B/R Recruiting Notebook: 5-Star WR Sets Decision Date
Multiple spring games took place over the weekend, and coincidentally or not, several players in the 2017 class decided to end their recruiting processes.
Tennessee was a big winner over the weekend, landing three commitments in 4-star wide receiver K.D. Nixon, 3-star cornerback Cheyenne Labruzza and 3-star linebacker Solon Page III. Nixon is the Volunteers' top-ranked pledge thus far.
While the recruiting world is focused on the 2017 class, there's one name in the 2016 class that still draws a ton of attention.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Here's the latest recruiting news on some of the nation's top players.
2016 5-star WR sets a decision date
It looks like the wait is over for Savannah, Georgia, 5-star wide receiver Demetris Robertson, the top-ranked receiver in the 2016 class. According to 247Sports' Kipp Adams, Robertson is expected to announce where he'll play college football on May 2.
Robertson took his five official visits to Notre Dame (weekend of Sept. 5), Cal (Oct. 3), Georgia Tech (Jan. 29), Alabama (Feb. 26) and Georgia (March 19). He has signed agreement forms for financial aid—documents that bind a school to a player but do not bind a player to a school—with Georgia, Georgia Tech and Cal.
Georgia holds a slight lead on Robertson's 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions, and head coach Kirby Smart would love to have a player of Robertson's caliber. The Bulldogs had a top-10 2016 class that featured two 5-stars in quarterback Jacob Eason and tight end Isaac Nauta, both of whom have been on campus since January.
According to DawgNation's Jeff Sentell, Robertson's announcement will take place at his high school, Savannah Christian Prep. Alabama is reportedly out of the race, per Adams. Since he did not sign a national letter of intent, he is not bound to any program and can enroll in the summer. Student-athletes who do not sign national letters of intent are eligible to work out financial aid agreements with the schools they ultimately choose.
Several 2016 signees recently offered their own recruiting pitches to Robertson. The winning school will get a playmaker not only as a receiver but also as a kickoff and punt return specialist. Robertson was the nation's No. 14 player in the 2016 class.
New UGA pledge Poole has eyes on targets
Saturday was big for Georgia, as the Bulldogs landed another stud to go in its defensive arsenal in 4-star cornerback William Poole III. A top-100 player nationally as the No. 12 cornerback in the 2017 class, Poole chose Georgia over Florida, Alabama and others on a list that was 39 offers strong.
Poole joined a talented 2017 class but said he's looking to lead a recruiting revolution that ultimately will land several more elite-level athletes to Georgia's rising class. Among those targets are 5-star JaCoby Stevens—the nation's top-ranked athlete—and the 4-star Georgia trio of defensive end Malik Herring, linebacker Nate McBride and wide receiver Trey Blount.
"Dawg Nation, it's commit watch week we got a suprise for you #Shhh
— William Poole III (@__WP3) April 18, 2016"
The biggest target on Poole's plate? Poole said he's keeping close tabs on 4-star cornerback Jamyest Williams, another in-state prospect who he said "can change the momentum of a game at any moment."
"What makes him an intriguing target is not only his love for the game but his competitiveness and thrill to be the best every rep," Poole said of Williams, ranked the nation's No. 7 cornerback. "[He's] not the biggest defensive back, but with him, things like that don't matter, because you're going to feel his presence when he steps on the field.
"Me and him, together in the UGA secondary, I see him playing the Star/nickel position covering those shifty slots, blitzing and using his speed to make plays at any moment. Plus, he's a great kickoff returner/punt returner."
Williams has 46 offers, but Georgia leads the race in his 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions.
USC, others on the mind of 4-star DE/LB hybrid
Sacramento, California, 4-star defensive end D.J. Johnson originally had plans to take in USC's spring game on Saturday. Instead, Johnson stayed close to home and attended Sacramento State's spring game. He was there watching his older brother P.J. Johnson, a defensive lineman for the Hornets.
The missed opportunity to see USC, however, doesn't mean Johnson, the nation's No. 12 defensive end of the 2017 class, is putting the Trojans in a secondary position. The 6'5", 240-pound athlete said he's making it a priority to take a visit to the campus soon.
"I know I'm going to make some visits, and right now, I'm trying to get to USC," he said. "It's one of those powerhouse schools and somewhere I know I can go in and fit real well. They have a great team, and you can see how the players love the coaches. They have a great family atmosphere."
Johnson, a defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid who claims 40 offers, said he has an appreciation for USC's competitive nature and how the players rallied around Clay Helton when he was interim head coach and once he was promoted to full-time head coach.
Johnson added that while USC is high on his list, other schools are viewed equally. Ole Miss, Oregon, Michigan, Georgia and UCLA are schools to watch as he prepares to trim his list. He said he's planning on making a final decision after his senior season.
"Family atmosphere, that's important to me," Johnson said. "I want to see players and coaches getting along great. I don't want to go somewhere where the players don't like the coaches. I also want to go where I can fight for a job early as a true freshman. I want to be somewhere where I can go dominate."
For 4-star OT, memories of recruiting count
For Jackson, Tennessee, 4-star offensive tackle Trey Smith, the recruiting process is all about making and keeping memories. He has 25 reported offers and holds several schools in high regard.
Last month, Smith had a memorable time in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, when he visited the Crimson Tide and met with head coach Nick Saban. He was able to spend considerable time with Saban and talk about both football and non-football issues.
"The biggest highlight I've had personally was meeting Coach Saban the first time," Smith said. "I grew up an Alabama fan, so walking into his office and shaking his hand while listening to him tell what a great player I am was surreal."
Meeting Saban will be something Smith will never forget, but will it be enough for him to commit to the Crimson Tide? Smith has a few schools on his watch list, including Ohio State, Ole Miss, Auburn, Notre Dame, Clemson and in-state school Tennessee.
Per 247Sports, Smith reportedly has made unofficial visits this month to Ole Miss, Ohio State and Notre Dame. At 6'5" and 302 pounds, he is the nation's No. 10 offensive tackle and No. 55 overall player in the 2017 class.
A sleeper option for Detroit 4-star CB?
Remember in September when Ambry Thomas received 129 pieces of mail from Notre Dame all in the same day? Detroit's 4-star cornerback still recalls it as if it were yesterday. There's a reason why Notre Dame remains high on his list.
But the Irish have plenty of competition, as Thomas continues to take his time with his recruitment. Schools like Penn State, West Virginia, Pitt and in-state schools Michigan and Michigan State have all received visits from Thomas this spring.
The one school to keep an eye on, however, is farthest from home. Thomas said there is one school to watch that some may not have on their personal radars for him.
"I'm feeling Arizona," Thomas said. "They've got new coaches around [head coach Rich Rodriguez], especially the cornerbacks coach [Donte Williams]. He's making a personal trip to see me on April 27."
Thomas, now 6'0" and 175 pounds, has 32 reported offers and said he's listening to all schools. LSU, Ohio State and Tennessee are three other schools that could be in the running.
"Everything's going real good," he said. "I'm picking up more offers and receiving more and more interest. It's going fine."
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
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