Rashard Lawrence Tweets Top 5: Odds on Where the 5-Star DT Commits

Is the battle for Monroe, Louisiana, 5-star defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence as cut-and-dry as some may assume?

That was one of the questions that arose on Saturday evening when Lawrence, the nation's No. 15 overall player and No. 5 defensive tackle, tweeted his top five schools to the masses. LSU, a school many consider a heavy lean, made the cut.

All 24 of the predictions for Lawrence's 247Sports Crystal Ball point to LSU, but Lawrence tweeted that Ohio State, Alabama, Washington and UCLA also made his top five. Look for these other four programs to make a legitimate run for Louisiana's top-ranked player.

Here are some early odds for Lawrence's top five.

LSU (2-1)

The Tigers make it a priority to keep all of the top Louisiana prospects in state. Lawrence is a high priority for coach Les Miles and his staff.

LSU has five defensive linemen committed in the 2016 class, but only two—5-star Edwin Alexander and 4-star Glen Logan—are expected to play tackle. The idea of Lawrence teaming up with Alexander and Logan in the trenches is a scary combination with outstanding potential.

At 6'3" and 305 pounds, Lawrence is being recruited to LSU by defensive line coach Ed Orgeron and linebackers coach Bradley Dale Peveto. It's no secret that Lawrence is a big fan of the home-state program, one that has a good reputation of producing defensive talent.

Credit: 247Sports

Alabama (3-1)

If LSU doesn't sign Lawrence, look for Alabama to be a leader in the race. Lawrence has said on several occasions that Alabama is a place where he can see himself playing.

Lawrence teaming with 4-star defensive tackles Kendell Jones Jr. and Raekwon Davis would give the Crimson Tide a menacing front line. Defensive line coach Bo Davis and wide receivers coach Billy Napier are hoping to score the coveted Neville High School prospect.

Alabama started slow out of the gates with its 2016 recruiting class. If they can get Lawrence, look for the Crimson Tide to compete for the top spot in the team rankings.

Ohio State (4-1)

Championships garner attention, so it wouldn't be a surprise if the Buckeyes ultimately landed Lawrence. Ohio State is fresh off a national title, and recruiting for the 2016 class is going very well for Urban Meyer and his staff.

Ohio State hopes to beef up the class' interior line, as it only has 4-star defensive tackle Malik Barrow currently committed. Lawrence would be a great complement to 5-star defensive end Nick Bosa and 4-star end Jonathan Cooper.

You can bet that Lawrence will keep a close eye on Ohio State and what the team does this season. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson is his recruiting contact.

UCLA (5-1)

UCLA's class is shaping up well. Four of the Bruins' 15 commitments will play on the defensive line, and three of those four are defensive ends—which means plenty of opportunity for playing time early at the tackle position.

Lawrence is considered one of the best defensive players with a mean streak. Having him partner with no-nonsense, 5-star defensive end Oluwole Betiku could mean scary times for Pac-12 opponents.

Lawrence would also be a nice complement to 3-star tackle Osa Odighizuwa.

Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, defensive line coach Angus McClure and offensive line coach Adrian Klemm are working hard to get Lawrence to call UCLA home. It would be considered a big upset for the Bruins, but it is possible.

Washington (5-1)

There's something about the Pac-12 that Lawrence likes, as two of the five schools in his top five are in the conference. Washington may be the dark horse of Lawrence's recruiting, but that doesn't mean the Huskies aren't a legitimate contender.

Washington has 11 commitments, and it is still looking for its first defensive tackle pledge for the 2016 class. If he were to commit, Lawrence would be the first 5-star pledge for the Huskies in more than a decade.

Defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski, defensive line coach Jeff Choate and recruiting coordinator Keith Bhonapha are looking to make history with the 5-star talent.

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings and information courtesy of 247Sports unless otherwise noted. Follow Damon via Twitter @DamonSayles.