Every Power 5 College Football Team's Top 2017 Recruiting Target This Summer

The 2016 college football season is still almost three months away, but planning for the future never takes a break. FBS teams are hard at work trying to secure recruits for their 2017 rosters, and the summer is a key time to make connections and land commitments.

Only 11 of the 33 players listed by 247Sports as 5-star prospects have pledged to a school at this point, but several figure to come off the board this summer. The same goes for those at the 3- and 4-star level, players who aren't as highly regarded from a national standpoint but might be the key player that makes or breaks a team's 2017 recruiting class.

We've identified an uncommitted player that's considered one of the top recruiting targets for every Power Five conference team, as well as top independents BYU and Notre Dame, and note why he's important to each school (as well as who else wants him).

Alabama: Marvin Wilson

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Defensive tackle

Height, weight: 6'4", 329 lbs

Rank: 3rd

Alabama's defensive line depth in 2015 was the stuff of legend, the Crimson Tide laying claim to nine studs who were all 4- or 5-star prospects coming out of high school. But you can never have enough stars in the trenches, not when a good helping graduate or turn pro each season, so it's always wise to stock up.

The Tide signed four defensive linemen in the 2016 class, and one of their nine 2017 commitments is up front, but it's Marvin Wilson they really want. At his size, who wouldn't?

The top-rated defensive tackle in the country (and the No. 1 prospect from Texas), Wilson most recently visited Alabama late last month but has since visited Ole Miss and attended a camp at Oklahoma. He's received 26 offers, including from Florida State, LSU and Texas. He's originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, so the Tigers are among 'Bama's top competition for his talents.

Arizona: Salvon Ahmed

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Athlete

Height, weight: 6'0", 185 lbs

Rank: 137th

Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez is on a never-ending search for speed, and lots of it. More than strength or size, a recruit's agility and swiftness tends to be what he looks at most when evaluating. And if they can contribute in multiple ways, that's even better.

This is what has led the Wildcats to go hard after Salvon Ahmed, a basketball and football star from Kirkland, Washington, who is listed as the fourth-best athlete of 2017. His reported 4.50-second time in the 40-yard dash doesn't tell the whole story of Ahmed, who plays running back, receiver, cornerback and safety for his prep team.

Arizona is battling with Notre Dame, Oregon, Stanford and Washington, among others, for Ahmed's commitment.

Arizona State: Christopher Allen

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Linebacker

Height, weight: 6'4", 234 lbs

Rank: 108th

It will take a lot for Arizona State to steal Christopher Allen out of SEC country, but it would be worth it to land one of the most impactful defenders of the 2017 class.

The seventh-best outside linebacker in the country, per 247Sports, Allen has offers from 17 schools, including Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Texas A&M. It's LSU that has received 100 percent of Crystal Ball predictions on 247Sports, though in April he told Drew Champlin of AL.com that Alabama was his leader.

The Sun Devils have yet to get Allen to come out west for a visit, having only offered him less than two months ago, but this summer they'll continue to push to move up his interest board in hopes of making a big steal.

Arkansas: Isaiah Buggs

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Defensive end

Height, weight: 6'5", 280 lbs

Rank: 6th (junior college)

Arkansas' top recruit from 2016 may play at the same position, but with the Razorbacks set to lose several defensive linemen after this season, it always helps to stock up. That's why Isaiah Buggs is a major priority for the Razorbacks, whose continued rise in the SEC West is dependent on staying strong on defense.

Buggs recently cut his list of potential suitors to eight schools, with Arkansas making the list alongside Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, LSU, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Texas A&M. He recorded four sacks and 15 tackles for loss last season at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

The Hogs' top signee from this past recruiting class is defensive end McTelvin Agim, who joined the program in December and figures to battle with seniors Jeremiah Ledbetter and Deatrich Wise for a starting spot this fall.

Auburn: Trey Smith

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Offensive tackle

Height, weight: 6'5 ½", 299 lbs

Rank: 48th

There are a lot of potential answers for why Auburn's offense hasn't been as explosive the last two seasons after that monster 2013 performance that resulted in a BCS title-game run. Having the proper blocking scheme up front is on that list, which is why the Tigers went out and got line coach Herb Hand from Penn State this winter.

Getting Hand some top-notch prospects to work with is the next step. Only one of Auburn's 21 signees from 2016 is on the offensive line, but the 2017 class has included No. 3 offensive tackle Calvin Ashley since May 2015. If the Tigers can also get Trey Smith, it would make for a great pair of bookends for the future.

Smith is listed as the 11th-best offensive tackle in 247Sports' composite rankings, but he is No. 1 overall in ESPN's top 300 prospects. According to Bleacher Report's Damon Sayles, Smith has remained mum to this point on his future but "admitted that he's planning on dropping a top eight at The Opening and would like to make a verbal commitment around mid-December."

Baylor: K'Lavon Chaisson

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Defensive end

Height, weight: 6'4", 211 lbs

Rank: 90th

Art Briles' firing amid the football program's handling of sexual assault allegations has led to a domino effect on the recruiting trail. Since news of that broke in late May, Baylor has seen five of its six pledges for 2017 back out of their commitments, dropping the Bears to 95th in the national rankings after pulling in the No. 17 class in February.

That makes basically every player Baylor is currently recruiting a priority, though K'Lavon Chaisson remains at the top of that list.

The Houston native is the sixth-best weak-side defensive end in the 2017 class, and Baylor is one of 23 schools he's been offered by. The Bears extended their offense last July, and since then, he's made two visits to Waco but none since November.

Boston College: Tarik Black

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Wide receiver

Height, weight: 6'4", 208 lbs

Rank: 122nd

Boston College had the nation's top-ranked defense in 2015 but could do nothing with it thanks to a woeful offense that scored only 10.6 points per game against FBS opponents. Getting better playmakers is a key goal for the Eagles this summer, and grabbing one of the top players from the Northeast would be a great step in that direction.

Tarik Black, who plays at Cheshire Academy in Connecticut, has caught 24 touchdown passes in his career, per MaxPreps. He's been offered by 31 schools, including plenty of big names such as Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame, Stanford and UCLA.

Black's Cheshire Academy played host this past weekend to a satellite camp run by coaches from BC, Connecticut and Michigan.

