B/R Recruiting Notebook: 5-Star LB Tracking Schools That Keep His Mom Informed
The month of June could be one loaded with recruiting news this year. With on-campus camps, nationwide satellite camps and unofficial visits on tap for multiple athletes, the headlines in recruiting could see a major uptick.
There are many athletes looking to finalize their college plans before the start of their senior season. On the other hand, there are those athletes using this time to further gain research on programs in order to make an informed decision in time for national decision day. And then, there are the already committed athletes using the summer season to put on their recruiter caps and help land some of the best uncommitted targets around.
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Here are some updates on some of the nation's top athletes.
Best way to recruit 5-star Browning? Keep mom updated
Here's the good news for colleges: 5-star linebacker Baron Browning is still wide open and entertaining all opportunities.
For someone claiming 40 offers, that's a big deal.
"People are still trying to see where I'm at, but I'm really neutral," said Browning, a one-time Baylor commit and the nation's No. 2 outside linebacker and No. 14 overall player in the 2017 class representing Kennedale, Texas. "I'm just chilling; I don't have any favorites. Right now, I'm focused on finishing strong and competing this summer."
Browning, who will participate at The Opening next month in Beaverton, Oregon, is monitoring every school interested, and part of the monitoring process involves the happiness of his mother, DeKisha Browning. For Baron, it's simple: Make a good impression with mom, score high marks with him.
Currently, Ohio State has been the school to impress Browning's mother the most. Browning said head coach Urban Meyer and linebackers coach Luke Fickell have been very good at making Browning's mother a major part of the recruiting process.
"Of all the schools recruiting me, they're the only school that's really tried to talk to my mom," Browning said of Ohio State. "Coach Meyer and Coach Fickell have made sure to keep my mom in the loop with everything. My mom said it's her favorite school, because they're the only ones who keep in touch.
"With my mom, she wants to know if her baby will be OK wherever I go. When I was on my visit [at Ohio State], Coach Fickell made sure I sent pictures while I was there. They wanted her to know everything I was doing."
Ohio State is a trip Browning said he plans to make with his parents during the program's Friday Night Lights camp next month. Browning added that he'll be at Notre Dame this week for the annual Irish Invasion, and he'll make upcoming trips to Michigan and Florida State.
As for a decision, look for him to finalize his college plans before January.
"I thought I was going to make [a decision] soon, but I'm just not ready," he said. "It may happen around November, because I still want to graduate early. There's no exact day right now, but it'll happen."
Florida QB commit targeting 3 for 2017 class
It was a productive weekend for 4-star Florida quarterback commit Jake Allen. After competing at the Elite 11 Finals, Allen now sets his sights on building a Gators 2017 class that has room for improvement.
Allen, from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is one of two 4-star pledges in the class, the other being wide receiver Daquon Green. Allen said he is targeting three athletes who will give the class a major boost—three athletes who are expected to challenge for immediate playing time wherever they end up.
"I've got to have Kai-Leon Herbert, Alex Leatherwood and Donovan Peoples-Jones—two great tackles and another great receiver to work with," Allen said. "Kai is an extremely athletic tackle. I know he'll protect me. I played my sophomore year with Kai [at Cardinal Gibbons High School], so I know he'll have my back.
"Donovan's off the charts with his athleticism. I want a guy like that going up to get the ball. Plus, he'll run by people. Alex is a freaking wall. I know he loves the game, and I know that dude isn't afraid of anyone."
Leatherwood, a 5-star offensive tackle, is an Alabama commit who keeps Florida on his list of schools. A Pensacola, Florida, resident, Leatherwood reportedly took an unofficial visit to Florida over the weekend. Herbert, a 4-star tackle, is a player who has had Florida a front-runner for a long time.
The wild card will be Peoples-Jones, a 5-star receiver who is looking at Florida, as well as Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Florida State and Alabama, among others. Peoples-Jones is the nation's top-ranked receiver in the 2017 class.
"I definitely want them all on my team," Allen said. "We can do some things."
A half-dozen offers for interior OL Emmanuel
For Waxhaw, North Carolina, 3-star interior lineman Dmitri Emmanuel, having a half-dozen offers—compared to some having several dozen offers—can be viewed as more of a blessing than a curse. Emmanuel has been able to give his six offers—North Carolina, Wake Forest, Charlotte, Syracuse, Boston College and Old Dominion—a thorough review.
The winning school will get a fast-rising interior lineman who can play both guard and center effectively.
"I'm very lucky to be in this situation in the first place," Emmanuel said. "A lot of people aren't able to get some of these colleges, so it's really an honor for me. I'm still waiting on a couple more schools before I decide anything, but looking at all the schools right now, I'd say I have a pretty good offer list."
Emmanuel, whose first offer was from Old Dominion, said he hears from Wake Forest, North Carolina and Charlotte the most. He visited Wake Forest over the weekend for a one-day camp and is scheduling a visit to Tennessee this week for a day camp.
Additionally, Emmanuel said he is looking at attending an upcoming satellite camp in Charlotte, North Carolina, featuring Penn State, Florida and Appalachian State. He also will take in on-campus camps at Syracuse and Virginia Tech next month.
"I'm just looking for a place that I can call home," Emmanuel said. "I want to be somewhere where my family and I will think is best for me the next couple of years. I want a place with a good tradition and someplace where I can bond with teammates."
Wazzu QB commit hoping to call twin a teammate
Wilsonville, Oregon, 3-star quarterback Connor Neville committed to Washington State on April 2 and has been on a nonstop prowl to recruit new talent for the Cougars.
Neville said he's got his eye on a few targets, including California 3-star athletes Nick Pickett and Chris Brooks and Sherwood, Oregon, 3-star hybrid outside linebacker David Morris, a recent Oregon State commit whom Neville would like to see playing safety for the Cougars.
Neville said he is a fan of the direction of Washington State's 2017 class, but there's one person he would be elated for head coach Mike Leach to take a shot on. It's someone Neville may know better than anybody.
"My brother is slowly starting to blow up," Neville said of Jonny Neville, Connor's twin and a 6'4", 200-pound wide receiver who can also line up as a flex tight end in the right system. "When I got my first offer from Boise State, I told my mom that one day, Jonny's going to blow up more than me.
"Washington State said if he did good at their camp, they'd probably offer. He's been working really hard, and he's one of the hardest workers I know. Him getting a Washington State offer would be awesome."
The brothers have chemistry on and off the field. They connected regularly as juniors on the field, leading Wilsonville to a 10-2 record. Per MaxPreps, Connor threw for 3,110 yards and 37 touchdowns. He completed 199 passes, and Jonny caught 45 of those for 813 yards and 13 touchdowns.
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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