To the wire: Latest news on No. 1 Rashan Gary

College football recruiting's biggest fish for 2016 is still waiting to be hooked, and there are multiple schools still in the mix.

Defensive tackle Rashan Gary of Paramus (N.J.) Paramus Catholic is taking his final official visit to Clemson this weekend. Then the player who joined the ranks of Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin and Jadeveon Clowney as a No. 1 overall prospect rated by Rivals.com will make his decision and announce on National Signing Day on Feb. 3.

The five contenders for Gary -- Auburn, Clemson, Ole Miss, USC and Michigan -- may be joined late in the process by national champion Alabama. Here is the latest on each school from sources well-connected with Gary.

Auburn

Gary took a lot of visits to Auburn and built a strong relationship with former defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. The system and playing style really appealed to Gary and his family. Auburn was set up well to meet Gary academic needs and his friendships with players like Byron Cowart were also working in Auburn’s favor. After his official visit for the Iron Bowl, it looked like the Tigers were in great shape to possibly get Gary’s commitment, but it all fell apart when Muschamp was hired by South Carolina to be head coach. Gary and his family were under the impression Muschamp wasn’t going to leave Auburn, so that move caught them off guard. That move left a lasting impression on Gary and his family and affected his recruitment from that day forward.

Clemson

Clemson has a proven track record of recruiting top-flight defensive linemen, so Gary’s interest seemed only natural. He has family that lives a stone’s throw from campus and really likes the people, players and coaches. Brent Venables and the defensive staff have done a tremendous job of making it clear that Gary should be a Clemson Tiger. Two things concern Gary and his family as they head into their final official visit.

The first is whether or not the coaching staff is stable. There is some concern that one of the defensive coaches could leave for another job. The second concern is playing time. Former five-star Christian Wilkins had a breakout freshman season and Clemson also has a commitment from this year’s Rivals100 No. 2 prospect Dexter Lawrence, a defensive tackle from North Carolina. The way the Clemson staff responds to those questions will go a long way to determining if they have a real shot at landing Gary’s commitment and making sure this last official visit isn’t just a glorified trip to see family.

Ole Miss

With one week until Signing Day, Ole Miss will have a lot of people watching to see how it closes out this recruiting cycle. Gary took a handful of visits to Oxford and has a strong relationship with Rebels' defensive line coach Chris Kiffin. The defensive scheme and the hype surrounding the “Landshark” defense really appeals to Gary. He took an official visit in November and the general feel of the program was something Gary and his family questioned. A reported incident with a security officer didn’t help the Rebels either. It is unlikely they land his commitment on National Signing Day.

USC

Most people laughed off Gary’s official visit to USC as a free trip to Los Angeles, but the Trojans quietly became a major contender for Gary. The family loved its official visit earlier this month. The academic presentation and sessions with current players and coaches all went very well.

Two things are really hindering the Trojans. They only hired a defensive coordinator a few days before Gary’s official visit on Jan. 15 and just hired a defensive line coach Tuesday. Gary and his family do not have a good understanding of USC's plans for Gary because they haven’t had much time to talk. The second issue is distance. It isn’t easy or cheap to get home when necessary and that’s troubling the family. All that considered, a few people close to Gary believe USC has the second best shot at getting his commitment. That could change after this weekend’s official visit to Clemson.

Michigan

The Wolverines have been the favorite for a long time and for good reason. Gary’s former high school coach Chris Partridge is on the staff as the linebackers coach, he knows dozens of players on the team and in the recruiting class, and Gary and his family feel comfortable on campus and in that environment. The defensive scheme is something Gary really likes and he sees how much of an impact he can have.

If Gary commits to Michigan on National Signing Day, which will happen in all likelihood, Wolverine fans should thank the families of current players and commits. They have made Gary and his family feel like they can rely on them for nearly anything. Yes, the coaches have done a good job recruiting him, but what happened with Muschamp is still fresh in their mind. The Gary family doesn't want to rely on a coach and trust a coach, only to have him leave. Gary and his family have put their trust in the big network of families of current and future players.

National Signing Day is still a week away and there are some things that Gary has left to do before making his final decision. Clemson’s last chance to win over Gary and his family is this weekend and there is a chance Alabama will get to meet with them on Thursday evening.

At this point all signs point to Michigan. Will that change after the weekend?