BYU: Jay Tufele

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Defensive tackle

Height, weight: 6'3", 297 lbs

Rank: 51st

As much as BYU wants to continue to grow as a nationally recognized football program, it still knows where its strongest base is. That's why managing to grab Utah's top prospect for 2017 is as important as anything else on the recruiting trail this summer.

Jay Tufele, who is the nation's No. 3 defensive tackle, has recorded 16 sacks the past two seasons for Bingham High School in South Jordan, Utah. He has 21 offers, with BYU getting its main competition from Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, UCLA and in-state rival Utah.

The Cougars used a 3-4 base defense last season under Bronco Mendenhall but could be switching to 4-3 this fall under new coach Kalani Sitake. Having Tufele on board for 2017 would enable that change to be effective in the future.

California: Tate Martell

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Quarterback

Height, weight: 5'10 ½", 203 lbs

Rank: 33rd

There are few 2017 recruits who have made as many headlines as Tate Martell, the Las Vegas quarterback whose recent decommitment from Texas A&M had a ripple effect in early May. It may have prompted A&M assistant Aaron Moorehead to go on a Twitter rant, which led the Aggies to lose at least one commitment and possibly other potential ones.

With all of that in his past, Martell is focused on trying to figure out where he's going to play next season. Last week, he released a new top six, and California made the cut alongside fellow Pac-12 schools Colorado, UCLA and Southern California as well as Ohio State and West Virginia.

Martell would be a big boost for a Golden Bears team that lost No. 1 NFL draft pick Jared Goff after 2015 and may be searching for a new starter again in 2017 if Texas Tech graduate transfer Davis Webb gets the job this fall.

Clemson: JaCoby Stevens

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Athlete

Height, weight: 6'2", 200 lbs

Rank: 27th

Among Clemson's 10 commitments for 2017 are players who fill needs at a variety of positions. But none has the versatility to contribute in as many ways as JaCoby Stevens, the nation's top-rated "athlete."

A wide receiver and safety from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Stevens recently included Clemson in his top six along with Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, LSU and Tennessee. That came instead of a previously announced commitment on that date, choosing to keep his options open for a while.

That means the summer will be huge for the Tigers and his other suitors as they work to convince Stevens that their school is where he belongs.

Colorado: Alex Perry

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Cornerback

Height, weight: 5'11", 178 lbs

Rank: 178th

While it should be considered a big deal that Colorado made the final six of uncommitted quarterback Tate Martell, the Buffaloes may be a distant sixth on that list compared to the other options. In reality, their bigger priority this summer is another player from Martell's Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, one who can help shore up their porous pass defense.

Alex Perry is the No. 18 cornerback in the 2017 class, but his overall ranking is almost 100 spots better than any player Colorado currently has a commitment from. Perry, who has 13 scholarship offers, told 247Sports in March he plans to visit Colorado this fall along with Michigan, North Carolina and Oklahoma.

Colorado allowed 24 passing touchdowns last season, and the majority of the players who contributed to its 14 interceptions in 2016 have either left the program or will be seniors this fall.

Duke: Jack Sears

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Quarterback

Height, weight: 6'3", 200 lbs

Rank: 214th

How far has Duke come under coach David Cutcliffe? As recently as a few years ago, it would have been unheard of for the Blue Devils to have a good shot at landing an Elite 11 quarterback finalist, but Jack Sears visited Durham in April and was offered the same day.

Unfortunately for Duke, since then Sears has received nine other offers, including from Ole Miss, UCLA, USC and rival North Carolina.

The Blue Devils are also a finalist for 3-star passer Jay Urich, along with South Carolina, but Sears would be a much bigger get. The California native threw 37 touchdown passes (against just two interceptions) and ran for nine more scores as a junior.

Florida: Donovan Peoples-Jones

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Wide receiver

Height, weight: 6'2", 192 lbs

Rank: 6th

The nation's top-rated wide receiver is arguably the biggest summer recruiting target for a number of schools, but of those pursuing him, none might be in need of a playmaker as much as Florida.

The Gators managed to win the SEC East last season despite an offense that sputtered down the stretch, and with leading pass-catcher Antonio Callaway's status with the team up in the air, this fall could lead to more struggles. Donovan Peoples-Jones wouldn't be able to help the 2016 product, but he's making preparations to impact his school right away in 2017.

"I'll be enrolling in a school in January, so it'll have to hit me before then," Peoples-Jones said to the Detroit Free Press' Perry A. Farrell when asked about choosing a college. "I won't quite make it to national signing day, but I'll have to figure it out so I can be an early enrollee."

The Detroit native has 23 offers, with Big Ten schools Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State ahead of Florida in terms of 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions.

Florida State: Tee Higgins

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Wide receiver

Height, weight: 6'4 ½", 188 lbs

Rank: 16th

There's a long way to go before Tee Higgins makes his college decision, having just cut his list last month to 10 teams. Clemson and Tennessee are getting the bulk of the predictions for this Volunteer State product, but don't expect Florida State to back off in its pursuit of the nation's No. 3 wide receiver prospect.

Higgins converted 16 of his 46 receptions last season into touchdowns, the kind of big-play product the Seminoles desperately need at the position. Last year, they had only 18 receptions go for 30 or more yards.

FSU last checked in with Higgins in May, sending assistant Lawrence Dawsey out for a visit. Expect the 'Noles to be in full force when he competes this summer at The Opening in Oregon.

Georgia: Cam Akers

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Running back

Height, weight: 5'11 ½", 212 lbs

Rank: 15th

As much as Georgia (and everyone) would love to have No. 1 overall prospect Najee Harris on its team in 2017, it might be next to impossible to pry that stud running back away from his Alabama commitment. The Bulldogs will be quite fine with the consolation prize of Cam Akers, the nation's No. 2 rusher.

Akers, a Mississippi native, ran for 1,418 yards and 16 touchdowns last season for Clinton High School, where he's gained nearly 3,000 yards with 37 TDs in his career. He recently told 247Sports' Kipp Adams that things could line up well for him at Georgia "if Nick [Chubb] and Sony Michel leave" college after this season.

Chubb and Michel are both juniors, and while Georgia signed a pair of running backs in the 2016 class, neither are as highly rated as Akers. He'd make a great compliment to a 2017 haul that already includes athlete Richard LeCounte III and quarterback Jake Fromm.

