B/R Recruiting Notebook: 4-Star CB Has Favorites, Secrets

As we prepare for mid-April, more and more athletes are inching closer to announcing their verbal commitments and finalizing their college careers. And while there are uncommitted athletes setting their college plans, there are also committed players putting on their recruiter hats to sway some of the nation's elite targets.

Here are some updates from a few of the nation's highly coveted athletes of the 2017 class:

4-star CB Stewart has favorites...and secrets

New Orleans 4-star cornerback Brad Stewart Jr. wants to make it clear: There are schools he likes—and then there are schools he likes that the public doesn't know about.

Stewart on Sunday said that schools like Florida, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Mississippi State are among those that he's publicly admitting to having an admiration for. All four schools, he said, fit him well with what he's looking for in a college program.

But then, there are those schools that he hasn't discussed—and the ones he chose not to address at the present time.

"There are a couple of schools I like, but there are a couple of schools I like behind the scenes," Stewart said. "I think I'm going to put out a top seven before the season starts this summer."

Stewart defined the recruiting process as "crazy" but added that he's enjoying every minute of it. He likes meeting new coaches and learning more about new schools and their football programs.

As a top-20 cornerback and the No. 7 player out of the state of Louisiana, Stewart said he is looking for a place with a great defense and the opportunity to not only get early playing time, but also learn a lot from a quality defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.

"A lot of coaches have been getting at me lately. I didn't know it could be like this, but it's fun to me," Stewart said. "It's a blessing to be recruited. You shouldn't say it's stressful; it's only stressful to some because they make it stressful. I'm enjoying it, and I'm just trying to get better."

4-star QB Robison wants OU class No. 1

It's been a week since Mesquite, Texas, 4-star quarterback and Oklahoma commit Chris Robison earned his invitation to the Elite 11 finals this summer in Los Angeles. That goal has been obtained.

Now Robison, the nation's No. 8 pro-style quarterback, is focused on another objective: building the Sooners' 2017 class. Oklahoma already has the nation's No. 2 class with 12 commits—with 10 of the 12 listed as 4-star athletes—and has bucked the recent trend of starting recruiting slow but finishing strong late.

For Robison, however, having the nation's top-ranked class is a goal. And he feels he and his future teammates can help get it done through player recruiting. Among the targets Robison wants is Greater Houston 5-star Marvin Wilson, the nation's top-ranked defensive tackle and No. 4 player overall.

"All the OU recruits are trying to recruit as many as we can," Robison said. "We're definitely looking at Marvin. I mean, just look at him. He's a great player, and I know he can help us."

Among the other names targeted are 5-star cornerback Darnay Holmes, 4-star offensive tackle Chuck Filiaga and 4-star linebacker Anthony Hines III. Filiaga recently moved to Texas from California. Hines has 86 offers but is good friends with Oklahoma linebacker commit Levi Draper. Holmes is a Southern California athlete, and the Sooners have been very successful in recent years in landing athletes from the Golden State.

"It's a great feeling, because I know I'll have a lot of guys around me who can play," Robison said. "We're going to get out there in Norman and just work."

Bama-bound Leatherwood wants 'toughness, relentlessness'

Pensacola, Florida, 4-star offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood put on a show at Sunday's The Opening regional, proving why he's a top-60 player and a top-10 offensive tackle nationally with each block.

Leatherwood's been committed to Alabama for a little more than 10 months, and while he said other schools have been trying to sway him, he's still a strong commit to the Crimson Tide.

"It was the coaching staff and the facilities," Leatherwood said of choosing Alabama. "Basically, it was the morale of the team. I liked it all."

Leatherwood said The Opening regional was a good time for him to not only try to earn an invitation to The Opening finals—which he did—but also be on the lookout in scouting for players who could be future teammates. Leatherwood didn't name any players in particular, but he had an idea of the kind of player he was looking for.

"There were a few guys out here. I was out scouting and looking to see who would be a good fit for us," he said. "I'm looking for toughness, relentlessness, a good work ethic and competitiveness."

