Ranking the Contenders: Tony Grimes
Tony Grimes has been a big name in this recruiting class for a long time, and the five-star is getting ready to narrow down his choices. There were going to be a lot of visits for Grimes in the spring and summer, but he was only able to visit Georgia and Penn State before the recruiting dead period started. A visit to Clemson in January had to be rescheduled, and it has not been reset yet. Grimes has said in the past that Georgia, Clemson, Texas A&M and Penn State were going to get official visits, but that list is still fluid.
There are more than just these six teams involved in Grimes’ recruitment, and he’s not announcing a commitment until early December so there is plenty of time for movement in his top group.
MORE: Three-Point Stance on Big Ten, 2022 class, Week 1 games
CLASS OF 2020 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
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1. Georgia
The Dawgs hit it out of the park when they hosted Grimes earlier this year. His skill set fits Georgia’s defense well and Kirby Smart really impressed Grimes and his family. He is familiar with a lot of the current players at Georgia and some of their top targets in the 2021 recruiting class have gotten close with Grimes. The Dawgs would love to get another five-star cornerback in this class after getting five-star Kelee Ringo in the previous recruiting class.
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2. Ohio State
Ryan Day and his squad have been on a hot streak lately, and they have momentum in Grimes’ recruitment, too. Defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs has made Grimes a priority and the two are really clicking. Grimes has a strong connection to Ohio State in current Buckeyes linebacker Teradja Mitchell. The five-star cornerback was really excited to visit Ohio State, but those plans are on hold.
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3. North Carolina
The Tar Heels are also doing a great job on the recruiting trail and that is something Grimes has noticed. North Carolina defensive backs coach Dre Bly is from the same area as Grimes and he is using all of his connections to try to create more positive momentum with the coveted prospect. How the Tar Heels play this season could have a big impact on their standing with Grimes.
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4. Penn State
Every time Grimes talks about Penn State he brings up defensive backs coach Terry Smith. The two are very close and they talk often, so it’s obvious Grimes would feel comfortable getting coached at Penn State. James Franklin and his staff will have the chance to host Grimes for an official visit later in the recruiting process, possibly for the White Out game. Good friend and current Penn State wide receiver KeAndre Lambert is also helping to recruit Grimes.
5. Texas A&M
The Aggies were the early leader for Grimes because of his relationship with Jimbo Fisher and former defensive backs coach Maurice Linguist. Fisher’s experience and relationships in Virginia Beach from back when he heavily recruited that area while coaching at Florida State are paying major dividends with Grimes. New defensive backs coach TJ Rushing is working hard to get closer with Grimes, but it is proving to be difficult without getting him on campus for a visit.
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6. Virginia Tech
The Hokies are in this race, but there are a couple other teams that could have been slotted here. If Virginia Tech is able to get Grimes back on campus soon after the recruiting dead period ends and create some positive momentum, it should definitely help the Hokies stand out from the crowd. They had more of Grimes’ attention early in the process because of his relationships with the coaching staff, but those should heat up again when Grimes gets back to campus. Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia and USC could have all been listed pretty much tied for this spot.