Georgia Tech: Bruce Jordan-Swilling

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Linebacker

Height, weight: 6'0", 215 lbs

Rank: 116th

Georgia Tech's commitment to the triple-option offense can sometimes lead to challenges on the recruiting front since very few high schools run that system. Ideally, the Yellow Jackets look to sign athletes who can be developed into option contributors if they don't already have the existing experience.

Enter Bruce Jordan-Swilling, whose national ranking with 247Sports—he's the No. 8 outside linebacker in the class—is based mostly on his work on defense, but his time at running back with New Orleans' Brother Martin High School could be what takes him to Atlanta. He ran for 994 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, per MaxPreps.

The other factors working for Georgia Tech are of the family kind. Jordan-Swilling is the son of former Yellow Jacket star defensive end Pat Swilling, and Tech is among the schools interested in brother Tre Swilling, a 3-star cornerback in the 2017 class.

Illinois: Jaylen Kelly-Powell

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Safety

Height, weight: 6'0", 175 lbs

Rank: 252nd

Having been away from the college game for more than 20 years, new Illinois coach Lovie Smith is still shaking off the rust when it comes to recruiting. He currently has only four commitments for 2017, three coming since he was hired this spring, and none are ranked among the top 300 players in the class.

Jaylen Kelly-Powell would be a huge pickup for the Fighting Illini, but it will take a lot for them to beat out a long list of big names. Illinois just offered him in late May, making it the 40th school to hand out a scholarship to the Detroit product who ranks as Michigan's fifth-best 2017 recruit.

Indiana: R.J. Potts

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Safety

Height, weight: 6'2", 199 lbs

Rank: 304th

Far from a major power in college football, Indiana's recruiting priorities start close to home and then extend outward. That's why getting the state's third-best prospect for 2017 is so important since the first two names—Clemson quarterback commit Hunter Johnson and Notre Dame linebacker pledge Pete Werner—have already come off the board.

R.J. Potts made two visits to Bloomington last fall, watching the Hoosiers' overtime loss to Michigan and then coming back as they prepared for their first bowl game since 2007. According to 247Sports' Crystal Ball predictions, Indiana is the leader with 40 percent of entries, but there's a long way to go.

Indiana hasn't landed a top-five in-state recruit since 2014 when it signed wide receiver Dominique Booth. Booth had eight catches as a freshman that year, but he missed 2015 with a hand injury and has since announced his transfer.

Iowa: Shamond Greenwood

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Wide receiver

Height, weight: 6'3", 195 lbs

Rank: 689th

After signing a 2016 recruiting class made up entirely of 3-star prospects, Iowa has aimed higher this time around and already has commitments from 5-star defensive end A.J. Epenesa and 4-star running back Eno Benjamin. The Hawkeyes' bread and butter remains the 3-star guys, though, with eight of those having committed and plenty more getting offers.

Of those Iowa is still going after strong, Shamond Greenwood is the most noteworthy. A Texas native who had 59 receptions and nine touchdowns last season for Garland Lakeview Centennial, Greenwood is a long-and-lean target who would give the Hawkeyes the potential for big plays on offense.

Six other schools have offered him since Iowa did in April, but 247Sports projects the Hawkeyes will be among Greenwood's finalists when he cuts his list.

Iowa State: Kam White

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Athlete

Height, weight: 6'2", 203 lbs

Rank: 420th

Nine of Iowa State's 10 commitments for 2017 have come on board since the school hired Toledo's Matt Campbell in the winter. None rise to the level of Kam White in terms of national ranking or overall impact potential, however.

White plays both receiver and defensive back for Clinton High School in Mississippi, and he could end up doing the same for the Cyclones. His most likely position in college is safety, though his size would make him intriguing as a pass-catcher as well.

According to Scout.com, White is set to visit Iowa State later this month and could be making his decision before the summer is over.

Kansas: Michael Lee

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Cornerback

Height, weight: 5'10 ½", 165 lbs

Rank: 458th

When you go winless and have lost 15 consecutive games, every recruit is a priority. Kansas has seven commitments so far for 2017 but will need a whole lot more to be able to rebuild its program, which is where being able to grab Michael Lee comes into play.

The Jayhawks are one of 16 schools so far to have offered the New Orleans prospect, considered the 20th-best recruit in talent-rich Louisiana. North Carolina and Texas A&M are among the latest to get involved with Lee, who earned MVP honors among defensive backs at The Opening's New Orleans Regional where he "frustrated receivers in press coverage," per 247Sports' EJ Holland.

Kansas State: Owen Carney

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Defensive end

Height, weight: 6'4", 232 lbs

Rank: 542th

With only two commitments on board at this point, Kansas State is in line for a busy summer if it wants to put together a solid 2017 recruiting class. This means sending coaches all over the country to find players willing to come to the Little Apple of Manhattan, Kansas.

The Wildcats will likely spend plenty of time in South Florida trying to woo Owen Carney, a Miami product who is the 30th-best weak-side defensive end of the class. His 21 offers are mostly from teams in the South, with Duke and Miami looking like the top choices at this point, but Georgia recently offered and figures to become a player.

Kansas State's 2016 roster includes two players from Florida, including redshirt freshman defensive back Da'Marrio Jackson-Smith.

Kentucky: Jedrick Wills

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Offensive tackle

Height, weight: 6'5", 318 lbs

Rank: 35th

Kentucky's 2016 recruiting class was highlighted by the signing of the state's three best prospects, including a pair of 4-star offensive linemen. There's no such thing as having too many big-time blockers, which is why the Wildcats are going all out to land Jedrick Wills.

The nation's seventh-best tackle prospect doesn't live far from campus and has visited the school three times since February, including twice in April, but this week he's set to check out Notre Dame, and that could prove to be Kentucky's top competition.

There are 10 teams still in the hunt, though, according to Wills' tweet from mid-May.

Louisville: A.J. Davis

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Running back

Height, weight: 5'11", 190 lbs

Rank: 149th

It was both a testament to quarterback Lamar Jackson's skills and his team's lack of a defined running game that he led Louisville in rushing in 2015. The Cardinals would prefer to have more balance to the offense, which is what A.J. Davis could provide in the future if he comes on board.

