Jaden Hunter Tweets Top 11: Odds on Where 4-Star OLB Lands

Jaden Hunter, one of the country's premier rising junior prospects, released an ordered list of college favorites Tuesday afternoon.

The linebacker's collection of possible collegiate landing spots features a tie at No. 1, with Florida State and LSU splitting the top spot:

His list includes programs across the country, ranging from three conferences. The SEC—represented by six teams—seems to be his most likely destination. The ACC saw four squads make the cut, while UCLA is the lone Pac-12 outlier.

Hunter, a 6'3", 207-pound playmaker from Westlake High School in Atlanta, Georgia, began racking up scholarship offers after his sophomore season. Virginia Tech, Illinois and Nebraska are among interested schools left on the outside of his recruitment process at this point.

He tallied 89 tackles—10 for loss—and eight sacks last season, per Tony Crumpton of TigerNet.com. Rated eighth nationally at outside linebacker in 247Sports' 2017 composite rating, Hunter is viewed as an elite defensive target in the Southeast.

Now that we know which programs are picking up momentum in this recruitment, here's an updated look at a few key contenders' odds of landing Hunter.

Alabama: 4-1

The Crimson Tide once sat atop this list, but a four-spot fall doesn't bode well for Alabama's ability to reel in the Peach State product. Outside linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi is the driving force in Tuscaloosa, and he is among the most accomplished recruiters in college football, so count him out at your own risk.

Alabama impressed Hunter during a campus visit in June and nearly landed a commitment, according to Hank South of 247Sports. He's enjoyed a busy summer since then, and the luster of that trip may very well have faded, especially considering NCAA rules that prevent coaches from contacting underclassmen.

Head coach Nick Saban and company could insert themselves right back into the upper echelon of his favorites by lining up another on-campus experience this season.

Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart actually played alongside Hunter's dad in college.

Florida State: 3-1

The Seminoles extended an offer less than two weeks ago and instantly became a favorite. Just days ago, Florida State emerged as a co-leader with Alabama, per South.

Hunter has shuffled his deck of favorites a bit since that revelation, and despite a few interesting changes, the Seminoles remain situated up top. This time around, the team shares that No. 1 billing with LSU.

Florida State is a brand-new offer, so it's worth monitoring whether the initial excitement of an opportunity in Tallahassee begins to fade moving forward. If not, the Seminoles might just be the team to beat in this race.

His older brother, Tyler, is a fifth-year defensive back for Florida State. He started all 14 games last season and could certainly sway Jaden when it's time to make a decision.

Georgia: 2-1

Family ties should always keep the Bulldogs in this mix, and Georgia continues to maintain its status as one of Hunter's top options. His late father, Brice Hunter, played wide receiver in Athens and his mother, Brandi Hunter, is a former Bulldogs basketball standout.

Hunter told Jeff Sentell of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

"

Most people might think I’m going to play at Georgia because my dad played there. But my mom wants me to keep an open mind with these schools that offer me because Georgia might not be the best fit for me. But I am always going to consider playing at Georgia because of the connection I have there.

"

He visited Florida State and LSU in July but skipped Georgia's Dawg Night, which is arguably its biggest recruiting event of the summer.

LSU: 4-1

The Tigers made a strong impression on Hunter when he spent time in Baton Rouge earlier this month. Head coach Les Miles already holds a commitment from phenom linebacker and top overall 2017 recruit Dylan Moses.

It would be difficult to find a more promising defensive duo in the 2017 cycle if Moses and Hunter ultimately join forces. The Georgia standout expressed interest in returning to LSU following his latest visit:

Former Alabama linebackers coach Kevin Steele serves as Hunter's primary recruiter. He took over the Tigers' defensive attack this offseason and quickly identified him as a key focus on the recruiting trail.

More shakeups are sure to come in this recruitment, but LSU has to feel good about its new outlook as a co-leader.

Tyler Donohue is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Tyler via Twitter: @TDsTake.