Top Uncommitted QB Recruit Jack Sears Opens Up on Visits, Decision Timeline

BEAVERTON, Oregon — The lone uncommitted recruit in a talented 2016 Elite 11 class, Jack Sears understands college coaching staffs may be growing a bit antsy in anticipation of his pledge.

"Schools made it clear to me they're kind of waiting to see where I go before they pursue other quarterbacks," he told Bleacher Report. "They definitely want to figure things out, but I'm not feeling pressure." 

Rated No. 10 nationally among pro-style passers, Sears is in the final stages of sorting through options. He told B/R the plan is to announce his intentions sometime this month in advance of one final summer training camp at San Clemente High School in Southern California.

"I want to get it done so I can focus on this senior season with my team," Sears said.

The 6'3", 200-pound prospect is currently competing for Elite 11 MVP honors at The Opening, an invite-only player showcase held at Nike's world headquarters in Beaverton. It's the latest travel endeavor for Sears during a busy start to summer break. 

Since claiming a spot at The Opening at Elite 11 finals during the first weekend of June, his itinerary includes stops at Texas A&M, Tennessee, Duke and North Carolina. Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin added 4-star quarterback Kellen Mond to his class soon after that visit, giving Texas A&M two pledges at the position this cycle.

It was Sears' second time at Duke and Tennessee, allowing him to develop an expanded impression of each institution.

"The purpose of that second trip was about getting more situated and comfortable with the staff," Sears said. "I wanted to see what it's like to be a student and an athlete there on a day-to-day basis."

Utah is another out-of-state program that has caught his attention. Former San Clemente quarterback Travis Wilson started for the Utes in recent years.

Though Sears enjoys life on the West Coast, he would welcome a change of scenery if an ideal opportunity presented itself.

"Those schools are all different environments than Southern California, which is nice because college should be a separate experience from what you're used to," Sears said. "It was nice to meet the coaching staffs, get on campus and see how I would fit in there."

Closer to home, UCLA and USC remain in the mix. Both programs have yet to claim a quarterback commitment this cycle, hosting Sears multiple times along the way.

"They're both phenomenal schools with great coaching staffs and traditions," he said. "The question is, when I step on both campuses, where do I feel most comfortable? That's probably what it's going to come down to."

Credit: Student Sports

The Bruins claim all three commitment projections in Sears' 247Sports "crystal ball," though he presently has stronger personal ties to the Trojans. Sam Darnold, a 2014 Elite 11 finalist who was his predecessor behind center at San Clemente, is nearing his second season with USC.

"It's great having Sam there because I know I can trust him to give me his thoughts straight up," Sears said. "He always talks about how much he loves it there."

Aside from possible last-minute trips to USC or UCLA, he doesn't anticipate visiting any more schools before reaching a decision. He aims to use these remaining days of his recruitment to evaluate pros and cons for each situation.

"You have to make sure you're going to a school for the right reasons because a lot can change while you're there," Sears said. "The coaching staff can change, players can transfer out. It's kind of a cliche, but where can you see yourself going if you weren't playing football? That's what I try to follow."

Sears, who threw for 2,697 yards and 37 touchdowns in 2015, will refocus on recruiting after The Opening. While every other Elite 11 finalist identified his collegiate destination earlier in the process, he is completely content with his approach to this point.

"I like to go down my own path, and that's exactly how I'm handling the recruitment process," Sears said. "I know some quarterbacks have been committed for more than a year now, but I'm OK with taking my time while finding the right fit. I want to make my decision once, stick with it and have that be my home for the next four or five years."

Quotes obtained firsthand by Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analyst Tyler Donohue unless otherwise noted. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings.

Follow Tyler via Twitter: @TDsTake.