Ranked eight overall in 2017 among running backs, Davis is a Florida native who picked up his offer from Louisville in February. Since then, another 12 schools have followed suit, leaving Davis with 36 options.

The Cardinals haven't had a 1,000-yard rusher since Bilal Powell gained 1,405 yards in 2011.

LSU: Dylan Moses

Position: Linebacker

Height, weight: 6'2", 220 lbs

Rank: 2nd

As the top uncommitted player in the country, Dylan Moses is high on the wish list of basically every team recruiting him. He'd be a major pickup for anyone, but LSU might need him more than anyone else based on its future linebacker situation.

Three of this season's projected starters are seniors, and while the 2016 class brought in some strong talent at the position in Michael Divinity and Devin White, it's still a thin area overall. "It's a position where LSU will need to stockpile prospects in the 2017 recruiting cycle," Gary Laney of Saturday Down South wrote.

Moses would help fix that in a major way. But before that can happen, LSU has to beat out dozens of other FBS teams, and on his last update, the Tigers were tied for third with UCLA and trailed Alabama and Texas.

Maryland: Chase Young

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Defensive end

Height, weight: 6'5", 225 lbs

Rank: 32nd

The state of Maryland produces its fair share of notable college football recruits each year, many of them coming out of DeMatha Catholic. That's again the case for the 2017 class, with Chase Young the first to achieve 5-star status from Maryland since 2014.

Add that to the long list of reasons why the Terrapins would like to keep him home, along with how helpful he'd be to new coach D.J. Durkin's rebuilding plan.

Young, the No. 2 weak-side defensive end in the country, has visited Maryland four times since March and is by far the school's top target. But he's also a priority for Ohio State and other schools, so the Terps have to stay persistent.

Miami (Florida): Jarez Parks

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Defensive end

Height, weight: 6'5", 255 lbs

Rank: 42nd

Among the keys to being able to get Miami back to national prominence is keeping the region's talent from getting exported. Roughly half of the Hurricanes' commitments for 2017 are from the Miami area, but they're not solely focused on the immediate vicinity, not when this cycle has the bulk of the state's top prospects coming from further north.

That includes Jarez Parks, who resides in Sebastian along central Atlantic Coast. The nation's fourth-best weak-side defensive end is the target of several schools—he has 32 offers to this point—but where Miami might have the edge in the long run is through a family connection. Parks' cousin is Patrick Bethel, an early enrollee from the Hurricanes' 2016 class and a 4-star defensive end.

Despite that, however, Florida has landed all 10 of the predictions made in 247Sports' Crystal Ball.

Michigan: Isaiah Wilson

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Offensive tackle

Height, weight: 6'6 ½", 354 lbs

Rank: 19th

Michigan is set to start four seniors on the offensive line, while the second unit should feature at least two others entering their final season of college football. Reinforcements are needed, and the Wolverines have placed a premium on this position in their 2017 recruiting.

They've offered scholarships to 50 offensive linemen but so far only have one such commitment: 4-star tackle JaRaymond Hall. He's a strong pickup, but not nearly as big—in many ways—as Isaiah Wilson would be.

A massive specimen who might need to shed some weight before being able to contribute at the college level, Wilson nevertheless is highly coveted. The nation's fourth-best tackle prospect has 29 offers but appears to be down to five choices: Alabama, Georgia, LSU, USC and the Wolverines.

Michigan State: Amir Riep

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Cornerback

Height, weight: 5'11", 185 lbs

Rank: 123rd

It doesn't draw nearly the same headlines as rival Michigan, but Michigan State is just as fond of slipping into Ohio and pulling out prospects each year. Eight of the Spartans' 20 signees from this past recruiting class are from the Buckeye State as are three of their nine 2017 commitments.

Being able to add Amir Riep would be quite a coup, particularly since 95 percent of 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions have him going to Ohio State over MSU.

Riep, the No. 14 corner in the country, last visited East Lansing in late April. With Darian Hicks entering his senior year at MSU, Riep could be his successor if the Spartans can sway him.

Minnesota: Demetrius Douglas

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Cornerback

Height, weight: 5'11 ½", 173 lbs

Rank: 785th

Minnesota liked enough of what it saw after Tracy Claeys took over for Jerry Kill last season that it was confident he could be a good full-time coach. Claeys isn't resting on his laurels, though, as evidenced by some aggressive recruiting tactics that include trying to pluck a prospect out of Oregon's backyard.

Demetrius Douglas, who hails from Portland, was offered by the Golden Gophers in February. He's coming off a strong showing at The Opening's regional event in Seattle and, according to Scout.com, plans to check out Minnesota this summer.

Most of Douglas' knowledge of the Gophers comes from his father, former Minnesota wide receiver Omar Douglas.

Mississippi State: LaBryan Ray

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Defensive end

Height, weight: 6'4", 270 lbs

Rank: 96th

With 14 commitments, Mississippi State has been by far the most active team in the SEC when it comes to the 2017 recruiting class. The work is only getting started, though, and the Bulldogs know they need plenty more pledges in order to improve on the 32nd-ranked class they signed in February.

Managing to poach one of the best prospects from neighboring Alabama would go a long way toward achieving this goal.

LaBryan Ray is ranked No. 4 in Alabama and is also the nation's fourth-best strong-side defensive end. The Bulldogs are among the 12 schools that made the cut last month, though Alabama is the clear leader.

Missouri: Jeff Thomas

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Wide receiver

Height, weight: 5'10", 170 lbs

Rank: 87th

The East St. Louis, Illinois, area is a key recruiting ground for Missouri, where rising sophomore defensive end Terry Beckner Jr. hails from. If the Tigers can also pull a top offensive prospect from this region, the 2017 season could be when the program starts getting back on track with the ball.

Jeff Thomas is the No. 13 wide receiver in his class, a prolific scorer who has notched 28 touchdowns on 127 career catches in high school. His top six includes Mizzou but also Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Michigan State and Texas A&M.

Nebraska: Darnay Holmes

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Cornerback

Height, weight: 5'10", 190 lbs

Rank: 10th

Coach Mike Riley has referred to it as the "Calibraska movement," his push to have Nebraska be a big player in recruits from the West Coast. He relied heavily on California players when at Oregon State and has made that state a major priority for the Cornhuskers in 2017.

