Arik Armstead: The Pros and Cons of Alabama, Notre Dame, Michigan and More

According to Scout.com, Arik Armstead is the premier prep prospect in the country for 2012. Previously pledged to USC, the big fella has put himself back on the market.

According to Armstead himself, aside from the Trojans, he is considering Notre Dame, Alabama and Michigan, plus other schools like Cal.

What are the pros and cons to this all? Let's take a look.

Alabama Pros and Cons

Pros: If Armstead heads to Alabama, he would fit in very, very well with its defense. The Tide runs a 30 front a heavy amount of the time, and I think with his 6'8", 280-pound frame, Armstead would work well in a 3-4 DE role.

In fact, I think should Armstead make it to the NFL, I think his best position will be as a 3-4 DE role, like how the Patriots used Richard Seymour.

Cons: There's always the chance Nick Saban could turn him into an OT. Plus, Tuscaloosa is a long ways away from his Northern California home.

Notre Dame Pros and Cons

Pros: Like 'Bama, the Irish also run a 304 defense and Armstead could play a good role on their 30 front look. Plus, he can be a part of helping Notre Dame return back to the BCS.

Toss in the heavy weight a degree from Notre Dame has off the field and the tradition of the school, it's easy to see why he is looking at the Irish.

Cons: Will Notre Dame ever go back to being Notre Dame? Some seriously believe never. Plus the weather isn't always good in South Bend and the academic expectations can be quite straining and rigorous. 

Michigan Pros and Cons

Pros: Big Bue looks like an upstart program once again under Brady Hoke. The Wolverines are assembling a top-10 recruiting class this year, especially in defensive recruiting.

Why not head to Ann Arbor and not only headline a class that could be marked as the one that got Michigan back on top, but also be the key recruit in restoring superb defensive play in The Big House?

Cons: Michigan's class is just about full, so Armstead would probably need to make a decision a bit earlier than when he may like. I'm sure he doesn't want to feel rushed, although I'm also sure Brady Hoke would save a scholarship for him.

Other Schools in the Race

For USC, Armstead has three main pros: his brother is already on the team, it's not overly far from home and he was committed to going there for a very long time.

Cons would include his brother only being there one more year and possibly some questionable feelings as to how Armonds situation was been handled.

With Cal, the main pro is the location. It's near where Armstead is from in Northern California, so it's close to home. Then, with Clancy Pendergrast running a 30 front a lot too, a DL of Viliami Moala, Mustafa Jalil and Arik Armstead would be scary good.

A con would be that Cal is not as prestigious or high profiled as the other schools on his list. Plus the Bears are behind Oregon, USC and up and coming Washington in the Pac-12.