B/R Recruiting Notebook: Latest News on Top 2017 Prospects

As we congratulate the members of the 2016 class for signing with their respective programs, we must be reminded that recruiting never stops.

Class of 2017, you're up.

Junior days and unofficial visits have kicked off for the next recruiting cycle. There are many athletes already in high demand, and expect more of the same throughout the spring and into the summer and fall.

Top 7 for nation's top-ranked CB Holmes

Calabasas, California, 5-star cornerback Darnay Holmes has more than 20 reported offers and is planning to shut his process just in time to have a double celebration.

Holmes, the nation's top-ranked cornerback and No. 6 overall player in the 2017 class, said he will commit to a school on June 23, the day when he'll not only celebrate his college future but also his birthday. He narrowed his choices down to a top seven, which includes schools from the Pac-12, SEC and Big Ten:

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Just want to thank God for blessing my mind & body. Proway & the 6 raised me righthttps://t.co/kwBDjPBXCq?ssr=true pic.twitter.com/cfCTbT1Mty

— Darnay Holmes (@DarnayHolmes) February 7, 2016"

"A lot of schools are showing interest," Holmes said. "Right now, I'm just trying to narrow down everything. I'm trying to get to know the coaches more and make the right decision."

Holmes, who most recently took an unofficial visit to Nebraska last month, has his top seven, but added the list isn't completely set. An offer from one or two outside schools could help alter his final decision.

"LSU could be one," Holmes said. "For me, trying to be one of the top DBs in the nation, I want to go a place that produces top DBs. I know LSU has a great fanbase and a great coaching staff. If I have a chance to visit, I know I'd love it."

The winning school will be one that satisfies both his athletic and academic goals. Holmes said he has aspirations of not only being a first-round draft pick, but also someone with a quality degree.

"I want to talk to the administration guys at the schools about academics and ask what they can provide after football," he said. "I want to have something to come back to. I want to be the best football player, but I also want to be the best student-athlete."

OT Wilson discusses Michigan unofficial visit

Watching the Super Bowl wasn't a top priority for Brooklyn, New York, 5-star offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson Sunday, but playing in the big game one day is an ambition.

The 6'7", 322-pound Wilson, the nation's No. 5 offensive tackle and top-ranked player from New York, is focused on working to become a pro-caliber lineman, and as he inches toward 30 reported offers, he's making sure he takes his recruiting process slowly to find the best place to put him in position to shine after college.

Michigan is hoping to be that place. Wilson took in Ann Arbor on an unofficial visit over the weekend, shown here with fellow recruit Ahmir Mitchell:

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Showing the big lil bro a good time @Asteria74 with my dog  @_Dbush11 #GoBlue 〽️ pic.twitter.com/wia3lI5EQY

— Ahmir_SoDevoted (@TheDeuce_2_Nice) February 6, 2016"

"The process is going great. I'm just trying to take it for what it's worth," Wilson said. "I thought Michigan was great. I was mostly around Ahmir Mitchell and a couple other Jersey kids. Michigan has great people there, and the coaching staff seems real genuine. Michigan is an extremely friendly place. Everyone there wants you to succeed."

Wilson added Alabama, LSU and Georgia as potential destinations for unofficial visits, but said "nothing's been set in stone." Wilson said he will take his time with recruiting and knows what he's looking for in a winning program.

"I simply want a program that feels like home to me," he said. "I'm going to pick a school with a good program and good academics. I just want to feel comfortable wherever I go."

Super Bowl finish motivation for WR Nixon

For DeSoto, Texas, 4-star wide receiver K.D. Nixon, watching the conclusion of Super Bowl 50 might have been the next-level motivation he needed.

Nixon watched Denver defeat Carolina in Sunday's game, and he watched former Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller earn game MVP honors. It was special for Nixon, as Miller is a DeSoto High School alum. The pass-rushing dynamo even gave a shoutout to his alma mater after the game, as shared by CBS 11's Keith Russell:

In short, it gave Nixon another reason to shoot for success. He kept his words short after Miller was named MVP.

"You can do the same," Nixon said. "As a matter of fact, I tweeted, 'I'm next.' when I saw it":

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I'm next 

— KD Nixon (@KDN__1) February 8, 2016"

Nixon has 16 reported offers and most recently picked up an offer from Oregon State. He last took an unofficial visit to Oklahoma State in January and is preparing to schedule additional unofficial visits in March.

Oklahoma State, Houston, Texas Tech, Arizona State and Tennessee are some of the schools that have offered the speedy slot receiver. Baylor, TCU and Ohio State are three schools he's hoping to impress this spring.

Seeing Miller accept the Super Bowl MVP trophy further enhanced his drive to excel.

"It's going to be my last year, so I've got to keep grinding," Nixon said. "I want to be legendary. In high school, I want to be the best to come out [of DeSoto]."

Top-ranked ATH Stevens taking his time

Don't expect Tennessee 5-star JaCoby Stevens to make a decision on his college plans anytime soon.

Stevens, the nation's top-ranked athlete in the class, said he learned a lot after committing to LSU in September before decommitting in November. And as someone with 24 reported offers, Stevens said the recruiting process will be a marathon, not a sprint.

"As of right now, after decommitting from LSU, I've been neutral," Stevens said, "but next weekend, I'm going to Georgia for their junior day."

"I rushed my process [with LSU]," he added. "I really wasn't listening to people who said I needed to figure out if that really was the place for me. It's gotten to the point where I see what I should have waited."

Stevens said LSU is still a contender, but he also has offers from Tennessee, Alabama, Florida and a host of other programs. Stevens said he plans on making a decision next February, on national signing day.

"I'm just looking around," he said. "I'm not really trying to narrow anything down. I'm just looking at what every school has to offer as a whole."

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