Two of the Huskers' top three pledges for next season are from the Golden State, both coming from Calabasas High School. That connection gives them a big advantage in their quest to land a real big fish from that school in Darnay Holmes, the top-rated cornerback in the country.

Holmes had originally intended to announce his commitment June 23, his birthday, but last month, he told SB Nation's Maize N Brew blog he's going to do it sometime before his senior season is over. That gives Nebraska (and other suitors) extra time to work on him over the summer.

North Carolina: Devon Hunter

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Safety

Height, weight: 6'1", 205 lbs

Rank: 55th

North Carolina hasn't had any trouble finding and developing standouts on offense, but the defensive side has been more of a struggle. Last year began the improvement process on the field, with the Tar Heels allowing 14.5 points fewer per game than in 2014, and now they need to follow that up with better defensive recruits.

Devon Hunter furthers that cause immensely if UNC can pluck him out of Virginia, where he's the state's No. 2 prospect as well as the fourth-best safety in the 2017 class. He made a visit to Chapel Hill in mid-April.

It will take a lot more to get him to sign with the Heels, though. In late April, he told 247Sports' Steve Wiltfong that "Virginia Tech has been the hardest team, every day I have somebody hitting me up."

North Carolina State: Jacobe Clement

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Cornerback

Height, weight: 6'1", 189 lbs

Rank: 660th

It's been about seven weeks since Jacobe Clement, in releasing his top five schools, also said he was "scheduled to commit after spring ball." Apparently, there was no timeframe as to how soon after that he would make his decision, which means North Carolina State still has work to do in order to pick up one of its most important targets.

Clement, a 3-star prospect from Charlotte who has the Wolfpack as a finalist along with Clemson, North Carolina, Tennessee and Wake Forest, has offers from 12 schools but could pick up more this summer.

NC State currently has four commitments for 2017 but none for its secondary.

Northwestern: Scott Nelson

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Safety

Height, weight: 6'2”, 184 lbs

Rank: 618th

So far, Northwestern has been quite successful landing the players it wants most for 2017, with nine of the 14 prospects listed by 247Sports as "top targets" having already committed. If the Wildcats could add Scott Nelson to that haul, it would make for a banner recruiting class.

Nelson, though, is going to be difficult to pull out of the state of Michigan. The Detroit resident has made several visits to both Michigan and Michigan State this spring, including to East Lansing for MSU's spring game, when he told 247Sports' Sean Scherer: "I've watched Michigan State my whole life."

Northwestern is still working on getting Nelson to make his first trip to Evanston, where it could give him the hard sell.

Notre Dame: Foster Sarell

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Offensive tackle

Height, weight: 6'6 ½”, 311 lbs

Rank: 9th

The entire country is Notre Dame's recruiting ground, as evidenced by a 2016 class that featured signees from 10 different states. None came from Washington, however, but that might change if the Fighting Irish keep working on Foster Sarell.

The nation's second-rated offensive tackle is set to visit Notre Dame on June 18. He's coming off a stellar performance at The Opening's Seattle event, which earned him an invitation to the finals in Oregon next month.

Notre Dame is likely saying goodbye to right tackle Mike McGlinchey after this season, since Bleacher Report's Matt Miller has him listed at No. 27 on his early 2017 NFL draft big board.

Ohio State: Jeffrey Okudah

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Safety

Height, weight: 6'1 ½”, 190 lbs

Rank: 5th

Ohio State is hoping that its name is among the six that Jeffrey Okudah announces on July 11, when he's set to cut his list of pursuers—which currently stands at 34—down to six. The odds are in the Buckeyes' favor, since 57 percent of Crystal Ball predictions so far have OSU in line to grab the nation's top safety prospect.

Okudah, from Texas, is also an accomplished wide receiver who caught six touchdowns in 2014 before focusing more on defense during his junior season. Ohio State could use him at either position but is more likely to play him in the secondary.

Alabama, Stanford and Texas are also big on Okudah, though it was OSU he most recently met with when he took a visit to Columbus in mid-May.

Oklahoma: James Robinson

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Wide receiver

Height, weight: 6'3”, 196 lbs

Rank: 38th

The switch to the Air Raid offense was a rousing success for Oklahoma in 2015, though that has as much to do with quarterback Baker Mayfield's play as anything else. And now that Mayfield has been given an extra year of eligibility, the Sooners need to make sure he's got good targets to throw to in 2017.

Oklahoma already has two receivers committed among its 13 pledges for next season, but the more options the better since Dede Westbrook is heading into his senior year. James Robinson would be a great successor to Westbrook, assuming the Sooners can beat out the likes of Clemson, Florida and Ohio State for his services.

"I like how they move the ball up and down the field, and I feel I could do very well in their offense," Robinson told Scout.com's Chad Simmons in March.

Oklahoma State: Creed Humphrey

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Center

Height, weight: 6'4”, 301 lbs

Rank: 300th

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy wasn't happy with how his team ran the ball last season, which made improving the talent on the offensive line a priority for the 2016 recruiting class. Seven of the Cowboys' 21 signees in February were linemen, including some instant-impact guys from the junior college ranks.

This emphasis continues while putting together the 2017 class, with Creed Humphrey a main focus as the summer approaches.

Humphrey, an in-state product who is the third-best center in the country, picked up his offer from OSU in mid-May. Rival Oklahoma followed in early June, bringing him to 17 offers overall.

Ole Miss: Walker Little

Credit: Walker Little

Position: Offensive tackle

Height, weight: 6'8”, 305 lbs

Rank: 62nd

Why stop at one "Little" big man on the offensive line when you can have two?

Ole Miss signed the nation's top offensive tackle in 2016 in Greg Little, who is projected to take over the starting left tackle spot this fall. The Rebels will lose starting right tackle Robert Conyers after this season, and Walker Little could be his successor if they can pick him up for 2017.

Walker Little, a Texas native and the 12th-best offensive tackle in his class, made an unofficial visit to Ole Miss in April. Since then, he's picked up an offer from Georgia and met with Oklahoma, Stanford and Texas.

