West Spotlight: Five biggest April visits

CLASS OF 2019 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | State | Position | Team

A lot of the top West prospects are waiting to take official visits into their senior seasons, but that does not mean they haven’t been on the road taking unofficial trips. Here is a look at five of the most important visits so far this spring from the West region.

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The five-star defensive end and top-rated prospect in the state of California visited Alabama a few weekends ago and said after it that the Crimson Tide was the team to beat. He absolutely loved everything about his trip to Tuscaloosa and Alabama is right at the top. However, Thibodeaux hit the road the following weekend to Florida State and had another excellent trip, so the Seminoles have been climbing up the ranks as well.

The Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian standout was at Oregon for the Ducks' spring game and had another good trip, but the feeling is that Alabama and Florida State made bigger strides in recent weeks. LSU is still there and USC is not going to go down easily so Thibodeaux’s recruitment stays in flux with some of those teams as standouts. After that ‘Bama trip, though, the Crimson Tide set the bar high.

Another five-star who has been on the road recently is Steele, the best cornerback in the West and second overall at his position. The Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco recruit had an outstanding visit to Oklahoma recently and with Brendan Radley-Hiles already in Norman, that could help Steele make his decision. The five-star cornerback is serious about getting developed in college in hopes of an NFL future and that’s one big reason why he visited LSU this past weekend. The trip was excellent and the Tigers are right in the hunt.

It is no secret Steele has a ton of interest in Oregon - and he will make a return trip to Eugene this weekend, which could prove huge in his recruitment - and USC is right in the mix as well. There is a good chance Steele ends up in the Pac-12 with the Trojans and the Ducks both being possible destinations but if he leaves the conference then Oklahoma and LSU could have the edge.

The five-star athlete will be taking an important visit to Texas this weekend. McCoy has been talking a lot with the Longhorns’ coaching staff and he’s been highly interested in the Big 12 program for a long time. If he loves Austin and loves what Texas has to offer, then the Longhorns could move even higher on his list.

Oklahoma, Ohio State and some others remain serious contenders, but USC has to be considered the clear front-runner in his recruitment. He spends a lot of time around the program, a bunch of top Mater Dei prospects end up playing for the Trojans and that coaching staff has been coming after the two-way standout in a big way.

Ngata’s recruitment is a lot different than a lot of others in this story because the four-star receiver does not talk much - and when he does, he doesn’t give a lot away in terms of favorites.

A recent visit to Clemson could be telling though. The Folsom, Calif., standout had a phenomenal time with the Tigers and according to sources, he’s not only a top priority for coach Dabo Swinney and his staff but they feel pretty good about their chances with him.

Ngata has arguably the best junior film out of any receiver in the West, but because he doesn’t do many camps, nor does he play much 7-on-7, he’s not on the spring circuit like many other prospects. Washington and USC are two other main contenders for the four-star standout, but that visit to Clemson could put them over the hump later on.

Pittman grew up in the Tampa area since his father was playing for the Buccaneers and he grew up watching Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin and the Florida Gators. That’s why it was so important - and smart - for coach Dan Mullen to tell Pittman he would be used in a variety of ways (like Harvin) when the four-star receiver visited Gainesville recently.

Florida is definitely high on Pittman’s list, but others - including Georgia, and Nebraska - are still under serious consideration. The four-star from Calabasas, Calif., is taking visits, taking his time and will figure out his recruitment later on. But after a few visits to Florida, the Gators have to be considered the team to beat.