Naseir Upshur Sets Decision Date: Odds on Where 4-Star TE Lands

One of the nation’s premier tight ends in the 2016 class will come off the board on Sept. 1 when 4-star Philadelphia native Naseir Upshur plans to make his commitment.

The 6’2”, 233-pounder has narrowed his list of more than 40 offers down to a pair of finalists, and he will choose either Florida State or Michigan next week.

Both schools were able to receive visits from Upshur during the summer.

Which school has the edge for landing the nation’s No. 5 tight end and No. 152 prospect overall in the 2016 cycle?

Let’s take a look at the odds for each program heading into Upshur’s announcement.

Michigan 12-1

Considering new Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh and his history of using and developing tight ends in prior coaching stints in college and in the NFL, it makes sense that Upshur would be attracted to the idea of playing in his offense.

Upshur last visited Michigan in June, and he was able to spend some quality time with Harbaugh.

According to Steve Lorenz of Wolverine247, Upshur was impressed with the campus and the laid-back demeanor of Harbaugh.

"Coach [Harbaugh] took us all over on a big tour," Upshur told Lorenz. "By the end of the trip, I had really seen the whole city, and it wasn't what I expected. It was a lot different than I thought it was going to be, and I really liked it a lot. The tour and what campus was like was a pleasant surprise to me."

As Lorenz notes, Upshur nearly ended his recruitment with a pledge to the Wolverines following his visit to Ann Arbor. 

His skill set and versatility to play in multiple positions in Harbaugh's offense are two things that could help him find the field early in his career if Michigan is his choice.

Florida State 5-1

While Michigan was sitting in a good spot earlier in the spring and summer with Upshur, things between Florida State and Upshur were lukewarm in that period—mainly due to FSU holding a pledge from 5-star tight end Isaac Nauta.

However, when Nauta backed off that pledge last month, Upshur became the main target in the crosshairs of Seminoles tight ends coach Tim Brewster. 

Upshur visited Tallahassee earlier this month, and it was made clear to him that he’s a priority for the ‘Noles moving forward, according to Chris Nee of Noles247.

“They were telling me that they need a tight end,” Upshur mentioned to Nee. “They said I would fit in well. They showed me how they would use me. They talked to me about what they do with their tight ends. Coach Brewster was with me the entire time. I have talked to him a lot and it was good on the visit.”

Nee noted that Upshur left Tallahassee with a return trip already planned in the form of an official visit for the ‘Noles rivalry matchup against Miami on Oct. 10—which is the only official visit he’s scheduled up to this point.

Given that Upshur’s timeline has accelerated following his trip to FSU, it seems like the ‘Noles are trending with him heading into his announcement.

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.