No. 1 Recruit Rashan Gary Will Take More Visits Before Narrowing Down to a Top 5
The frenzied recruitment of top-ranked 2016 prospect Rashan Gary isn't slowing down anytime soon.
The dominant New Jersey defensive lineman elected to postpone plans for a preseason list of favorites, according to Todderick Hunt of NJ Advance Media. Gary, a senior at Garden State powerhouse Paramus Catholic High School, previously expected to release a group of five college programs before his first game.
Instead, Gary is taking a step back and surveying various options. Notre Dame and USC will each receive a visit from the 6'4", 311-pound playmaker.
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"Rashan wanted to have his top choices by now, however, he does not," Jennifer Coney, Gary's mother, told Hunt. "Before he decides anything, he wants to go to USC and Notre Dame. I know that he said before school (he'd cut down to a top five), but it doesn't even look like it's gonna be September or October."
This develop prolongs an already lengthy recruiting process. Gary has commanded considerable collegiate interest since the earliest stages of his high school career and actually received a verbal scholarship offer from Rutgers in eighth grade.
"It's been a journey since I got that first offer in eighth grade," he told Bleacher Report this spring. "I didn't think much of it until I got to high school and realized there were seniors who worked really hard and still didn't have any offers. Seeing players struggle to get colleges interested at camps kind of puts things in perspective and keeps me humble. A lot of people want to be in my shoes."
Despite expansive attention on his recruitment, Gary has managed to remain largely quiet when it comes to which teams he's leaning toward. Many of his peers named leaders or simply committed well before their senior seasons.
"My mom and I are taking this step by step," Gary told Bleacher Report in April. "I'm not feeling a lot of pressure, but I'm focused on finding the best place for me."
That sentiment still seems to hold true and now sets the stage for more campus visits.
It shouldn't be surprising to see USC attract attention from another premier East Coast prospect. The Trojans routinely sign top-tier talent from far beyond Pac-12 territory, most recently luring 5-star offensive lineman Chuma Edoga away from Georgia.
Trent Thompson, the top-rated 2015 defensive tackle and fellow Peach State product, also reciprocated interest from USC last year. Gary could be inclined to widen a recruitment that previously didn't seem to have a contender west of Louisiana.
Notre Dame didn't extend an offer until last December, which is relatively late in a process that started so early. However, the Fighting Irish carry clout as a national brand and feature fellow New Jersey native Brandon Wimbush.
If Gary does indeed journey to South Bend this season, expect the freshman quarterback to join his group of hosts. Those two faced off last fall in a state championship clash, with Wimbush and St. Peter's Prep claiming the title.
Still, much of the intrigue here lies in SEC country, where Auburn, Georgia, Ole Miss and LSU are legitimate landing spots for the 5-star defender.
Gary, who carries more than 60 scholarship offers, believes he would fit in well as a conference competitor.
"It's grown-man football down there, and these teams have had a lot of defensive players reach the next level," Gary told Bleacher Report. "I've been interested in the SEC since those schools started offering me early."
Expect at least three SEC squads—namely LSU, Auburn and Georgia—to land on his eventual top-five list.
Auburn leads that group with 16 percent of experts' predictions in 247Sports' Crystal Ball, but you can't undervalue the impact of a proven recruiter like LSU defensive line coach Ed Orgeron. Georgia certainly gained ground with Gary during recent visits.
Although Notre Dame and USC are obviously in the mix for his favorites list, things still point toward a pair of Big Ten teams. Michigan and Ohio State are well-positioned to enter the winter among final options for Gary.
Urban Meyer and Jim Harbaugh have both treated him like a top priority, and that's exactly what he is for those staffs. Veteran Buckeyes defensive line coach Larry Johnson holds a strong rapport with Gary, while Michigan harbors his strongest connection to any team.
Wolverines assistant Chris Partridge served as head coach at Paramus Catholic last season, leading Gary's squad to the state title game. His presence is paramount in this process and could ultimately prove to be the difference on signing day.
“They treat us like family. Coach Partridge knows how my mom is and knows how I am, so our visit was smooth," Gary told Bleacher Report after an early summer visit to Ann Arbor. "He showed us everything we needed to see.”
Clemson and South Carolina are also programs who could become a factor moving forward following past on-campus experiences.
Gary projects as an immediate candidate to start in college, carrying immense potential at both defensive end and tackle. He collected 55 tackles—10 for loss—and 14 sacks last season.
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