B/R Recruiting Notebook: 4-Star CB Talks Top 3; Sleeper LB Has 130 Tackles

Pittsburgh defensive back Damar Hamlin has a knack for making big plays. Ask anyone who saw him play in the PIAA Class AAAA state championship on Dec. 19.

Hamlin, the nation's No. 12 cornerback and the No. 150 player overall in the 2016 class, delivered a jarring hit that separated a receiver not only from the ball, but from his mouthpiece as well. The hit became an instant sensation on social media.

Ask Hamlin, and the hit is par for the course. If anything, it's only the beginning of what's to come. Hamlin is still uncommitted but has a top three of Penn State, Ohio State and hometown school Pitt and is inching closer to making a decision.

"A lot of people think DBs don't hit," Hamlin said. "It was actually good to show everybody I'm not one of those DBs. I want to show everybody all that I can do and show that I can be that player at the next level."

Next month will be huge for Hamlin, as he is planning back-to-back-to-back official visits. He said he'll visit Ohio State the weekend of Jan. 15, Penn State the weekend of Jan. 22 and Pitt the weekend of Jan. 29. A decision will come shortly after.

Hamlin took an official visit to Notre Dame in October but said he's focusing on his top three. The winning school will get a 4-star athlete who has 32 reported offers and also is looking to benefit athletically and academically.

"It was hard to focus on making a decision during the season," said Hamlin, who has academic interest in business and accounting. "I'm now focused on taking my officials and making the right choice. I'm looking for a place with a great education and that's fit for me. I want to go somewhere where I feel I can get on the field early and where the coaches can best prepare me for the next level."

Credit: 247Sports.com

Advice to recruits from USC pledge, No. 1 WDE

USC scored a big holiday present when Gardena, California, 5-star defensive end Oluwole Betiku committed on Christmas day. Betiku, the nation's top-ranked weak-side defensive end and No. 11 overall player in the 2016 class, was USC's 16th overall pledge of the class.

Betiku's commitment was music to USC's ears, particularly with him choosing to part ways with his original pledge to UCLA in October. The Trojans landed an Under Armour All-American (he'll make the trip to Orlando for the Jan. 2 game but won't play because of a shoulder injury) and a player who is expected to be an immediate defensive leader as a 5-star prospect.

Look for Betiku to be a strong voice while in Orlando—the same way he wants to be a strong voice to the recruits who come after him. Betiku on Sunday gave some advice to the 2017 recruits preparing to go through their respective processes.

"My best advice for them is to work hard, because there's no substitute for hard work," Betiku said. "[That], and go where they want to go. Only you can define your destiny."

LSU WR recommit: 'I thought about my future'

When Stephen Sullivan first decommitted from LSU in August, he made it known that there was always the possibility that he could recommit. After all, LSU was his first offer, and he'd always been a fan of the program and the coaching staff.

So when the Donaldsonville, Louisiana, 4-star receiver recommitted on Saturday, the decision shouldn't have come as a shock. Sullivan took an official visit to LSU the weekend of Dec. 11, which reminded him of why he first committed to the Tigers in February of 2014.

"It's a great school. I trust [offensive coordinator] Coach Cam [Cameron] and [head] Coach [Les] Miles," Sullivan said. "When I went on my visit, I had a great time. I thought about my future when I thought about LSU. College education will always come first, but I feel they can help me get to the NFL, too."

Sullivan said his ultimate goal is to play in the NFL, and he cited LSU's track record for taking college athletes to the next level. Before his professional ambitions, Sullivan said he's excited about playing with a talented class—one that jumped Michigan to No. 2 nationally in 247Sports.com's team recruiting rankings with the help of Sullivan's pledge.

Credit: 247Sports.com

Can SMU keep top-ranked offensive player committed?

When Alpharetta, Georgia, 3-star quarterback David Moore committed to SMU in April, he was excited about returning to Texas. Moore spent part of his high school career in the Dallas area.

With signing day rapidly approaching, Moore still is committed to the Mustangs, but other schools are showing major interest. Moore picked up an offer from Purdue last week and said that offers could come very soon from South Carolina, Memphis and Central Florida.

"If those happen, I'll sit with my parents, and we'll talk about what the next steps will be," Moore said. "Until those things happen, I'm fully committed to SMU. The decisions are definitely getting harder as we get closer [to signing day]."

Moore, the top-ranked offensive pledge in SMU's 2016 class, has yet to take an official visit and will travel to SMU the weekend of Jan. 22. He said he is looking at taking an official to either South Carolina or Purdue the following week.

Sleeper alert: Texas state-champion LB with 130 tackles

Cedar Park, Texas, linebacker Mac McCaskill put up numbers that would make most defensive-minded college coaches salivate. Yet, for whatever reason, he's still looking to land his first FBS offer.

McCaskill, who has offers from Division II schools Henderson State and Lenoir-Rhyne, finished his senior year with 130 tackles and 16.5 sacks as a middle linebacker. He was a first-team linebacker on the Austin American-Statesman's All-Central Texas Football Team.

Perhaps more importantly, McCaskill finished his high school career a state champion. He led Cedar Park to a Texas Class 5A Division II state title, and in the championship game against Frisco (Texas) Lone Star, he had 16 tackles (13 solo), 1.5 sacks and a 20-yard fumble recovery returned for a touchdown, ultimately leading to him being named the game's defensive MVP.

"I'm very physical; I love the grind," McCaskill said. "I love to take charge and make sure everyone knows what they're doing and plays like a team. I strive to make everyone on the field know I'm on the field."

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