Chidi Okonya Tweets Top 5: Which School Is Best Fit for Monster DE?

The race to land 2016 3-star defensive end Chidi Okonya is nearing the finish line.

The 6'6", 211-pound pass-rusher released his list of top five schools via his Twitter account on Monday evening.

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Uh oh..  pic.twitter.com/vVPaMPTeng

— Chidi Okonya (@_itschii) May 5, 2015"

Clemson, Duke, Ole Miss, Stanford and Tennessee are the lucky programs that made the cut for the metro Atlanta area standout—who also noted that he plans to announce his decision after his team's spring game on May 15.

But which program provides the best fit for Okonya at the next level?

Interestingly enough, it appears the school that will land him will also have to present a great opportunity for him away from the field.

As he told Ryan Callahan of GoVols247 last month, Okonya is searching to find a school that gives him the right balance between academics and football.

Duke, which was the first school to offer Okonya back in May 2014, and Stanford would certainly check off those boxes for him.

"Stanford are Duke are the two schools that are going to remain standing out to me, two schools that are going to remain in the recruiting process with me," Okonya told Callahan.

However, the school that has gained the most recent traction with the No. 31 prospect from the state of Georgia in the 2016 cycle is Tennessee.

Okonya told Callahan that he visited Knoxville three times in a six-week span earlier in the spring and was impressed with the program that head coach Butch Jones is building:

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Other than the academic and football sides, they're a big school and I've seen for myself that they have a pretty sturdy academic program and have plans for their players as far as not just graduating, but making sure they're comfortable with the field and the workforce after college. I just like the family vibe around there. Coach Jones brings a good vibe to the program and to the coaching staff.

"

The Vols signed a monster defensive line class in 2015, including a trio of 4-star defensive ends. Also, Tennessee has a budding star in sophomore Derek Barnett and another returning starter in rising junior Corey Vereen at defensive end this fall.

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 Spring Game May 15th !!!   Decision time after the game !  Riverdale Park @ 904 Wilson Road Riverdale, GA 30274

— Chidi Okonya (@_itschii) May 5, 2015"

All four of Okonya's other finalists may have a more appealing depth chart, but a closer look reveals that those schools all loaded up on defensive ends in the 2015 cycle.

Duke signed four pass-rushers while Clemson and Ole Miss signed three each. Stanford only signed two, but the Cardinal run a 3-4 defense and may value Okonya more as an outside linebacker-type in their scheme.

However, it appears that Jones and his staff have done an excellent job in establishing a relationship with Okonya—which is evident by his multiple trips to check out the Vols program. 

Given the comfort level he's established with Tennessee academically and athletically, the Vols have positioned themselves well to win out for Okonya in the end.

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

Follow @SanjayKirpalani