RN Hot Board: Class of 2014
Updated: February 5, 2014, 8:46 AM ET By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
Every college football recruit handles the process differently. But wherever the nation's elite prospects stand in their process currently, RecruitingNation is here with all the latest.
Current predictions are based on where prospects have indicated they are most interested in playing. As 2014 classes continue to fill up with verbal pledges, the real picture will come into focus. Check back here frequently to find out how things stack up in the ever-changing recruiting world.
Note: Our predictions are based on what we're hearing from high school coaches and from the prospects themselves. They are subject to change as more information becomes available.
Adoree' JacksonAdoree' JacksonGardena, Calif./Junipero SerraESPN 300 RANK: 9POS: CBHT/WT: 5-10/171STARS:
USC
One of the toughest recruits to read in the 2014 class, Jackson has done his due diligence with the recruiting process -- taking a number of unofficial visits last summer and four official visits during the fall. Heading toward signing day, Florida, LSU, UCLA and USC all remain in the hunt, though LSU and USC seemingly appear to be the two favorites. Whether or not he will take his fifth official visit is only one of the remaining questions surrounding Jackson, who will likely go into signing day keeping multiple fan bases guessing. At this late stage, a good relationship with Steve Sarkisian and immediate playing time at receiver and cornerback might give USC an edge.
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Lorenzo Carter
Norcross, Ga./NorcrossESPN 300 RANK: 14POS: DEHT/WT: 6-5/228STARS:
Georgia
His recruitment will be one of the most interesting battles through the final month. Early on he had Alabama and Georgia as his leaders, but a visit to Gainesville this summer pushed the Gators into the lead. As the season has played out, Alabama moved quietly up his list and LSU is now a threat, but over the past few weeks Georgia has picked up momentum. The Dawgs look to be getting his last official visit, and that could push him to Athens.
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Malachi Dupre
River Ridge, La./John Curtis ChristianESPN 300 RANK: 17POS: WRHT/WT: 6-3/187STARS:
LSU
LSU has been the team to beat for months now, and the Tigers' chances have only gotten stronger during the season with a number of visits to Baton Rouge. Alabama is also a factor in his recruitment, but Dupre will also keep an eye on UCLA. The Tigers, though, have signed eight players from John Curtis since 2002 and will be tough to beat.
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Ermon Lane
Homestead, Fla./HomesteadESPN 300 RANK: 22POS: WRHT/WT: 6-2, 196STARS:
Florida State
Lane is close friends with Dalvin Cook, who flipped his commitment from Florida to Florida State. Lane had only one official visit, to Florida State on Jan. 31. Lane is a key target for the Seminoles, especially since Kelvin Benjamin announced he was entering the NFL draft.
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John "JuJu" Smith
Long Beach, Calif./Long BeachESPN 300 RANK: 24POS: ATHHT/WT: 6-1/185STARS:
USC
Smith has the attention of schools across the country, and though Alabama, Oregon and Notre Dame continue to push hard for the four-star athlete, this battle will likely come down to UCLA and USC. The Trojans have a commitment from good friend Viane Talamaivao, and if USC is able to reel in Damien Mama as well, Smith might not be far behind. The Bruins, however, hold the recruiting momentum in Los Angeles after a big win over the Trojans to finish the season, and won't go quietly when it comes to chasing Smith.
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Damian Prince
Forestville, Md./Bishop McNamaraESPN 300 RANK: 26POS: OTHT/WT: 6-5/286STARS:
Maryland
This is a last-minute switch and would be huge for the Terps. Florida was considered the favorite for a long time, but when the Gators flipped OL Andrew Mike on Tuesday, it was taken as a sign that Prince was headed to College Park. There was no more important recruit to Randy Edsall, and the Terps made a late run and, it appears, have convinced him to stay at home.
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Rashaan Evans
Auburn, Ala./AuburnESPN 300 RANK: 52POS: LBHT/WT: 6-3/217STARS:
Auburn
Auburn, UCLA and Alabama are the teams to beat for Evans. With his proximity to the Auburn campus, the Tigers are the likely front-runner. If he wants to leave the South, UCLA is an interesting option; he visited Los Angeles in September.
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Malik McDowell
Detroit/LoyolaESPN 300 RANK: 60POS: DTHT/WT: 6-5/260STARS:
Michigan State
McDowell is down to Florida State, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State, but there is still a battle going on for his commitment. McDowell's parents want him to go out of state, but the ESPN 300 prospect wants to stay close to home. We'll see whether his parents win or McDowell ends up at Michigan State.
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Damien Mama
Bellflower, Calif./Saint John BoscoESPN 300 RANK: 67POS: OGHT/WT: 6-4/352STARS:
USC
Alabama, BYU and the two Los Angeles schools make up his final four, and although Mama will take an official visit to see the Cougars in January, the Trojans are closing fast with the four-star offensive guard. UCLA will continue to push, behind offensive line coach Adrian Klemm, but USC has a commitment from good friend Viane Talamaivao and history on their side, as Mama is part of a family of Trojans fans.
