Odds on Where 5-Star CB Levonta Taylor Commits to on Friday

Coveted cornerback prospect Levonta Taylor is set to commit Friday, April 3, at 6 p.m. during a ceremony at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

The 5-star recruit holds dozens of scholarship offers but is ready to present one college program with a prized pledge, though he hasn't publicly whittled down his options to a list of favorites.

Taylor, a 5'10", 170-pound standout, has kept things relatively close to the vest throughout a lengthy recruitment. He prefers to reveal those intentions before the final stretch of his junior year.

“I’ve been on the scene since my eighth-grade year. I have all the scholarship offers I could want and I already know which school I want to go to,” he told Josh Newberg of 247Sports. “I want to commit early to get everything out of the way so I can focus on school and football.”

Rated second nationally among cornerbacks and 18th overall in 247Sports' composite rankings, Taylor has captured attention from across the country.

He was a rare underclassman competitor at The Opening last summer and earned first-team All-Tidewater honors in 2014 after tallying 40 tackles and eight forced turnovers during a state title run, per The Virginian-Pilot.

“Whenever he is on the field – offensively, defensively and special teams – he is the best player on the field,” Ocean Lakes coach Chris Scott told the Pilot. 

Several college staffs hope they'll inherit his talent in 2016, though it appears three specific schools stand out as Taylor approaches an announcement. Virginia, Florida State and Ohio State seem to have a slight edge over the pack as speculation builds about his impending decision.

“I have a great relationship with coach Mike London, Jimbo Fisher and Urban Meyer,” Taylor told Newberg. “All three understand the player that I am. They’re down to earth and relatable coaches. It’s not all about football, it’s about family and life with them.”

With those three programs under consideration, here's how we view the odds of him ending up on each campus. 

Florida State

The Seminoles stole Virginia's crown jewel of the 2015 recruiting class by signing top-rated defensive end Josh Sweat. Jimbo Fisher looks to deliver a repeat performance Friday by claiming a commitment from Taylor, who is considered the state's top overall 2016 prospect in composite rankings.

Florida State was relatively late to the chase here but carries plenty of clout one year removed from a national title and fresh off its playoff appearance. Taylor visited Tallahassee last season to see the Seminoles defeat Notre Dame but a formal offer didn't arrive from Fisher until February.

Taylor spent two days at the university in mid-March. During a discussion with Adam Friedman of Rivals.com, he described the campus as "somewhere I feel comfortable at."

Fisher has already assembled another impressive Florida State class, featuring 12 commitments and 10 players of the 4- or 5-star variety. Taylor would add to a talented secondary that welcomes 5-star defensive backs Derwin James and Tarvarus McFadden next season.

The Seminoles are currently trending in the right direction, carrying 85 percent of commitment projections in 247Sports' Crystal Ball based on 34 expert predictions.

Odds he ends up at Florida State: 2-1

Virginia

Mike London and his staff understand how imperative it is to keep in-state talent on home turf, though outside programs annually attempt to plunder Virginia for its top players. Naturally, the Cavaliers caught on early when it came to recruiting Taylor, extending an offer early in his sophomore season. 

Proximity should be a point of emphasis here, as Charlottesville is within a three-hour drive from Ocean Lakes High School. Taylor has made the trip several times, journeying to campus for games, junior days and camp. 

His rapport with the program also has roots with fellow Virginia Beach product Quin Blanding, who quickly emerged as a catalyst for the Cavaliers last fall as a freshman. The 2014 5-star signee made a major splash at safety, leading the team with 123 tackles en route to ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Reeling in another highly regarded local talent would go a long way toward further enhancing Virginia's defensive attack. It would also set the stage for future high-profile endeavors in the Virginia Beach area for London and his staff.

Odds he ends up at Virginia: 4-1

Ohio State

The Buckeyes aren't often considered a "dark horse" competitor on the recruiting landscape, but in this case that label fits the bill. Most view Taylor's decision as a head-to-head battle between Virginia and Florida State, but only a fool would count out Urban Meyer considering the momentum he currently carries on the field and recruiting trail.

Ohio State offered Taylor last April during an on-campus visit. 

"I can't wait to get out there and shake Coach Urban Meyer's hand," he told Luke Zimmermann of Land-Grant Holy Land shortly before that visit.

That admiration for the Buckeyes coach clearly hasn't worn off, though we still view Ohio State as a distant third in this race. Meyer has compiled the country's fourth-rated 2016 recruiting class to this stage, featuring pledges from four different states. 

The Buckeyes haven't added any pieces to the defensive secondary during this cycle so far, so a commitment from Taylor would go a long way toward addressing that need and adding increased balance to an impressive haul.

Odds he ends up at Ohio State: 10-1

Other Offers

Since Taylor enters his announcement without a set list of finalists, it's worth noting some of his other suitors. Alternative programs that have maintained interest include Tennessee, Auburn, Arizona State, South Carolina, LSU and Georgia.

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.