Oregon: Austin Jackson

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Offensive tackle

Height, weight: 6'5”, 260 lbs

Rank: 28th

Oregon's explosive offense rarely disappoints, mostly due to its great assortment of skill players and a scheme that's hard to defend. Having a strong line to block and open holes is just as essential, and the Ducks are always looking for guys who can replenish the ranks.

Austin Jackson might be on the small side for an offensive tackle, at least by his weight, but his frame suggests he can pack on a lot more. It's why he's sitting as the No. 6 tackle in the 2017 class and the top prospect in Arizona, and it's why Alabama, Michigan, Texas A&M and USC are also involved in his recruitment.

Oregon only has two commitments for 2017, leading to a No. 77 national ranking. Adding Jackson would boost that ranking immensely.

Oregon State: Quran Hafiz

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Cornerback

Height, weight: 6'0”, 170 lbs

Rank: 744th

After a 2-10 season in 2015, it's not surprising that Oregon State isn't heavily invested in many of the nation's top 2017 prospects. None of the Beavers' six commitments are rated among the top 500 players in the class, and they're not seriously targeting any of the top 300 recruits either.

Instead, OSU is searching for mid-range guys who can step in and contribute right away but who other schools aren't as high on. Quran Hafiz is a priority in Corvallis, while other the finalists that he announced on Twitter—Duke, Indiana, Iowa State, Memphis, Minnesota, South Florida and Syracuse—might have other options if Hafiz falls through.

Penn State: D'Andre Swift

Credit: 247Sports

Position: All-purpose back

Height, weight: 5'10”, 204 lbs

Rank: 31st

We're expecting a more dynamic offense from Penn State in 2016 now that dropback passer Christian Hackenberg has moved on to the NFL. Adding D'Andre Swift to the roster a year from now could keep this trend going.

Swift, the top-ranked all-purpose back in the 2017 class, ran for 1,029 yards with 12 touchdowns and added 22 receptions for 321 yards and four scores last season at St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia. He also started at cornerback, though the Nittany Lions would likely use him exclusively on offense or possibly on special teams.

Alabama, Clemson, Florida State and Georgia are the other finalists that Swift listed via his Twitter account on May 25, and 47 percent of 247Sports' Crystal Ball predictions have him going to Penn State.

Pittsburgh: Kenny Robinson

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Athlete

Height, weight: 6'2”, 200 lbs

Rank: 469th

Pittsburgh already has a commitment from the top-rated player in its city, 4-star safety Paris Ford, but the Panthers won't be satisfied until they also add two-way star Kenny Robinson to their 2017 class. Penn State, Virginia Tech and West Virginia, among others, might have something to say about that.

Robinson, who primarily plays linebacker at University Prep but can be used on offense as well, is the 10th-best player in the state and No. 34 athlete in the country.

Nine of Pitt's current players hail from the city, including standout defensive linemen Rori Blair and Tyrique Jarrett.

Purdue: Derrius Mullins

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Defensive tackle

Height, weight: 6'3 ½”, 354 lbs

Rank: 642nd

Purdue doesn't care that Columbus is Ohio State's backyard, literally. The Boilermakers need some impact players on defensive, particularly on the line, and Derrius Mullins is a massive target for 2017.

Per his Twitter, Mullins planned to visit Purdue in April, but it will take a lot more to get him to commit. Since that planned visit, he's gone to Michigan State twice and had a visit from Indiana, while Pittsburgh, Kentucky and Ohio State are also interested.

The Boilermakers have but a single commitment for 2017 at this point, that being 3-star dual-threat quarterback Griffin Alstott from Florida. He is the son of former Purdue and NFL star Mike Alstott.

Rutgers: Fred Hansard

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Defensive tackle

Height, weight: 6'3”, 324 lbs

Rank: 148th

New Jersey has been a Big Ten recruiting hotbed for quite a while, but since Rutgers joined that conference, it's become even more. The Scarlet Knights struggle to hold on to any of the state's best prospects, last year failing to sign any of the top 14 players.

Fred Hanspard is New Jersey's No. 3 prospect for 2017, and if Rutgers can keep him home, he'd be the third one among the Garden State's five best whom new coach Chris Ash has nabbed so far. Easier said than done, though, because he's holding 30 offers.

He knows what it would mean to Rutgers' rebuild to play there, telling NJ.com's Todderick Hunt: "It's cool to know that some of the top players in New Jersey are staying home. It gives me something to think about."

On Wednesday Hansard released a top nine, with Rutgers making the cut alongside Alabama, Florida, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Tennessee and USC.

South Carolina: OrTre Smith

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Athlete

Height, weight: 6'3", 215 lbs

Rank: 133rd

With Pharoh Cooper's career over at South Carolina, the Gamecocks head into 2016 searching for someone who can be a do-everything athlete in his mold. They'll have no trouble identifying that player a season from now if OrTre Smith comes on board.

South Carolina's top-rated prospect, and the No. 3 athlete in the 2017 class, Smith can play wide receiver or safety and probably would make a decent running back and return man based on his blend of speed, strength and agility. As Wando High School coach Jimmy Noonan told the State's Ben Breiner, "he needs to touch the football" and thus seems destined to be on offense or special teams in college.

That's how the Gamecocks would use him, as could Clemson. Recent offers from Alabama, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and West Virginia might make it so the winner of that sweepstakes is the one who assures Smith the best role.

Stanford: Osiris St. Brown

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Wide receiver

Height, weight: 6'1”, 178 lbs

Rank: 110th

Calling his April visit to The Farm "perfect," per Rivals.com's Adam Gorney, Stanford appears to be a real player for one of the nation's top receiver recruits. But to make that dream a reality will require convincing Osiris St. Brown not to go to the same school as his older brother.

Equanimeous St. Brown appeared in seven games at wide receiver for Notre Dame last season, his freshman year, and the Fighting Irish are hoping his presence will lure Osiris St. Brown to South Bend. The Irish are also interested in their youngest brother, junior Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Stanford badly needs wide receivers. Running back Christian McCaffrey was the leading receiver in 2015, and the rest of this season's contributors will be relatively inexperienced.

