Osiris St. Brown Names Finalists, Decision Date: What Is Best Fit for 4-Star WR?

California receiver Osiris St. Brown is focused on a pair of powerhouse college football programs as the clock ticks toward his commitment.

Considered a top-20 overall prospect at the position in composite rankings, he approaches a Friday announcement with only Notre Dame and Stanford still under consideration:

St. Brown, a 4-star recruit at Southern California football factory Mater Dei High School, started receiving Power Five scholarship offers before his sophomore season. He claims more than 20 total offers, including opportunities at Arizona State, UCLA, Miami and Michigan.

Despite widespread interest for the 6'2", 181-pound playmaker, this process has long projected as a showdown between these annual rivals. The Fighting Irish and Cardinal consistently impress prospects with a unique blend of on-field and academic prowess, and St. Brown is the latest blue-chip talent to weigh both options.

Easily among the most unique athletes in this 2017 recruiting cycle, St. Brown's eclectic background played an integral role in his development.

As Bleacher Report's Damon Sayles noted last fall, he speaks German and French, and is named after the Egyptian ruler of the underworld. His father, John Brown, is a world-famous weightlifter and two-time Mr. Universe.

St. Brown is also the middle child between two siblings who've attracted immense attention from collegiate scouts. Younger brother and Mater Dei teammate Amon-Ra is rated No. 16 among 2018 receiver recruits, while older brother Equanimeous is a sophomore receiver at Notre Dame.

Both Oiris and Amon-Ra hold Irish offers, presenting a chance for each to follow their older brother's footsteps to South Bend. Osiris is first up to decide whether that route is ideal for him.

"That would be like a dream, three brothers at the same college at the same time," he told Sayles in February. "At the same time, we want to have our own recruiting processes and check out which schools fit us the best and go from there."

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly has collected multiple receiver commitments this class, with 3-stars Jordan Pouncey and Michael Young on board. Connecticut athlete CJ Holmes, a 4-star pledge, also offers intrigue at the position, though he is likely to commence his college career in the offensive backfield.

St. Brown seized an Irish offer in January 2015 and most recently traveled to campus in June. He attended a showcase camp event in South Bend, spending quality time with receivers coach Mike Denbrock.

“I’m on a really personal basis with him,” St. Brown told Mike Vorel of the South Bend Tribune. “We definitely talk to each other a lot. ... He wouldn’t just put me at outside receiver. He’d move me around—inside, outside, all over the place, which I like."

Denbrock also added some bravado to this recruiting battle by suggesting St. Brown use an official visit at Notre Dame for the team's Oct. 15 game against Stanford.

“Coach Denbrock said Stanford would be a good one, because then I could see Notre Dame beat Stanford,” he told Vorel.

The Cardinal will roll into town looking to build off a 38-36 victory over the Irish last November. That clash between two Top 10 teams featured four Stanford touchdown passes, and the future looks bright for sustained aerial success in Palo Alto.

Stanford is arguably on the best quarterback roll in America, landing commitments from 2017 Atlanta standout Davis Mills and 2018 Alabama stud Jack West after signing top-rated in-state prospect KJ Costello last winter. Mills and Costello are considered top-five overall quarterbacks in their respective recruiting cycles, while West is rated No. 6 among pro-style passers in his class.

The Cardinal are still searching for a 2017 receiver pledge, though head coach David Shaw may claim the country's top tight end duo in Colby Parkinson and Tucker Fisk. Parkinson, a particularly promising prospect, is rated No. 1 overall at the position and flashed 5-star talent last month at The Opening.

Stanford signed 4-star receiver Simi Fehoko in February, but the Utah product is serving a two-year church mission before his arrival as a 20-year-old freshman. Based on roster structure, St. Brown's path to potential early impact seems significantly clearer home in California.

A mid-June trip to Palo Alto was his fourth overall, according to Andy Drukarev of Rivals, so it will be difficult for any program to top Stanford in terms of comfort level. Shaw clearly understood how this competition was shaping up based on the message he delivered during their conversation.

"He was just saying, as always, he wants me as bad as ever," St. Brown told Drukarev. "I'm one of the top receivers on their board, and that he doesn't want me to fall away into Notre Dame just because my brother is up there. He said make this decision for yourself."

St. Brown is capable of carving out an early role at the university of his choice, spurred by a polished skill set. He's a willing downfield blocker and feasts underneath on intermediate routes, helping result in 43 receptions for 884 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, per MaxPreps.

Tyler Donohue is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings.

Follow Tyler via Twitter: @TDsTake.