B/R Recruiting Notebook: 5-Star Ready to Announce; 4-Star Choosing Between 2

It's here.

The week of national signing day is upon us, and by Wednesday the recruiting world will have answers for several athletes who took the recruiting process down to the wire.

Here's the latest on some of the players looking to finalize their college futures on Wednesday, as well as some others who want to add elite-level teammates to their respective classes.

No final official? No regrets for Hardman

This past weekend was the last for 2016 recruits to take official visits. Mecole Hardman Jr. chose to play for his country instead.

Hardman was a member of the U.S. under-19 national team that beat Canada, 33-0, in the International Bowl Sunday afternoon in Arlington, Texas. The Elberton, Georgia, 5-star athlete lined up as a wide receiver for Team USA and caught five passes for 55 yards and a touchdown in the win.

And if he had to choose between playing in the International Bowl or taking an official visit for that weekend again, he'd make the same choice.

"You get to represent your country. There's nothing like that," Hardman said. "Anything you can do to give back to the troops and soldiers before you, you try to do it. I think I did everything right. I came out and had some time to myself to think about my upcoming decision. I'm happy with that."

Hardman said playing for Team USA also gave him a chance to put recruiting temporarily on the shelf. Over the next few hours, however, Hardman said his focus is solely on where he'll play college football. In fact, he's ready to make a decision.

"This week's been helpful. I definitely know what school is best for me," Hardman said. "Anything can change between now and signing day, but I think I'm about 75 or 80 percent where I know I'm going."

Among the schools that have a shot at Hardman, according to him, are Alabama, Georgia, Michigan and Ohio State. One school he said has always been a silent contender is Tennessee, a school that "has been there from the beginning."

Hardman is expected to announce Wednesday morning.

Alabama or Oklahoma for CB Mayden?

For Sachse, Texas, 4-star cornerback Jared Mayden, a decision will come down to which shade of crimson he prefers. It also will come down to whether he wants to continue a legacy or start one of his own.

Mayden, who played for the U.S. U19s, reconfirmed Sunday what he tweeted Jan. 24: His top two schools are Oklahoma and Alabama. The one-time Oregon pledge said he'll announce his commitment at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, and that he knows what to look for in a winning program.

"Really, it's all about how comfortable I'll feel going to that school for the next three or four years," Mayden said. "With OU, I know I can go and keep a legacy going. Plus, my parents went there. With Bama, it's a good program with a winning tradition. I can't go wrong with either one."

Mayden said he's built great relationships with both Oklahoma defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks and Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt. 

Ultimate Decider for LB Jones: Prayer

Orlando, Florida, 3-star linebacker Jonathan Jones, also a member of the U19s, has Notre Dame and Michigan as his top two schools. On Sunday, he said the schools were neck-and-neck as he inches closer to national signing day.

When asked how he planned on choosing the right school, Jones kept his answer short and simple. And spiritual.

"Jesus," Jones said, chuckling but not necessarily joking. "Straight up, wherever God wants me to go, I'll follow."

Jones, who had four tackles and a sack in the International Bowl, said both schools were "50-50" as of Sunday night, and he planned on speaking to mentors for the next couple of days to make the right decision. He visited Notre Dame in September and Michigan in December.

"Right now, I'm just praying on it. I've got a couple more days to pray," Jones said. "I'm going to talk to my pastor and talk to my dad. We're all going to sit and pray about it. We'll see what my family thinks and get a decision from there."

Buckeyes pledge Haskins targeting No. 1 ATH

Ohio State quarterback commit Dwayne Haskins Jr. completed 12 of 16 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns for the U19s Sunday and left the International Bowl with the MVP trophy.

Playing in the game was something of a business trip for Haskins—a trip that had two objectives. First, the Potomac, Maryland, 4-star prospect wanted to lead Team USA to a win and represent his country well. Second, he wanted to make sure he did his job as a player-recruiter for the Buckeyes.

"I'm out here recruiting a little bit," Haskins said. "The class is pretty much done, but Coach [Urban Meyer] is trying to get a couple more players."

One of those players high on Ohio State's list is Mecole Hardman Jr. Haskins and Hardman connected on a third-quarter touchdown pass in the International Bowl. Haskins let him know that the play could be something routine at the next level.

"I'm working hard on Mecole. I know he decides pretty soon, but I think we have a good chance with him," Haskins said. "That dude is really fast. I've never met somebody so fast. He makes me want to throw the ball deep all the time. That's how fast he is. He really is a special talent."

UCLA pledge Alloway: 'I want to get Burton'

Fontana, California, 4-star all-purpose back Damian Alloway committed to UCLA on Friday in a Bleacher Report video. Since then, Alloway's taken on the role of player-recruiter and has his eyes set on one person particular.

"One guy I can name off the top is Brandon Burton," Alloway said. "I've talked to him about all of us trying to bring something special back to L.A."

A 4-star safety from Gardena, California, Burton has UCLA and USC high on his list, as well as out-of-state schools Florida State and Arizona. Burton can also play wide receiver but is ranked as the nation's No. 6 safety in the 2016 class.

Alloway, the nation's No. 3 all-purpose back, said Burton's energy would be a perfect complement to what the UCLA class currently has.

"I'm a passionate guy playing football, and you can tell he has that, too," Alloway said. "There's a focus and a fire he plays with. I can see myself competing with him in practice and us making each other better."

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