Syracuse: Jimmy Jaggers

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Tight end

Height, weight: 6'4”, 244 lbs

Rank: 249th

New Syracuse coach Dino Babers has only three commitments so far for 2017, but two are skill-position players, including recent Elite 11 quarterback finalist Tommy Devito. Jimmy Jaggers would make a great addition to this future Orange attack, but it will require stealing him out of California and away from a number of West Coast suitors.

Jaggers, rated as the seventh-best tight end in the class, also played defensive end and was a member of Roseville High School's basketball team this past season. He has 17 offers, most coming from the Pac-12.

TCU: Omar Manning

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Wide receiver

Height, weight: 6'3”, 203 lbs

Rank: 161st

The 26th-best prospect in most states isn't generally that great of a recruit, but Texas is so rich in talent that 39 players in the 2017 class have achieved 4-star status in 247Sports' composite rankings. Right at No. 26 is Omar Manning, whom TCU is working hard to land a commitment from to boost its class.

Manning, from Lancaster, Texas, played wide receiver and safety last season and scored 12 touchdowns. The Horned Frogs were among the first of 32 schools to extend an offer, back in November, and since then, they've seen the likes of Baylor, Florida, LSU, Michigan and Ohio State get into the mix.

TCU's 2017 class has just four pledges so far, all from within the state.

Tennessee: Deangelo Gibbs

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Cornerback

Height, weight: 6'2”, 204 lbs

Rank: 34th

Tennessee has amassed talent and depth at every position through its strong recruiting since Butch Jones took over the program, with nary a weakness to be found. If the 2016 season turns out as planned, though, the Volunteers could be saying goodbye to a large number of standouts either via graduation or early NFL draft departures.

The secondary could lose several starters, and while the 2016 class included potential future starters such as safety Nigel Warrior, the Vols have to keep fighting to stay deep. That's why Deangelo Gibbs is a major focus of this summer.

With dozens of offers to this point, Gibbs is getting looked at as a cornerback, safety or wide receiver, depending on the school. Because of this he's got the power over all of his chasers, telling Bleacher Report's Damon Sayles: "I can play wherever, but it's up to me."

Gibbs told Sayles he'll unofficially visit Florida State, Miami (Florida) and USC this summer, but beyond that it's wide open.

Texas: Baron Browning

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Linebacker

Height, weight: 6'3”, 230 lbs

Rank: 8th

One of the first indications that recruits were really buying into what Texas coach Charlie Strong was selling came when linebacker Malik Jefferson signed with the Longhorns and enrolled early in 2015. Landing another linebacker from the Lone Star State could make Texas's 2017 class the best yet.

Baron Browning, the No. 2 outside linebacker and third-best Texas prospect, has 39 scholarship offers, and nearly every major program is included. It's shaping up to be a battle between Big Ten powers Michigan and Ohio State and the Big 12's Texas schools for this prospect, who in 2015 scored touchdowns on both a fumble and interception return for Kennedale High School.

It's Texas that has the edge in Crystal Ball's predictions, at 42 percent, but those numbers figure to change as the summer progresses.

Texas A&M: Jhamon Ausbon

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Wide receiver

Height, weight: 6'2 ½”, 217 lbs

Rank: 66th

All it took was one short tweet to kick the Jhamon Ausbon recruiting battle up a notch.

"Top five coming really soon," the 4-star IMG Academy prospect tweeted on June 2, a post that perked up the ears of all 17 teams that have extended him offers. That list includes Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, Georgia, Michigan and Texas A&M.

Ausbon, who played the 2015 season in Houston, was committed to Baylor before backing off that pledge in March. That decision was announced a day after he made an unofficial visit to Texas A&M. He is the No. 10 wide receiver prospect in the 2017 class and one who figures to help whomever he ends up playing for next year.

Texas Tech: Chevin Calloway

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Cornerback

Height, weight: 5'10”, 180 lbs

Rank: 94th

With cornerback Nigel Bethel's recent decision to transfer from the program, Texas Tech's already-suspect defense—it allowed 43.6 points per game in 2015—might be even worse this season. Chevin Calloway can't help the Red Raiders this fall, but his addition would be huge for the future.

Calloway is the No. 10 corner in the 2017 class and the 14th-best prospect from Texas. The Red Raiders were among the first schools to offer him, more than a year ago, but now his list has reached 32, and they could be falling behind in the race.

UCLA: Elijah Gates

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Cornerback

Height, weight: 5'10”, 170 lbs

Rank: 219th

UCLA has traditionally made a late push right before national signing day to end up with strong recruiting classes, landing the 12th-best class in February. The Bruins are off to a particularly slow start for 2017, though, with just three commitments, including a pair of defensive ends.

Defense looks to be UCLA's emphasis for 2017, with Elijah Gates high on its list of key targets. If he's added to the lot for next season, he'll have a chance to play right away, but first the Bruins have to keep the Buena Park, California, product home.

According to Scout.com's Greg Biggons, Gates visited both UCLA and Oregon this spring, and he's likely to head to the Midwest this summer to check out Notre Dame and Purdue. He also plans to check out TCU and possibly Michigan and Nebraska, and many of those schools will try to convince him that the West Coast isn't the best place for him.

USC: Joseph Lewis

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Wide receiver

Height, weight: 6'1 ½”, 207 lbs

Rank: 11th

It's somewhat of an unwritten rule that USC gets the right of first refusal on every standout wide receiver who comes from the Los Angeles area. If the Trojans want them, they tend to get them. Recent examples include JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marqise Lee and Robert Woods.

Could Joseph Lewis be the next L.A. wideout to star for USC? That depends on whether he wants to keep that pipeline going or look to leave the region for Arizona, Nebraska, Oklahoma or Oregon. Those look to be USC's main challengers for the nation's No. 2 wideout and the fourth-best California prospect.

Nebraska is making a heavy push into California under former Oregon State coach Mike Riley, and that includes being part of a satellite camp this week at Lewis' Hawkins High School.

Utah: Noah Elliss

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Defensive tackle

Height, weight: 6'4”, 330 lbs

Rank: 355th

With just a single commitment in tow for 2017, Utah is bringing up the rear in the Pac-12 and ranks 113th nationally. We're still almost eight months away from national signing day, so there's no reason for Utes fans to panic, though they'd probably like to see some progress made this summer.

