B/R Recruiting Notebook: 5-Star ATH Has Top 7, but 3 Standing Out

It's mid-June. Satellite camps are in full swing, and unofficial visits to campus are trending.

Additionally, more and more verbal commitments are being made. Look for that trend to continue as the summer progresses. Plus, June will be loaded with ever-changing recruiting news.

Here are the latest updates from some of the nation's top 2017 targets.

3 of top 7 stand out for 5-star ATH Stevens

When Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 5-star athlete Jacoby Stevens announced his top seven schools late May, he was hoping to eventually find something to help separate a leader and to simplify his recruitment.

Stevens, the nation's top-ranked athlete in the 2017 class, said three schools so far have emerged as front-runners in his process—Clemson, Auburn and LSU. Stevens said those three schools "have been the most interested in me" but also added that there's still plenty of time for things to change in his recruiting race.

"With Auburn, I feel like Coach [Gus] Malzahn is turning things around," Stevens said. "They pulled in one of the best DTs in the country [Derrick Brown], and they're getting ready for a big run. Adding Coach [Wesley] McGriff from the Saints was a great move. He'd be a good DBs coach for me if I choose to go to Auburn."

Stevens continued, "LSU is a school that I've always loved. I like the family there, and I like what Coach [Les] Miles and Coach [Corey] Raymond are doing. Their recruiting classes are always amazing. They're always shooting for championship runs and dynasties. There's a special feeling and a special vibe in Baton Rouge."

Stevens said he is planning summer visits to LSU and Alabama. A Clemson trip will also be a part of his summer rotation.

"It's the excitement of the program," Stevens said of Clemson. "Coach [Mike] Reed is really coaching up the DBs. He and coach [Dabo] Swinney are helping to make that program very exciting. I like where they're going with everything."

While Stevens has his current three to watch, he added that Tennessee has been working diligently to keep him in-state. The Volunteers on Sunday landed its top-ranked pledge in safety Maleik Gray, who is also an in-state commitment. Stevens said the Tennessee staff has made him a major priority.

"They've been working the hardest. They always stay in contact," Stevens said of the Volunteers. "Coach [Bob] Shoop, Coach [Willie] Martinez and Coach [Butch] Jones all have been very serious about putting the program back to the top. I know they pulled in Maleik, so that tells me how much they're trying to build the program."

4-star DT Hansard in no rush with his top 9

For the time being, Fred Hansard is making the recruiting process something of a priority, but not the most important thing on his plate. The next few weeks for the Princeton, New Jersey, 4-star defensive tackle is all about getting better as a player and validating his status as an elite defensive lineman.

Hansard, ranked No. 10 among defensive tackles nationally in the 2017 class, tweeted his top nine on June 6 and on Sunday said nothing has changed with his recruitment. He said he is using this time to monitor all of the schools and find the pros and cons in each of them in an effort to eventually trim his list.

"With all of the schools, I really feel comfortable, and they've been keeping in touch," Hansard said. "I've been talking to these schools a long time. A lot of coaches are saying I'd fit at their school, but right now I just want to take my time and take more visits."

Credit: 247Sports

Hansard said he's taking an unofficial visit to Tennessee this weekend and a visit to Florida next month. He is also trying to make it to Oklahoma and USC before the summer is over.

As for a commitment date, Hansard said nothing is set but that he's hoping to have his college plans finalized before the start of his senior season.

"I want to have it done so I can pay attention to my team and my season," he said.

2 weekend commits for Texas A&M...who's next?

It's only 13 days into the month of June, but Texas A&M has had a respectable showing from a recruiting standpoint. The Aggies have scored four commitments this month, including two pledges over the weekend in 4-star athlete Keldrick Carper and 3-star running back Travis Etienne, two Louisiana standouts.

"

All Praises Be To The Most High !!!

I AM PROUD TO SAY I AM OFFICIALLY COMMITTED TO TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY !!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/v6R8GfQi7b

— Keldrick Carper ® (@Keldrick_Carper) June 12, 2016"

The Aggies now have 12 commitments in the 2017 class, but head coach Kevin Sumlin and his staff are working hard to land a few more studs.

One name to keep an eye on is 4-star quarterback Kellen Mond.

After Mond decommitted from Baylor on June 1, he announced that Auburn, Ohio State and Texas A&M were his top three schools. Ohio State added a second quarterback to its class Sunday when Tate Martell, the nation's top-ranked dual-threat quarterback, gave his verbal pledge to Urban Meyer and joined longtime commit Danny Clark on the recruiting roster.

Mond originally said Auburn was the top choice of the three, but with the IMG Academy standout originally from San Antonio and Texas A&M being much closer to his family than Auburn, proximity is a factor to watch as Mond continues his process.

Mond's 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions point heavily in favor of Auburn, but the majority of his latest predictions are in favor of Texas A&M. The winning school will get the nation's No. 3 dual-threat quarterback. Auburn is without a quarterback commit, while Texas A&M will add Mond to a roster that also includes Elite 11 finalist Connor Blumrick.

New school battling 4-star OL Hainsey's top 10

Kellen Mond's success at IMG's quarterback will rely on how successful offensive lineman Robert Hainsey performs for the upcoming season—and there's a reason why Hainsey is the nation's No. 4 guard.

Hainsey has 26 reported offers and released a top 10 back in March. Those 10 schools, however, may have an 11th to keep an eye on.

Hainsey said Auburn has made a major rise in his recruiting. He has a solid relationship with offensive line coach Herb Hand.

"I didn't have them in my top 10 because I hadn't visited," Hainsey said, "but when I visited with my team, I definitely liked it. I've known Coach Hand since I was a freshman and he was recruiting me at Penn State. I've gotten to know him, Coach [Rhett] Lashlee and Coach [Gus] Malzahn for a while."

Credit: Student Sports

Hainsey added that he's attracted to Auburn's campus atmosphere and family environment. Auburn is hoping to add Hainsey and Mond to the class, which would mean instant chemistry between the high school teammates.

Hainsey said that along with Auburn, schools like Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan State and Penn State have been recruiting him the hardest. No decision is expected anytime soon, but Hainsey knows what he's looking for.

"I definitely want to go to a school where I know I can make an impact early," he said. "I want to be successful on the field and in the classroom and go somewhere where the coaches prepare you for the next level. I also want to be at a place where I can call home.

"At this point, I'm just taking it step by step and figuring out when I want to make my decision. I'm not sure when I'll decide, but I'm working on that."

June performances benefiting 3-star QB Haener

The last couple of weeks have been good to Danville, California, 3-star quarterback Jake Haener. Although he didn't make it past the Elite 11 Finals, he managed to make a huge impression and attract more college interest.

Haener, who claims 11 offers, is hoping the summer is the start of something great from a recruiting perspective. He tweeted a new offer from Colorado State Sunday afternoon.

Credit: Student Sports

"Everything's going really well right now," Haener said. "I've gotten a couple of offers since [Elite 11 Finals], and I'm seeing more schools interested in me. Colorado and Washington have been in touch, and I've been talking to USC.

"I kind of just wanted to go [to Elite 11 Finals] and show that I could compete with some of the top guys. The main thing is that it legitimized me as a main player and someone who can spin it with the other top kids. It's helped me to turn some heads."

Haener said he's looking to take a summer visit to Washington if the Huskies offer. Other potential summer trips, he said, include USC and Utah State. Haener added that he wants to be close to a decision—if not verbally committed to a school—by the end of the month.

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles