Predictions: Where the top five uncommitted LBs will land
The big visit month of June is coming up so before all of that happens, Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney takes a look at the top five uncommitted prospects at each position. We move to the linebackers:
The five-star linebacker is at Clemson this weekend and the Tigers have always been right toward the top of his recruitment but it would take some cajoling to get Atkinson to commit there.
Georgia remains the team to beat and Ohio State is definitely right at the top as well with Alabama, Auburn, Oregon and others heavily involved. The Buckeyes and the Tigers could have an argument here but Georgia remains the top team for the Loganville (Ga.) Grayson standout.
Prediction: Georgia
The former USC commit is visiting Ohio State this weekend and that could change things with Texas heavily pushing and Florida State very involved as well but Alabama is the team to beat here.
The Alabama legacy shortly after his decommitment from the Trojans announced his new visits and his commitment date of June 29 which makes one wonder if he already has an idea of what he’s planning to do. Alabama has surged to the top here and while his upcoming visits are crucial, the Crimson Tide will be tough to beat.
Prediction: Alabama
As Ili’s recruitment has come more into focus, USC and UCLA have emerged as the front-runners. Oregon and many others are not eliminated or counted out yet but even as Ili decided to play his senior season at Kahuku, Hawaii, the former Orange (Calif.) Lutheran standout has his sights set on Southern California.
A recent visit to UCLA could not have been better. Ili is related to Nico and Madden Iamaleava, who both transferred to Westwood for this season, and the staff was awesome there. But USC has been a front-runner basically from the beginning and that has not changed. It could be tough to beat the Trojans.
Prediction: USC
Others will host the four-star linebacker from Marietta (Ga.) Kell this month as he’s at Alabama this weekend and then Michigan and Texas before returning to Tennessee to close out the month.
Rouse was just in Knoxville for the 865 Live event and in a few short weeks he’ll be back which could close out his commitment with the Vols leading. At this point, as visits are just getting underway, it would be a shocker if he didn’t end up at Tennessee.
Prediction: Tennessee
Alabama, Penn State and Ohio State are the three front-runners for the four-star linebacker from Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville and while he’s in Tuscaloosa this weekend, this very much feels like a two-team race.
The Buckeyes are considered the leader – and have been for a long time – but Penn State is making this one really tough especially because Johnson likes coach James Franklin, has a longstanding relationship with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles (from his time at Ohio State) and he loved his visit to Happy Valley recently. But we’re still going to lean half-heartedly on history here – Ohio State doesn’t let too many elite in-state players go.
Prediction: Ohio State
