea leaves that were read several ways by different folks. This is far from certain, but I'll project Michigan.
The Other Option: Michigan State
In the first draft of this article Michigan State was the team I had down as the frontrunner, and that definitely was the way this recruitment was headed before Hudson made the most recent visit to Michigan. There is no doubt Hudson clicked with the Spartans throughout this recruitment, and it is a nip-and-tuck battle between the two Great Lakes State Big Ten rivals.
But Don’t Count Out: Kentucky
Even after his decommitment, Hudson listed the Wildcats as part of his top 10. He maintains strong relationships with several of Kentucky’s class of 2017 commits and the reasons for his decommitment were not impossible to overcome. At this point, though, it looks to be a two-team race for the Rivals250 defensive lineman.
The Situation: Harris pared his list of scholarship offers down to a final five last week, listing Alabama, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State and Tennessee as the remaining contenders. A preseason decision is possible but in a perfect world the four-star wide receiver would like to take at least a couple of his official visits.
The Frontrunner: Ohio State
Harris has made no bones about it since the beginning of his recruitment: Ohio State is his dream school. However, the four-star in-state wide receiver has not pulled the trigger on a commitment yet and the time to do so may be running out. The Buckeyes are the presumed leaders for Rivals100 receivers Trevon Grimes and Tyjon Lindsey, and both could be committed by month’s end.
The Other Option: Michigan State
If Ohio State fills their quota at wide receiver before Harris makes his decision, Michigan State would become the team to beat. The Cleveland-area prospect has visited the Spartans most of any school outside of Ohio State and they have put the full-court press on the Rivals250 wide receiver throughout this recruitment.
But Don’t Count Out: Alabama
Even before he made a visit to Tuscaloosa in July, Harris said other schools felt the need to recruit against Alabama for his services. The big wide receiver appreciates the tradition and winning history the Crimson Tide have built, and now that he has seen their campus in-person, his comfort level with the program is stronger.
The Situation: Compared with the upperclass prospects in this list, Gill has 18 months before he will be signing a letter of intent and the chances for upheavel is greater. Gill originally planned to make his college selection early in his junior year, but has since amended that plan and expects his recruitment to go into senior year, with official visits likely.
The Frontrunner: Ohio State
Despite his regular insistence to the contrary, Ohio State is far and away the team to beat for Gill and has been since the start of his recruitment. The Buckeyes are not taking this for granted, however, and maintain a strong and consistent relationship with the local product. This recruitment may officially go on another year, but predicting any team but Ohio State as victors is not prudent.
The Other Option: Penn State
James Franklin and his staff have not been discouraged by the strong case made for Ohio State in this recruitment, and have put the full-court press on Gill. Assistant coach Terry Smith, in particular, has developed a good bond with the Ohio native and the two talk twice weekly.
But Don’t Count Out: Tennessee
Gill has already made a couple trips down to Knoxville during the course of his recruitment, and built relationships with some of their commits and top targets, particularly 2018 offensive line commit Cade Mays. The fit for Gill looks to be a good one, and a lengthy recruitment could give the Volunteers time to build their case for his services.