Best Fits for Top 2017 Uncommitted Defensive End Recruits

The majority of marquee 2017 defensive end recruits remain undecided about collegiate plans 10 months shy of national signing day. Only five of the top 20 players at this position in 247Sports' composite rankings have announced a commitment, headlined by 5-star Iowa pledge A.J. Epenesa.

Fellow 5-star recruits Joshua Kaindoh and Jarez Parks lead a loaded group of undecided athletes who could provide immediate pressure along a defensive front during the 2017 college football season. Here's a peek at several premier defensive ends still searching for their university and which programs could provide a potential landing spot.

4-Star K'Lavon Chaisson

Credit: 247Sports

High School: North Shore (Houston, Texas)

Size: 6'3", 220 lbs

Composite Ranking: No. 7 weak-side defensive end; No. 117 overall

Recruiting Rundown

Baylor has come up short in multiple high-profile defensive recruitments during recent cycles, and despite the program's maintained success, it may be hard-pressed to land legacy K'Lavon Chaisson. The Bears lead his 247Sports' "crystal ball" predictions, but LSU is making major inroads with help from a philosophical switch under first-year defensive coordinator Dave Aranda.

The Tigers view Chaisson, who finished 2015 with 15.5 sacks, per Angel Verdejo of the Houston Chronicle,  as a stand-up defender in an evolving 3-4 front. It's a role that makes plenty of sense for the rangy edge-rusher, and one he sounds excited to embrace.

“Basically, they want me to play a stand-up linebacker role in the 3-4 scheme. I’m the guy they’re looking for," he told Sam Spiegelman of SEC Country. “[The linebackers] aren’t sitting out there in space like it’s boring. He’s sending them out on blitzes 40 or 50 percent of time, rushing and getting to the quarterback, and that’s really what I like to do."

Despite Chaisson's family ties at Baylor (his father played for the Bears) and an upstart hometown program at Houston, LSU has to like its chances of luring him to Baton Rouge at a position that seems perfectly suited his skill set.

Best Fit: LSU

4-Star Zachary Carter

Credit: 247Sports

High School: Hillsborough (Tampa, Florida)

Size: 6'4 ½", 250 lbs

Composite Ranking: No. 3 strong-side defensive end; No. 115 overall

Recruiting Rundown

LSU, Texas A&M, South Carolina and Tennessee are among the SEC squads attempting reel in a pledge from Zachary Carter, but all conference contenders could be staring up at Florida for the duration of this recruitment. The Gators, especially defensive line coach Chris Rumph, have done a great job making him feel "like home" in Gainesville.

“I really love what the coaching staff is doing and the way the program is headed," Carter told Zach Abolverdi of SEC Country in March. "I love what coach [Jim] McElwain is doing for the players. Other than football, I really like the academic side of Florida. I’m 100 percent sure about one thing—I’ll leave with a degree.”

Those are strong statements and lend further credence that Florida can provide a perfect setting for him to flourish. Expect rival Tennessee and reigning ACC champion Clemson to remain in the picture as long as this process lasts for Carter, who collected 149 tackles during the past two seasons.

Best Fit: Florida

4-Star Malik Herring

Credit: 247Sports

High School: Mary Persons (Forsyth, Georgia)

Size: 6'3 ½", 261 lbs

Composite Ranking: No. 6 weak-side defensive end; No. 114 overall

Recruiting Rundown

Alabama, Clemson and Georgia are among schools that recently welcomed Malik Herring to campus, while Michigan and USC each extended offers in March. While a decision isn't expected until after his senior season, according to Kipp Adams of 247Sports, a new Bulldogs regime is in excellent shape with this Peach State product.

Head coach Kirby Smart's decision to retain defensive line coach Tracy Rocker is key here, and his personal relationship with Herring dates back to his tenure in Tuscaloosa. 

"I love Georgia," Herring told Adams. "All of the coaches are really cool and we have a great connection."

If the Bulldogs can continue to hammer home that sentiment and get him in the bleachers for some home games this season, Georgia seems like an ideal fit. Herring would join an immensely promising defensive line loaded with young talent and provide a pivotal local recruiting victory for a revamped staff in Athens.

Best Fit: Georgia

4-Star Jaelan Phillips

Credit: 247Sports

High School: Redlands East Valley (Redlands, California)

Size: 6'5", 235 lbs

Composite Ranking: No. 5 weak-side defensive end; No. 77 overall

Recruiting Rundown

California's Pac-12 programs each covet this in-state standout, as USC, UCLA and Stanford are in the hunt. The Trojans recently welcomed Jaelan Phillips to campus for an unofficial visit, while Stanford hosted him for a junior day in late February.

