B/R Recruiting Notebook: 4-Star WR Talks Plans; Sleeper QB Has 11,000-Plus Yards

Starkville, Mississippi, 4-star wide receiver A.J. Brown understands the process and doesn't have a true desire to rush anything on his end. At least not now.

Like many other athletes around the country at this time, Brown's top priority is leading his team in postseason battle. Starkville High School is competing for a Mississippi state championship, and that takes precedence over all, athletically, in Brown's eyes.

"[Recruiting] is in the back seat for now," said Brown, the nation's No. 8 receiver and No. 74 player overall. "My focus is on winning a state championship. As far as recruiting goes, I'm going to start narrowing things down and take all five official visits after the season."

With his team the main priority, Brown admitted that recruiting isn't something he doesn't think about every day. Three schools that are considered contenders are Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Alabama. Brown has good relationships with wide receivers coaches Billy Gonzales (Mississippi State), Grant Heard (Ole Miss) and Billy Napier (Alabama).

Although Brown is picked by some to stay in-state and play for Mississippi State, Alabama is a definite school to watch, particularly after its solid play against LSU on Saturday.

"I can see myself there. It's a winning program, regardless of what it goes through," Brown said. "I like how they work hard like no other. I've built a great relationship with [Napier] and talk to him all the time."

Brown said he will make his decision on national signing day in February. He added that he's looking for one particular thing in a winning school.

"One that throws the ball," he said. "It's that simple."

Credit: 247Sports.com

Top targets for Michigan State QB pledge

Michigan State quarterback commit Messiah deWeaver made it home following his Saturday playoff game just in time to see the end of the Spartans' controversial 39-38 loss to Nebraska. And while it was frustrating to watch, deWeaver said it gave him even more reason to keep the objective of building the 2016 class with top-notch recruits high.

And deWeaver's top target? A wide receiver, of course.

"Donnie Corley. That's been my main guy for a long time now," deWeaver said. "We've got a good relationship. Hopefully, he picks Michigan State."

Corley, a 4-star receiver, is expected to announce his verbal commitment next month. Also high on deWeaver's list of targets is 4-star athlete George Hill, who decommitted from Ohio State on Oct. 14.

"This [Michigan State] team is one of the hardest-working in the country. I'm building up with guys who want to go to the next level," deWeaver said.

DeWeaver, according to the Greater Western Ohio Conference website, has thrown for 2,335 yards and 26 touchdowns and also has rushed for three touhdowns this season. He threw for 306 yards and four touchdowns in a 56-14 playoff win Saturday against Reynoldsburg.

Credit: 247Sports.com

FSU commit Robinson takes in Alabama

Panama City, Florida, defensive end Janarius Robinson has been committed to Florida State since September 2014. It's also been known that Robinson still would take visits to other schools.

Robinson was in Tuscaloosa over the weekend taking in Alabama's win against LSU. He was joined by the nation's top-ranked tight end, 5-star Isaac Nauta, the nation's top-ranked running back Kareem Walker—a recent Ohio State decommit—and Florida cornerback commit Chauncey Gardner, among others.

Robinson has been honest about his process for months now. He reiterated in September that he'd make visits, and Alabama was one of the schools he was interested in.

Now the question is: Can the Seminoles keep the nation's No. 4 weak-side defensive end and No. 63 player overall committed?

"I will take all my visits to make sure I'm doing everything right," Robinson said in September. "I don't want to leave any tables unturned."

Credit: 247Sports.com

North Carolina WR ready to set officials

The top five for Greensboro, North Carolina, 4-star receiver Diondre Overton recently became that much more interesting. Overton said he has cleared NCAA clearinghouse and is ready to take official visits.

Overton's top five consists of Clemson, Tennessee, Nebraska, North Carolina State and North Carolina. He recently took an unofficial visit to Clemson, a school several believe to be the favorite in landing him.

"Their defense has been stepping up big time. They're making good plays and good stops," Overton said of Clemson. "The offense has been very powerful. They've got a lot of weapons, and it's hard to stop them."

Clemson is hoping to add Overton to that offensive arsenal. The 6'5", 198-pound athlete said the Tigers want to use him as a "9," or boundary receiver. Overton, however, added he's going to keep all options equal and make a decision on Jan. 3, the day of the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Carson, California.

"Right now, I'm trying to get all my officials set up now that I'm cleared," he said. "I'm just waiting until Jan. 3 to announce."

Sleeper alert: Unrated Oklahoma QB has insane numbers

Less than an hour east of Tulsa, Oklahoma, unrated quarterback Mason Fine leads Locust Grove High School. At 5'11" and 170 pounds, he doesn't have prototypical quarterback size, but he's put up numbers that would make any FBS college coach look twice.

Per the Oklahoman, Fine has thrown for 3,367 yards and 41 touchdowns this season. He's completed 206 of 309 passes and has thrown only three interceptions. In three varsity seasons, Fine has thrown for 11,602 yards and 147 touchdowns, including a remarkable 5,006 yards and 71 touchdowns his junior year.

Fine has offers from schools such as Austin Peay, Emporia State, Northeastern State, Central Oklahoma and Adams State. Schools like Tulsa, Rice, Yale and Drake have expressed interest.

"His size may be the biggest thing holding him back," the Oklahoman's Jacob Unruh said of Fine, "but his arm strength is what can possibly make a college coach look really good."

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles