Midwest targets: Top uncommitted prospects
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The Skinny: Bledsoe has had little interest in discussing his recruitment for the last several months, so exactly which direction this recruitment is headed is somewhat of a mystery. In August, Bledsoe released a top 10 that featured Kansas, Miami, Missouri, Nebraska, N.C. State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, TCU and UCLA. He took an official visit to Oregon this past weekend, but cancelled a planned official visit to UCLA earlier in the month.
If today were Signing Day ... With so many schools still under consideration it is hard to identify the top contender, but word is Bledsoe enjoyed his official visit to Oregon last weekend and the Ducks have a strong shot here.
3
LB
St. Clairsville, Ohio
The Skinny: Like Bledsoe, Ferns has stopped discussing his recruitment publicly. We do have a better feel for the top contenders here, though, and it looks like Penn State and West Virginia are going to battle this one out. How much longer the recruitment goes is tough to say. Ferns wanted to make his decision before the start of his senior season, but that obviously did not happen and according to those close to him there is no timetable for a decision right now.
If today were Signing day ... Ferns has visited West Virginia twice for games this season, and been to Morgantown four times in the last two months. He has not visited Penn State this season, so the most likely choice right now looks to be the Mountaineers.
4
DE
Cincinnati (Ohio) Hills Christian Academy
The Skinny: Sammons just returned from his first official visit this past weekend. He flew solo out to Oregon and enjoyed the trip, according to his father. Sammons connected with Bledsoe on that trip, and it sounds like the two Midwest prospects hit it off. Michigan State hosted Sammons unofficially earlier in September. Over the last year, he has made unofficial visits to schools throughout the country, but additional official visits likely will not be taken until November with a winter decision likely.
If today were Signing Day ... The buzz lately has been centered around strong academic schools such as Duke and Northwestern. Don't count out the hometown Cincinnati Bearcats, but Duke looks to be the most likely choice were Sammons to commit today.
5
DB
Olathe (Kan.) North
The Skinny: The high rate of early commitments in the region means we're already dipping into three-star territory to find the top five uncommitted Midwest prospects. Simmons has not narrowed his list of offers yet and no official visits have been scheduled. He plans to make a game visit to Nebraska on Oct. 10 and recently said that Illinois, Kansas, Louisville and Missouri were pursuing him the strongest. He will look to schedule official visits starting in the late fall with a decision not expected until the winter.
If today were Signing Day ... Originally hailing from Omaha, Simmons has connections to Nebraska. It does not appear Simmons has an idea in his own mind where he will go, but I like the Cornhuskers' chances in this one.
COMMITTED BUT STILL LOOKING
There are obviously many players already committed throughout the Midwest, although some are more committed than others. Here are two who still may take a look around before National Signing Day.
1
LB
Ann Arbor (Mich.) Skyline
The Skinny: Hayes committed to USC the summer before his junior season and still insists there is "nothing soft," about that commitment. However, the five-star linebacker did take an unofficial visit to Notre Dame for the Fighting Irish's season opener and has planned a return official visit to South Bend for the weekend of Oct. 16. Hayes has discussed potential visits to schools such as Michigan State and Ole Miss, but nothing more has come of those plans yet.
If today were Signing Day ... Hayes is a mid-year enrollee so we will not have to wait until National Signing Day to find out his destination. He has already signed a grant-in-aid form with USC, but in the end I think he ends up at Notre Dame.
2
CB
Detroit (Mich.) King
The Skinny: Hill has shown up on our commitments to watch lists for the last several months because the Penn State verbal continues to visit other schools. So far this season he has taken unofficial game visits to both Michigan and Michigan State. Visits to USC, UCLA and Tennessee have also been discussed for this fall, but there has been no word on if any of those dates have been scheduled. Hill has scheduled his official visit to Penn State for the weekend of Nov. 20.
If today were Signing Day ... The likely conclusion here is that Penn State retains Hill through National Signing Day. Watch what his teammate, Corley, does, though. The teammates are very close and if Corley picks a school that is also recruiting Hill, that situation could become very interesting.
Josh Helmholdt
Midwest Recruiting Analyst