Three-Point Stance: OL recruiting, DT rankings, big visits

Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney takes a look at offensive line recruiting nationally, how there's movement on the way with the defensive tackle rankings and five visits this weekend that particularly stand out to him.

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After doing some homework and scanning through the top lists of offensive linemen in the 2023 class, there is a very good chance nearly all of them end up playing in the SEC or the Big Ten.

If I had to make a prediction today, five-star Kadyn Proctor goes to Iowa, four-star Francis Mauigoa is a wild card and could end up back West but SEC programs including Florida and especially Tennessee are making a big run at him and then Luke Montgomery and Johnathan Hughley are committed to Ohio State and Georgia, respectively.

The one potential outlier among the top-rated offensive tackles is Cayden Green as the Lee’s Summit (Mo.) Lee’s Summit North standout looks to have Oklahoma on top.

It’s the same story at offensive guard and offensive center. Penn State commit Alex Birchmeier and Ohio State pledge Joshua Padilla already look locked in to the Big Ten and then Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco Prep’s Chase Bisontis could head to that conference as well. Five-star TJ Shanahan Jr. looks destined for the SEC as does four-star Madden Sanker from Douglasville (Ga.) South Paulding.

At center, Bradyn Joiner is already committed to Auburn and Dylan Senda has already picked Northwestern with Penn State being a top program for Florence (Ala.) Mars Hill Bible School’s Koby Keenum.

That leaves the ACC on the outside looking in for top offensive linemen, the Big 12 maybe getting one or two players and then the Pac-12 being left out except for possibly Mauigoa as that conference continues to deal with lackluster offensive line play.

Defensive tackle is not one of the strongest groups in the 2023 rankings but after the Rivals Camp Series in Charlotte there is one player who could really see a massive move in the next round of rankings that should come in the early summer.

As I scroll through the defensive tackle rankings, I see Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley’s Jamaal Jarrett all the way down at No. 19. He’s absolutely moving up and there could be an argument that he should be closer to the top than where he currently is and could even push for one of the top spots in the position rankings.

Many of the others haven’t done much ahead of him which makes moving Jarrett so high a little more difficult but he is massive, has little bad weight, moves well and is so much more physical and dominant than he was just a year ago. A former teammate of five-star Travis Shaw, who signed with North Carolina last recruiting cycle, it looks like Georgia could have the edge for Jarrett but the Tar Heels and others continue to battle.

Looking down the list, I don’t know how many defensive tackles I would take over Jarrett right now.

Dante Moore - LSU: As Moore’s recruitment continues, there is a sense that the five-star quarterback is warming up more to the Tigers especially because he has a previous relationship with coach Brian Kelly. This weekend could be huge as the five-star thinks about playing in Baton Rouge. Notre Dame still feels like the frontrunner but Michigan, Michigan State and others are in play as well. This trip could change things so it’s a very important weekend.

Carnell Tate - LSU: Some believe there is very little chance Tate ends up in Baton Rouge but does that change if the Tigers become the leader for Moore? Playing together could be a serious consideration and while Ohio State, Tennessee and Notre Dame look best for Tate, things could get interesting if the five-star receiver really likes it in Baton Rouge.

Jaden Rashada - Ole Miss: The quarterback puzzle pieces have been more intriguing this recruiting cycle than in most mainly because five-star quarterback Arch Manning’s decision will have a significant impact on other teams and players down the line but Rashada is figuring this thing out for himself. Miami has been a school that left a huge impression but so has Ole Miss and the Northern California prospect will be in Oxford this weekend to see what coach Lane Kiffin is thinking.

Keon Keeley - Notre Dame: The five-star defensive end from Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep has been committed to the Irish since last summer and he’s back on campus this weekend, an important next step to get to know coach Marcus Freeman better and get more comfortable in South Bend. Especially since Alabama and other SEC powerhouses are trying to flip him and keep him closer to home, this visit for Keeley - and for Notre Dame - is really important.

Jayden Wayne - Oregon: The SEC powers have laid it out for the five-star defensive end as Wayne has loved recent visits to Alabama, Georgia and LSU. Now it will be time for coach Dan Lanning and defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi, who have the bona fides as well in college and in the NFL, to convince the Tacoma (Wash.) Lincoln prospect to stay closer to home. Will the idea of being the next Kayvon Thibodeaux be sold on him this weekend?