B/R Recruiting Notebook: No. 4 Safety Discusses Offers, Runs off Checklist
The month of May will bring spring games for high schools, unofficial visits for college football recruits and, for some, verbal commitments to Power Five programs. May will also be the final month before 2016 athletes prepare for graduation, while 2017 athletes will get ready for their senior years.
Consider May a time where recruiting news will be at a high. Here are some updates from 2017 and 2018 athletes expected to ultimately sign national letters of intent to FBS programs.
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Major checklist to fulfill for No. 4 safety Hunter
As the nation's No. 4 safety, Chesapeake, Virginia, prospect Devon Hunter is one of those athletes expected to be a stud at the next level. The 4-star standout will have the opportunity to see early playing time as a strong safety or rover for the right school.
Now with 42 reported offers—and the latest offer coming from Kansas State—Hunter is taking the proper steps to narrow his list of schools. He said he's hoping to have a top-10 list before his first game in August.
Three schools that have great chances of making Hunter's top 10 are Virginia Tech, Clemson and Florida. Hunter said all three programs have been showing him a lot of attention.
"I've had a chance to get to know the coaches and the lifestyles of the players there," Hunter said. " I have built great relationships with everyone there, and I feel like I can make an impact instantly."
The winning school, Hunter said, will have to live up to high expectations, as Hunter has a few important things he wants in his future college. He has a checklist that he's hoping one school will meet thoroughly.
"First off, I'm looking at education, what the ranking is graduating athletes is and how successful graduates are after school," Hunter said. "Second, I'm looking at how many people they send to the league at my position."
"I'm competitive, so I want to compete against some of the top guys," Hunter added. "I'm looking at that, and I'm looking at defensive styles. I also want to play with a team that's got a good defensive line. [The linemen] create turnovers, and if they're having fun, we're all having fun."
Hunter is ranked as the No. 53 overall player in the 2017 class. He is also the No. 2 player out of the state of Virginia.
RB Laborn discusses love-hate relationship
Virginia Beach running back Khalan Laborn, like many other college football recruits, has a love-hate relationship with the recruiting process. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Laborn (first name pronounced KAY-lan) said the process has its moments, but can also become slightly annoying. He also knows that the feeling can come with anything in life, and as he continues his research on the multiple offers received, he will continue to be grateful for everything.
"I love it, because it's my dream to go to college, win the Heisman and then to the NFL. I can't do that without [the process]," said Laborn, the nation's No. 2 all-purpose back and No. 40 overall player in the 2017 class. "But then I hate it when I get texts all the time. Plus, people on Twitter say crazy stuff. Some of it, I kind of like, though, because it shows that they care."
Laborn, who claims 28 offers, said he's planning on trimming his list of schools soon. He said every school has a shot, but added that he'd be interested in playing on the West Coast if the opportunity presented itself. One of his childhood dreams was to play for USC and follow in the footsteps of one of his all-time favorite players, Reggie Bush. USC has yet to offer Laborn.
As for a final decision, look for Laborn to verbally commit possibly this summer.
"Whenever it hits me, that's when I'll announce," he said. "I was going to do it June 3; I might still do it then, but I'm not sure. June 1 is my birthday, and that's a Wednesday. I wanted to do it on a Friday. Wherever I go, I want to get along with the team and the coaches. I want to know if I can be really useful to a team, or am I just another guy on their depth chart? I want a team that needs me."
Top-10 list coming soon for 4-star WR Manning
Lancaster, Texas, 4-star wide receiver Omar Manning has watched his popularity skyrocket in a matter of months. He now has 33 offers, the latest from Ohio State last week, and is taking in the recruiting experience with each new offer.
"After the [2015] season is when the bulk of the offers came," Manning said. "At first, I was overwhelmed. There were offers coming and coaching calling all the time. But now, I'm enjoying it all. It's a blessing from God. I'm truly happy."
Manning, a big receiver at 6'3", 203 pounds, said he has a top-15 list that he's keeping to himself. He said he plans on releasing a top 10 possibly within the next few weeks.
Although Manning is keeping his interested schools under wraps, Ohio State is believed to be one of those with a legitimate shot to land him. He said he was grateful to receive an offer from the Buckeyes.
"Usually, they don't recruit much in Texas," Manning said. "If they're recruiting here, it's because they're really interested in someone. Because of that, I felt blessed. I was excited to get [the offer]."
Manning continued: "Wherever I go, I want to come in and make an impact for the school. I want to fit into a system, and I want it to be like a family. When football's not in season, I want to be able to see myself there three or four years."
Schemes matter to hybrid defender Rudolph
The recruiting process has been good to Rock Hill, South Carolina, 4-star hybrid defender Logan Rudolph. The younger brother of Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph has 40 offers and is preparing to narrow his list.
Among the schools that Rudolph is keeping high are Florida State, Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and South Carolina. Rudolph said he has several other programs that he's paying attention to, but a decision will involve more than simply playing for a good program.
"I think position is going to play a role," said Rudolph, who, at 6'3" and 228 pounds, is being recruited as both a defensive end and an outside linebacker. "I'm looking at which team wants me to play which position. Those things play a key role in a decision like this.
"Some schools are recruiting me as an outside linebacker, and others as a defensive end. That's another struggle I'm going through; I have to figure out what I want to do," Rudolph added. "Different defenses have different schemes. I just have to make the decision of where I feel most comfortable."
Rudolph is looking at playing either outside linebacker in a 4-3 system or defensive end in a 3-4 system. Being a pass-rushing option is a primary objective at the next level. Rudolph also is looking for a place with a winning tradition and a personable coaching staff.
"I'm trying to make a decision sooner than later," he said. "I don't know off the top of my head when it'll be, but I'm thinking mid- to late spring, maybe even earlier."
Schools standing out for 2018 QB Walters
Fresh off an appearance at Sunday's Elite 11 New Jersey regional, Paramus, New Jersey, 2018 quarterback Allan Walters has a few schools he's high on early. With a dozen reported offers—and the most recent coming from Arkansas—Walters told Bleacher Report's Tyler Donohue that he's high on Alabama, Ole Miss and Michigan, and he plans to visit all three schools before making a final decision.
One school to keep an eye on, Walters said, is Stanford. Walters told Donohue that he will visit June 14 for a quarterback camp. Additionally, Walters is planning to fly to California to help Paramus Catholic teammate and Stanford signee Donald Stewart move onto campus this summer.
"I like Stanford a lot. Donald has been hyping it up for me," said Walters, who doesn't have a Stanford offer as of yet. "They want to see my complete sophomore-year transcript to make sure everything is settled and my grades are good enough to get into there."
Ole Miss, Maryland and Rutgers are among the other schools that have offered Walters. Michigan is a school to watch, as Walters also was teammates with defensive lineman Rashan Gary, the top-ranked player in the 2016 class.
Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles
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