Some of the Alabama targets in New Orleans on Sunday include 5-star LSU defensive tackle pledge Tyler Shelvin, 4-star running back Cam Akers and 4-star receiver Devonta Smith. Akers and Smith both were invited to The Opening on Sunday.

Another The Opening invitee to watch is offensive tackle Nick Brahms, an unrated athlete with 30-plus reported offers. Alabama has yet to offer, but Brahms was impressive throughout Sunday.

3 to watch early for 4-star DB Harris

Measuring in on Sunday a shade under 6'0", 181 pounds, Plaquemine, Louisiana, 4-star defensive back Todd Harris said he has been asked if he, as the nation's No. 4 safety, would be willing to play cornerback at the next level.

Harris showed his coverage skills at The Opening regional, making several plays that earned him an invitation to The Opening finals and would have some believing him to be a lockdown corner in college. His comfort zone, however, is when he's surveying the entire field in order to make a play.

"I think safety will be the best fit for me, but it would be good for me to learn all the positions of the secondary," Harris said. "I'd prefer to play safety in college, but I'm not trying to choose my position. I'll play whatever position the coach needs me to play."

Where he'll play is the more pressing question. Harris said he has a few schools on his radar but mentioned three in particular—LSU, Ole Miss and Mississippi State. He added that he isn't counting out other schools because he's still looking to take unofficial visits during the summer.

"At Ole Miss, those guys are aggressive and physical there. They play ball," Harris said. "With Mississippi State, it's Stark Vegas. I like it out there. LSU is in my backyard. There's that home-state love for LSU."

Harris said he's looking to build better relationships with the coaches at all three schools, as well as other programs. He doesn't have a set schedule as of yet, but he's excited about taking a few visits before the start of his senior year.

"My mom's a principal, so we're going to be real big on education," he said. "I want to make sure I get a great education wherever I go. I want to go someplace where I'm comfortable. I don't want to have any regrets about my final decision."

Name and game fit well for 3-star OL Humphrey

A candidate for the best name of the 2017: Shawnee, Oklahoma, 3-star offensive lineman Creed Humphrey.

It was fitting on Sunday that one of the most talked-about offensive linemen had the first name of the popular boxing movie that many sports fans still talk about months after its release. And just like the main character in the movie—as well as the main character's father in the Rocky movie series—Humphrey put on a show with his gritty work in the trenches.

Humphrey has nearly a dozen reported offers but said he's taking his recruiting process relatively slow at the current time. A decision, however, could come sooner than expected.

"Right now, I'm just visiting schools and meeting coaches," Humphrey said. "I'll probably make a decision by the middle of the summer."

While Humphrey is big on a winning school that builds player-coach relationships year in and out, he also said he wants to attend a college where he can get a good degree. Currently, Humphrey said he doesn't have a favorite but has offers from Texas A&M, Texas, Tulsa, Memphis, Kansas State and Houston, among others.

And what will the winning program get from Humphrey, outside of a recognizable first name?

"Someone who will work hard every play," Humphrey said. "I have a good first punch, solid footwork and low pad level. I like to compete."

3-star LB Clarke nearing 20 offers, eyeing visits

New Orleans 3-star outside linebacker Josh Clarke is nearing 20 reported offers and has made recent unofficial visits to Arkansas, Ole Miss and LSU. The summer could be loaded with visits, as well, as Clarke said he's hoping to make a return trip to Arkansas and take in Oregon, Mississippi State and Florida

"The process is going real good. Everything's been picking up since my junior season," Clarke said. "I'm trying to get to a few schools, take some official visits and then make a decision around late January."

Clarke, who measured at The Opening New Orleans regional at 6'2", 216 pounds, said schools like Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia and LSU have been showing the most interest. Clarke added that the interest from Louisville and UCLA has been a steady rise.

After a booming junior season, Clarke is hoping to see similar success during the summer with his recruitment. He showed his skills as someone who has good pursuit and coverage skills at the outside linebacker position.

"Really, I'm just looking for a team that has a great connection with the coaches," he said of his recruitment. "That's important to me."

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