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Michiah Quick
Fresno, Calif./Central EastESPN 300 RANK: 75POS: ATHHT/WT: 6-0/170STARS:
Oklahoma
The Sooners have done extremely well in California over the past few years and might be on to another one in Quick. Not only does Oklahoma hold verbal commitments from four 2014 California standouts already -- Joe Mixon, Dallis Todd, Curtis Bolton and Devante Bond -- but Bob Stoops was able to grab commitments from two of Quick's former teammates in the 2013 class: Hatari Byrd and L.J. Moore. While Notre Dame is still in it and local schools UCLA and USC will make a push, Oklahoma appears to hold the lead for Quick at this point.
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Chris Lammons
Fort Lauderdale, Fla./PlantationESPN 300 RANK: 86POS: ATHHT/WT: 5-10/171STARS:
South Carolina
The former Florida commit had the Gamecocks at the top of his list prior to his commitment to the Gators. Now that he has reopened his recruiting, South Carolina and Wisconsin are the teams to beat. The Gamecocks hosted his last visit in January.
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Wesley Green
Lithonia, Ga./Martin Luther KingESPN 300 RANK: 120POS: CBHT/WT: 5-11/173STARS:
South Carolina
Green was originally committed to South Carolina, but backed away from the pledge and is now looking hard at both the Gamecocks and Dawgs. Georgia wants one more defensive back in this class, and the Bulldogs will continue to recruit Green hard, but South Carolina is currently the team to beat.
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Braden Smith
Olathe, Kan./Olathe SouthESPN 300 RANK: 127POS: OGHT/WT: 6-6/285STARS:
Auburn
For the longest time, TCU was the front-runner to land Smith, but after an official visit to The Plains on Jan. 17, the Tigers are trending upward. No recruit has kept his recruitment quieter than Smith, but he admitted after the Auburn visit he likes the opportunity to play early, which Auburn presents him. The tide certainly can -- and likely will -- shift again before he announces on signing day, especially with TCU getting the last official visit on Jan. 31.
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Donte Thomas-Williams
Durham, N.C./HillsideESPN 300 RANK: 138POS: RBHT/WT: 6-0/217STARS:
West Virginia
With each week, Thomas-Williams seems to have a new team enter the race. West Virginia is the one team, however, that has stayed consistently near the top of his list. After a solid official visit to Morgantown earlier this month, Mountaineers fans were confident about a verbal commitment either on or just before national signing day. Vanderbilt is the latest school to keep an eye on as the recruiting race comes to a conclusion. Florida State, NC State and Georgia Tech all once were considered teams to watch. As we approach signing day, Thomas-Williams is West Virginia's to lose.
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Roderick Johnson
Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood CentralESPN 300 RANK: 158POS: OTHT/WT: 6-6/320STARS:
Florida State
Johnson announced he will make his decision on signing day and, barring any unexpected official visits, this will come down to Florida State and Ohio State. The two have battled each other several times for offensive linemen in the 2014 class, and Johnson is the final one in 2014. The Noles have been his leader for several months now and are the most likely landing spot for Johnson.
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Travonte Valentine
Hialeah, Fla./Champagnat CatholicESPN 300 RANK: 164POS: DTHT/WT: 6-3/305STARS:
LSU
Valentine has decommitted from three different schools, so things could certainly change before signing day, but it does appear that LSU is the team to beat.
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Andrew Williams
McDonough, Ga./Eagles LandingESPN 300 RANK: 174POS: DEHT/WT: 6-4/251STARS:
Auburn
Williams has also been poised to remain in the Southeast, but it has been hard to pinpoint just where exactly he would land. The Tigers are emerging as the leader, as Gus Malzahn received Williams' first official visit Jan. 17. Clemson and Georgia also received visits, but for now, Auburn should feel comfortable.
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Mattrell McGraw
River Ridge, Ga./John Curtis ChristianESPN 300 RANK: 194POS: SHT/WT: 5-10/180STARS:
Oregon
Florida State and UCLA are near the top of McGraw's list, but Oregon has the advantage.
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Nifae Lealao
Sacramento, Calif./Capital ChristianESPN 300 RANK: 243POS: DTHT/WT: 6-6/280STARS:
Vanderbilt
The long-time Stanford commit opened up his recruiting process in January and took a quick official visit to Cal, but Lealao's connection to Derek Mason, who took over as head coach at Vanderbilt, might be too much for the Golden Bears to beat. Oregon State and Utah make up his final four schools.
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Myles Autry
Myles AutryNorcross, Ga./NorcrossESPN 300 RANK: 249POS: ATHHT/WT: 6-0/175STARS:
Georgia Tech
Autry never visited Florida and FSU might not have room at receiver, so it looks as if Georgia Tech will be the beneficiary. The Yellow Jackets have recruited Autry the hardest and have always been toward the top of his list. His family would like to see him in Atlanta so he can play with his brother, who is already on the Yellow Jackets' roster.
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Poona Ford
Hilton Head, S.C./Hilton HeadESPN 300 RANK: 266POS: DTHT/WT: 6-0/285STARS:
Texas
A number of schools have tried to get in on Ford since Charlie Strong departed Louisville for Texas. While Oregon, Missouri and Michigan State are certainly potential destinations, the Texas Longhorns figure to be tough to beat because of Ford's built-in relationship with Strong.
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