Rashard Lawrence Sets Commit Date: Which School Has Best Shot to Land 5-Star DT?

The LSU Tigers and Ohio State Buckeyes currently occupy two of the nation’s top three recruiting classes, and their battle over 5-star defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence could help the winner take a big step forward toward landing the nation's top overall class.

Lawrence announced via Twitter that he will make his decision on Jan. 22—with the Tigers and the Buckeyes representing his two finalists.

The 6’3”, 305-pounder took an official visit to Columbus last October, and he will be on LSU’s campus this weekend—which will represent his last trip before he announces his commitment.

Which program has the best shot to land Lawrence next Friday?

LSU has been the overwhelming favorite to land Lawrence and with good reason.

Lawrence, who is the Pelican State’s top prospect in the 2016 cycle, the No. 5 defensive tackle and the No. 22 player overall, admits that he’s close to Tigers head coach Les Miles and defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, according to Sonny Shipp of Geaux247.

"I think Coach Miles is a great guy,” Lawrence told Shipp. “The players love playing for him. To see him not there would be completely different for the program. I'm glad he stayed because it did help my process and probably other kids around the nation. I'm glad he stayed."

In addition to his relationship with the coaching staff in Baton Rouge, Shipp also notes that Lawrence has grown close to current Tigers such as defensive linemen Davon Godchaux and Christian LeCouture.

Considering he made multiple visits to Baton Rouge last year, Lawrence is very familiar with the inner workings of the Tigers program.

Miles and his staff will try to seal the deal with Lawrence this weekend, but it’s tough to discount Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer in any recruiting battle.

In addition to his official trip last fall, Lawrence also visited the Buckeyes for their summer camp.

Similar to the bonds that tie him to the Tigers, he has a strong relationship with the man that would be his position coach in Columbus if he elects to leave his home state for school.

“[Defensive line] Coach [Larry] Johnson, me and him have an excellent relationship,” Lawrence told Shipp. “From Day 1, whenever I told him I was interested, he soaked it all in and really recruited me hard. He doesn’t pressure me into anything and is a really great guy. He’s really the only one I talk to, and he’s a special man and definitely develops them.”

Since Meyer has taken over the Buckeyes program, he’s been able to recruit in foreign territories such as Florida, Georgia and Texas with great success. Still, he has yet to land a Louisiana native in that same span.

The Buckeyes make a fairly dangerous underdog in the race to land Lawrence, but the arrows in his recruitment seem to point toward him staying close to home in college.

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Follow @SanjayKirpalani