NCAA: Florida, Georgia produce most D-I players per capita

The NCAA released research concerning which states see the highest percentage of their high school football players recruiting by Division I programs this week. Florida topped the list with a whopping 9.9 percent of high school football players being courted by DI programs. The full NCAA graphic, which notes the parameters for the research, can be seen below.

Rivals.com has taken a deep dive into the top six finishers and provided a snap shot of the 2018 recruiting picture in each state.

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Percentage of prep players recruited to DI schools (according to NCAA): 9.9%

Number of 2018 prospects with Power Five offers (according to the Rivals database): 253

Number of committed 2018 prospects: 55

Colleges with the most verbal commitments from 2018 prospects: Miami (15), Florida State (7), Florida (4), Louisville (4),

Highest ranked 2018 prospect: Defensive back Patrick Surtain (uncommitted)

Reputation: Florida is known for producing speed and the state is universally praised as one of the top high school football states in the union. The traditional knocks on the Sunshine State concern a lack of quarterbacks, but that reputation is starting to change. It’s also worth noting that a Florida-based school has not landed the state’s No. 1 prospect since 2014.

Percentage of prep players recruited to DI schools (according to NCAA): 8.6%

Number of 2018 prospects with Power Five offers (according to the Rivals database): 131

Number of committed 2018 prospects: 28

Colleges with the most verbal commitments from 2018 prospects: Minnesota (4), Michigan (3), Clemson (2), Duke (2), Florida State (2).

Highest ranked 2018 prospect: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence (Clemson)

Reputation: Georgia is currently earning a reputation as a quarterback breeding ground to challenge California. The amount of top talent produced in Georgia each year continues to increase, as the Peach State pushes its way to front table of high school football.

Percentage of prep players recruited to DI schools (according to NCAA): 8.1%

Number of 2018 prospects with Power Five offers (according to the Rivals database): 64

Number of committed 2018 prospects: 16

Colleges with the most verbal commitments from 2018 prospects: LSU (7), Kansas (4)

Highest ranked 2018 prospect: Wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. (uncommitted)

Reputation: Louisianan’s main reputation concerns LSU’s ability to jeep in state talent within the borders. The Tigers’ coaching change has made things on that front more difficult, as more players than ever seem to be looking elsewhere this cycle but that could change drastically in the months ahead.

Percentage of prep players recruited to DI schools (according to NCAA): 7.2%

Number of 2018 prospects with Power Five offers (according to the Rivals database): 13

Number of committed 2018 prospects: 0

Colleges with the most verbal commitments from 2018 prospects: N/A

Highest ranked 2018 prospect: Mychale Salahuddin (uncommitted)

Reputation: For an area with relatively few high schools, Washington D.C. pumps out a solid number of top-flight prospects each cycle. Because of its geographic location, a number of major colleges have found success recruiting the area. The total number of recruits is limited. Then, so is the population. Nobody will mistake D.C. for a particularly fertile recruiting ground when it come sot football. This is basketball country.

Percentage of prep players recruited to DI schools (according to NCAA): 6.5%

Number of 2018 prospects with Power Five offers (according to the Rivals database): 31

Number of committed 2018 prospects: 3

Colleges with the most verbal commitments from 2018 prospects: Maryland (1), Virginia (1), Virginia Tech (1).

Highest ranked 2018 prospect: Cornerback AJ Lytton (uncommitted)

Reputation: Maryland has its ups and downs as a recruiting ground. The in-state program has come on as a regional recruiting power in recent years, but schools from the ACC and Big Ten still poach the state’s talent semi-regularly.

Percentage of prep players recruited to DI schools (according to NCAA): 6.2%

Number of 2018 prospects with Power Five offers (according to the Rivals database): 39

Number of committed 2018 prospects: 11

Colleges with the most verbal commitments from 2018 prospects: Tennessee (4)

Highest ranked 2018 prospect: Offensive tackle Cade Mays (Tennessee)

Reputation: Tennessee is seen as another state with a recent surge of talent. Its rise has been recent and it shows no signs of slowing. This promises to be one of the best years for Tennessee-based high school football talent in recent history. Should Tennessee, and even Vanderbilt, find a way to benefit from the trend, each should see boosts in the coming years.