Damar Hamlin Tweets Top 4: Odds on Where 4-Star CB Lands

Prized Pennsylvania defensive back Damar Hamlin is primarily focused on four universities following his first official visit.

Fresh off a trip to Notre Dame, Hamlin listed the Fighting Irish in a group of favorites that also features Ohio State, Penn State and Pittsburgh:

The 4-star prospect anticipates official visits at each school, according to Brian Dohn of Scout.com, leaving the door open for a fifth and final destination before his decision. Dohn reports UCLA and Clemson are main contenders to fill that slot. 

Hamlin, a 6'1", 175-pound senior at Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, is rated 14th nationally among cornerback recruits in 2016 composite rankings. He carries dozens of scholarship offers, including Stanford, Auburn, Michigan State and Tennessee.

Though a decision isn't expected until at least January, per Dohn, this recruitment officially reached crunch time with Hamlin's announcement. Considered the top 2016 defender in his home state, he has plenty to consider in the coming months.

Based on developments to this stage, here's a look at how Hamlin's favorites stack up with commiment odds assigned to each team.

Pittsburgh: 5-2

Things seem to be trending toward his hometown team. The Panthers have gained recent momentum in the eyes of recruiting analysts, warranting five consecutive experts' predictions in his 247Sports Crystal Ball.

These sentiments are at least in part reactionary to a recent commitment from fellow 4-star defensive back Paris Ford. The local 2017 safety pledged to Pittsburgh last week, and there have been previous indications he and Hamlin are a package deal.

Pairings like this are often difficult to pull off, particularly when prospects are part of separate recruiting cycles, but it's certainly a notable element in play. Hamlin, recruited by two Panthers coaching regimes, could also be swayed by Pittsburgh pledges from two high school teammates—safety Bricen Garner and defensive tackle Rashad Wheeler.

The Panthers currently rank 12th overall among FBS squads in passing yards allowed per game. A big-time local addition would further solidify the defensive secondary next season.

Ohio State: 3-1

Hamlin is scheduled to visit Columbus next month when the Buckeyes host Michigan State in a pivotal Big Ten Conference showdown. He impressed during a Nike regional event on campus this spring while wearing Ohio State apparel:

Hamlin is a coveted commodity in Columbus, though you wonder whether the program would hold off on accepting other pledges at the position as he works through this process. The Buckeyes extended a scholarship offer to 3-star Georgia cornerback commit Malek Young this past weekend, which may come as a sign the coaching staff is starting to intensively explore alternative options at the position.

Hamlin, who attended Ohio State's Friday Night Lights Camp in July, has a strong impression of Buckeyes cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs.

"He's intense. He's always intense. I like that," he told Ari Wasserman of Cleveland.com. "He knows what he's talking about. I came on a visit last time and we sat in a room and broke down my film and that was impressive to me that he would take out his time to do that just for me."

Ohio State holds a narrow advantage in Hamlin's Crystal Ball, claiming 36 percent of experts' predictions. 

Penn State: 4-1

Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin aims to make a major splash in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League, a league in an area that's vital to recruiting efforts in Happy Valley. Penn State identified Hamlin as an early priority, establishing itself as a mainstay among his potential landing spots.

Though it now appears Pitt has gained ground as his top in-state option, the Nittany Lions are undoubtedly a central part of this equation. Johnny Petrishen, Hamlin's former star Central Catholic counterpart in the defensive backfield, is now a Penn State freshman. 

Franklin continues to ardently pursue the Pennsylvania product and attended one of his games earlier this month, per Gary Horvath of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. In a fluid recruitment, it wouldn't surprise to see Penn State rise during the final stretch toward national signing day.

Hamlin is targeting an Oct. 31 game against Illinois for his next visit, per Tom Loy of 247Sports.

Notre Dame: 6-1

The Fighting Irish welcomed Hamlin to campus last weekend. He was hosted by freshman cornerback Shaun Crawford and watched Notre Dame defeat USC. 

"[Crawford] was real cool. He was telling me about the basic aspects of it and how his day goes, every day, and stuff like that. It was stuff that you couldn't just ask a coach," Hamlin told Loy.

Notre Dame landed his first official visit but now must attempt to weather the storm, as he will likely take four more campus trips. That may put the Irish at a disadvantage during latter stages of his decision-making process, as Hamlin probably won't return to South Bend before signing day.

Defensive secondary coach Todd Lyght will continue to put in work here, but we view Notre Dame as a slightly distant underdog in this chase.

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