4-Star RB Anthony McFarland Jr. Talks Top Contenders as He Prepares to Trim List

Elite Maryland athlete Anthony McFarland Jr. intends to keep college football fans guessing until February.

The DeMatha Catholic High School junior—among America's most versatile offensive recruits—told Bleacher Report he doesn't expect to announce any commitment plans until national signing day. His motivation is to avoid uncertainty that often encounters many long-term pledges when programs undergo major alterations as winter arrives.

"With the coaching changes that happen after the season, you just never know. So I want to wait until the last minute," he said.

That doesn't mean McFarland, rated No. 3 nationally among all-purpose backs in 247Sports' composite rankings, won't provide hints of his thought process along the way. He plans to trim an expansive collection of scholarship offers to 15 options before next season, perhaps as soon as late spring.

Several programs have invested significant time into the pursuit of this 4-star prospect, who picked up his first offer from Florida State as a freshman. He held 20 scholarship opportunities by the end of a scintillating sophomore year that saw him tally over 1,400 offensive yards and 12 touchdowns, according to Tyler James of the South Bend Tribune.

"It's been a long process and stressful at times, but the important thing is to remember how many other players would want to be in this position," McFarland said.

Things won't calm down for the 5'9", 189-pound playmaker until he puts pen to paper and officially sends a national letter of intent to the university of his choice. Attention from coaches, fans and media alike are sure to intensify as a highly anticipated senior season approaches. 

McFarland, sorting through dozens of collegiate possibilities, is steadily building a list of legitimate contenders. He's implementing some pivotal criteria while assessing each possible landing spot.

"I'm looking for a team that doesn't just want me. I'm looking for a team that needs me," McFarland said. "And it's more than just football because the institution is very important. I want to be at a school that's similar to [DeMatha Catholic] with extra academic support. Education comes first and my parents have always preached that."

While checking off those boxes, he's concluded that a few schools are firm bets to appear in his upcoming group of favorites. McFarland mentioned Alabama, Florida, Maryland, Miami, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas A&M as programs on solid ground.

"Those are schools that basically sealed the deal for my list," he said.

"

❤️enjoyed my time at the U! #GOCANES pic.twitter.com/OgA0hEJD9P

— MaccⓂ️ (@AnttMacc_) April 1, 2016"

Among those teams, three underwent sweeping coaching staff changes this offseason. The nearby Terrapins have targeted McFarland as a top priority since the early stages of his recruitment, an effort that continues to increase under first-year head coach D.J. Durkin.

"Maryland's new staff has shown me so much love,", said McFarland, who is also being pulled toward College Park by 4-star Terps quarterback commit Kasim Hill.

South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp didn't waste time in his attempts to attract attention from the Mid-Atlantic standout. McFarland was an early point of emphasis for the new Gamecocks regime.

"South Carolina has become very big in my recruitment," McFarland said. "As soon as [Muschamp] was there, he and running backs coach Bobby Bentley showed me they want me and need me."

Miami head coach Mark Richt built a strong rapport with McFarland during late stages of his tenure at Georgia and carries that relationship to Coral Gables, where former Bulldogs running backs coach Thomas Brown now serves on the Hurricanes staff.

Despite their exodus from Athens, he still identifies Georgia as a key program of interest. 

"I had a great relationship with Mark Richt when he was there," McFarland said. "But after he left, Georgia did a great job making sure they still had a connection with me, making me feel like I'm one of the most important recruits they want."

He hopes to visit the Bulldogs, along with several squads, before next season. Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee and Oklahoma are also among schools that could soon welcome him to campus.

"It's definitely going to be a busy summer for me." McFarland said.

The Crimson Tide have stockpiled talent in the offensive backfield and currently carry a commitment from 5-star running back Najee Harris. McFarland tries not to pay too much attention to the presence of other players in a program's offensive plans.

"I never like to shy away from competition, so that means going against the best," he said. "If you want to play this game at the highest level, that's what you have to do. If I want to commit to a school, that's where I'm going no matter what the depth chart looks like."

Much of McFarland's confident demeanor can also be attributed to his versatility.

"I see myself in a big role—playing out at wide receiver, moving into the slot, carrying the ball at running back," he said. "I just want to be valuable to a team and do everything we need. That's how I can get on the field faster and that's why I don't care about depth charts. There's not a lot of guys who have my versatility to play in all those different spots."

He showed off that array of talent in 2015. McFarland racked up 723 rushing yards, 675 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns, according to Brandon Parker of the Washington Post.

His skills as a pass-catcher shined Sunday at The Opening's Washington, D.C., regional, where he ran routes with receivers. The performance punched McFarland's ticket to The Opening finals, an invite-only July showcase held at Nike's world headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon.

Quotes obtained firsthand by Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analyst Tyler Donohue. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Tyler via Twitter: @TDsTake.