Trying to beef up its defensive line cupboard is among Utah's biggest priorities, which means making a heavy push for top in-state prospect Jay Tufele. Just as important is Noah Elliss, a legacy prospect whom the Utes have stayed in contact with even after he moved from Salt Lake City to Littleton, Colorado, last year.

Elliss is the son of Luther Elliss, who starred for Utah on the defensive line in the early 1990s before spending a decade in the NFL. He's now up to 20 offers, most recently from Notre Dame and Oklahoma.

Vanderbilt: Nick Brahms

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Offensive guard

Height, weight: 6'4”, 285 lbs

Rank: 184th

Even with some solid signings in its 2016 class, Vanderbilt's offensive line remains thin heading into this season. Further reinforcements must be added in 2017 to enable the Commodores to match up with the rest of the SEC, and Nick Brahms would certainly help this effort.

Brahms, from Florida, is the 10th-best guard in his class and a prospect who has landed 33 offers to this point. Auburn, Indiana, Miami (Florida) and TCU recently joined the party.

Virginia: Jordan Williams

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Defensive end

Height, weight: 6'4 ½”, 260 lbs

Rank: 181st

Virginia hasn't managed a win over in-state rival Virginia Tech since 2003, and since then, the Cavaliers have usually come up short when battling the Hokies on the recruiting trail. Jordan Williams could be the prospect who helps them shift the balance of power from Blacksburg to Charlottesville.

Williams, the fifth-best player from Virginia in the 2017 class and the nation's 13th-best weak-side defensive end, put the Cavs in his top five last week along with Tech, Clemson, Ohio State and Tennessee.

Virginia Tech: Khalan Laborn

Credit: 247Sports

Position: All-purpose back

Height, weight: 5'10”, 199 lbs

Rank: 40th

For as long as Virginia Tech has been able to sustain success in football, it's been quite a while since it managed to translate that into recruiting prowess in its own state. The last time the Hokies signed the No. 1 prospect in Virginia was quarterback Tyrod Taylor in 2007.

The Hokies have missed out on some big names since then, but they're hoping the streak ends this cycle by holding onto electric prospect Khalan Laborn. He'd not only serve as a source of program pride, but he also has the potential make an immediate impact.

Laborn, from Virginia Beach, ran for 2,228 yards and 32 touchdowns last season at Ocean Lakes High School, per MaxPreps, but will be at Bishop Sullivan for his senior year. A planned commitment announcement this month has since been delayed, as he announced on Twitter, giving Tech and other pursuers more time to polish their sales pitches.

Wake Forest: Michael Allen

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Defensive end

Height, weight: 6'4”, 239 lbs

Rank: 365th

As much as Wake Forest needs to improve on offense in order to compete in the ACC, it's a hard sell to get big-name recruits from that side to sign on based on recent results, as the team hasn't won six games in a season since 2011-12, which resulted in a Music City Bowl loss to Miss State. It's not been as difficult for coach Dave Clawson to pick up key defensive prospects, but Michael Allen would be his biggest pickup yet.

The Buford, Georgia, prospect is the No. 21 weak-side defensive end in the 2017 class. The Demon Deacons offered him nearly a year ago, and now Allen has 29 offers, including recent ones from Colorado, Miami (Florida), Ole Miss, Pittsburgh and USC.

Allen was credited with 67 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, eight sacks, two interceptions and two defensive touchdowns as a junior.

Washington: Wyatt Davis

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Offensive guard

Height, weight: 6'5”, 310 lbs

Rank: 13th

Washington's young offense made great strides from the beginning of the 2015 season to the end, finishing up quite hot and prompting the Huskies to earn “dark-horse” status for this fall. Being able to secure a future recruit like Wyatt Davis would help lift them from the list of potential contenders to a certain one.

Davis, the nation's top-rated guard and California's fifth-best prospect, tweeted out a lengthy 15-school list of contenders in April. Since then, he's been making the rounds, visiting Washington in early June, though he appears a long way from coming to a decision.

If Davis were to pick the Huskies, he'd be their first 5-star pickup since Matt Tuiasosopo, who ended up playing baseball, in 2004.

Washington State: D.J. Johnson

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Defensive end

Height, weight: 6'5”, 240 lbs

Rank: 104th

Four of Washington State's five 2017 commitments are on the offensive side, so look for the Cougars to focus more on defensive prospects this summer. D.J. Johnson will be front and center of this effort, though it won't be easy to get him.

Johnson, the ninth-best weak-side defensive end in the country and California's No. 15 overall prospect, sports a healthy 50 scholarship offers, with recent additions including Baylor, Miami (Florida) and North Carolina. He's set to visit Alabama later this month.

Last season saw Johnson record 14.5 sacks and 32 tackles for loss at Sacramento's Luther Burbank High School, numbers that exceeded that of any two WSU players in 2015.

West Virginia: Derrek Pitts

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Athlete

Height, weight: 6'1”, 174 lbs

Rank: 425th

West Virginia has held a commitment from linebacker Maverick Wolfley, the state's top-ranked prospect for 2017, for more than two years. The Mountaineers offered Derrek Pitts almost as long ago, extending a scholarship in March 2015, but the state's No. 2 player is taking his time choosing his future.

Pitts' last visit to campus came in September, and since then, he's heard from Arizona, Florida and Penn State to give him 19 total offers.

A two-sport star at South Charleston High School, Pitts' junior year of football saw him gain more than 1,000 all-purpose yards with 10 touchdowns while registering 82 tackles, three sacks and three interceptions, per MaxPreps.

Wisconsin: Juwuan Jones

Credit: 247Sports

Position: Linebacker

Height, weight: 6'3”, 229 lbs

Rank: 814th

Wisconsin already has 10 commitments for 2017, and many of those were prospects the Badgers pegged as critical pickups. Because of this, the Badgers' most-pressing need heading into the summer is to help add to the linebacker corps.

Juwuan Jones would make for a solid addition, a Georgia product who has mostly picked up offers from mid-major programs of late. That's enabled the Badgers to remain in the lead, as he stated in an interview with Scout.com's Chad Simmons.

Though rated as an inside linebacker, Wisconsin could play Jones outside in 2017 as a possible replacement for senior Vince Biegel.

All recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports, unless otherwise noted. All statistics provided by CFBStats, unless otherwise noted.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.