Rivals 3 Stripe Camp St. Louis: Commitment predictions
The regional portion of the Rivals 3 Stripe Camp Series presented by adidas wrapped up on Sunday with a number of the Midwest’s best players turning out to compete. But in addition to on-field work, plenty of information was to be gleaned from off-field discussions with Rivals.com reporters in attendance. Today we wrap up our coverage of the event by making predictions on where the top participants will eventually land come National Signing Day.
MORE: Recruit predictions | Top performers: Offense | Defense | Underclassmen
The situation: Trout’s recruitment has steadily taken off over the past year and is at the point now where he has options all over the country. But many believe that nearby favorite Missouri has been the team to beat for quite some time, and other prospects echoed that sentiment when asked over the weekend. Oklahoma is believed to be a player as well, and Trout has said he intends on taking several visits this summer.
The pick: Missouri. Obviously the Tigers are going to have a fight on their hands, but with the school’s tradition of producing defensive linemen and the home-state advantage, it seems like a match destined to happen.
The situation: Thompson has seen his stock skyrocket this offseason as he continues to dominate elite competition at camp events. But despite his proven record on defense, several programs continue to recruit him to play offensive line, chief among them Nebraska. Thompson said he’s open to playing on offense, but several schools like Missouri, Illinois and Ohio State are selling him on defense and the chance to be an instant impact performer.
The pick: Missouri. Much like Trout, the Tigers will have a fight on their hands, but the two are close and are likely to stick together when it comes to making a college choice.
The situation: Since moving to IMG Academy, Griffith has had a chance to see his recruitment turn into a nationwide affair, with programs from the SEC to the Pac-12 all hoping for a chance to land his commitment. Florida State, Nebraska, Notre Dame and Ohio State are all heavily in the mix, and he’s planning on taking a number of visits this summer before trimming his list heading into the fall.
The pick: Notre Dame. Griffith seems like a good culture fit in South Bend and has spoken highly of the Irish on several occasions.
The situation: Babb wasn’t exactly babbling when it came to talking about which schools are standing out in his recruitment, and his resistance to disclose information might show just how far away he is from making a decision. Unlike most players of his rankings stature, Babb is still collecting offers. Oklahoma, which just entered the mix, might be a player until the end. In the meantime, Ohio State, Missouri and Nebraska are all major players as well.
The pick: Ohio State. The Buckeyes have made Babb a priority, and Urban Meyer’s track record of closing on wide receivers from out of state in recent years has been impressive.
The situation: After bursting onto the scene following his freshman season, King missed last year’s camp circuit with a variety of minor injuries and then spent the fall of 2016 playing quarterback for his high school team. Those factors slowed his recruitment some, but it’s been picking up in recent weeks with several Power Five programs joining his offer list. Once King has a chance to camp for schools at defensive back this summer, his list should only continue to grow.
The pick: Ole Miss. The Rebels were one of the first programs to offer and have the chance to provide King a quick path to playing time.
The situation: The Rivals250 linebacker moved from Tennessee to Kentucky last offseason and quickly became a target of both schools in the Bluegrass State. To date, Louisville seems to have made the best impression, hosting Dingle for several trips and also returning the favor in the spring. Georgia Tech recently entered the mix and shouldn’t be counted out, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see a few other programs extend offers this summer.
The pick: Louisville. The Cardinals' long-term focus on Dingle should pay off with his commitment.