Offers from beyond state borders continued to arrive at a torrid pace following a junior campaign that included 87 tackles and 13.5 sacks. Tennessee, Georgia, LSU and Arizona State each extended an offer in March.

With all due respect to his other options, academic powerhouse Stanford seems to be in a strong position based on its reputation on and off the field. Phillips raved about his junior-day trip to Palo Alto during a discussion with Bleacher Report's Damon Sayles, holds the university in extremely high regard and could compete for Pac-12 titles while pursuing a pre-med education 

Best Fit: Stanford

4-Star Chase Young

Credit: 247Sports

High School: DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Maryland)

Size: 6'5", 220 lbs

Composite Ranking: No. 4 weak-side defensive end; No. 53 overall

Recruiting Rundown

Chase Young spent his junior season dominating alongside prized Penn State signee Shane Simmons, attracting offers from Georgia, Alabama, Florida State and Ohio State during the fall. Ole Miss, Florida, Texas A&M and UCLA are among programs that have offered since February, increasing an already widespread recruitment into new territories.

Maryland head coach D.J. Durkin will make Young a paramount priority, along with teammate and 4-star running back Anthony McFarland Jr., throughout his first full recruiting cycle in College Park. Ohio State and Alabama continue to warrant attention from the athletic playmaker, who picked up 19 sacks and 27 tackles for loss last season, according to Brandon Parker of the Washington Post.

Durkin and his staff can build a sales pitch based on Young becoming an immediate anchor of a new-era Terrapins defense. Maryland must maintain home-turf advantage on the recruiting trail in order to climb Big Ten Conference standings, and Young may not find a staff that places more value on him.

Best Fit: Maryland

4-Star Robert Beal

Credit: 247Sports

High School: Norcross (Norcross, Georgia)

Size: 6'3 ½", 230 lbs

Composite Ranking: No. 3 weak-side defensive end; No. 36 overall

Recruiting Rundown

Note Dame secured a commitment from Robert Beal midway through his junior campaign, but it wouldn't last through the winter. He reopened his recruitment process Feb. 18, following that decision with visits to Florida State, Georgia and Alabama.

Those three universities were featured on a list of seven favorites released by Beal on March 21, along with LSU, Miami, Texas and Tennessee. Former Crimson Tide defensive coordinator and current Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart faces a tall task fighting off his former boss for a signature here, while Florida State continues to gain momentum with Beal, who tallied 59 tackles and five sacks in 2015, according to Gwinnett Prep Sports.

He could work in well with the Seminoles in a hybrid role off the edge, complementing a quality collection of defensive linemen. We like Beal in an outside linebacker role, and see him thriving if given that opportunity in the Seminoles' scheme.

Best Fit: Florida State

5-Star Jarez Parks

Credit: 247Sports

High School: Sebastian River (Sebastian, Florida)

Size: 6'5", 255 lbs

Composite Ranking: No. 2 weak-side defensive end; No. 28 overall

Recruiting Rundown

Jarez Parks grew up a Florida Gators fan, according to Chad Simmons of Scout.com, and head coach Jim McElwain would love to land him in the Swamp. However, there is serious company in this pursuit with Florida State and Alabama among primary competition.

He's traveled to Tallahassee, Tuscaloosa and Gainesville since February, further surveying options across the Southeast. Parks added a pair of notable offers in late March, securing scholarship opportunities at LSU and USC.

This may have the makings of another Sunshine State showdown between rivals Florida and Florida State, but he's an excellent fit for Alabama's defensive attack and could flourish off the edge in a similar mold to past Saban-era stars. Parks, a state discus champion, compiled 68 tackles and seven sacks as a junior, according to Jon Santucci of TCPalm.com.

Best Fit: Alabama

5-Star Joshua Kaindoh

Credit: 247Sports

High School: IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)

Size: 6'6'", 256 lbs

Composite Ranking: No. 1 weak-side defensive end; No. 25 overall

Recruiting Rundown

Joshua Kaindoh collected several scholarship offers before he transferred from Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Maryland) to national powerhouse IMG Academy. Penn State, Maryland, Michigan and Ohio State were among Big Ten Conference teams to extend scholarships before he left the Mid-Atlantic region.

Many of those Big Ten schools remain in the mix, while Notre Dame presents another alluring opportunity up north. Nittany Lions defensive line coach Sean Spencer has made a strong impression, and the same can be said for highly respected Buckeyes assistant Larry Johnson.

Kaindoh, who averaged six tackles per game as a junior, per MaxPreps, has added offers from Oregon, Baylor, Mississippi State and LSU since January, but we still see him headed to Big Ten territory at this stage. The reputation of Johnson, a stockpile of young defensive talent and the addition of aggressive coordinator Greg Schiano should help Ohio State's case.

Best Fit: Ohio State

All recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports unless otherwise noted.