Kendell Beckwith, DE
Ranking: (No. 13 overall DE)
Commitment: LSU
Other finalists: Alabama
With his usual big smile on top of his big stature, Clinton (La.) East Feliciana Parish Enrichme standout Kendell Beckwith made LSU fans everywhere happy on Friday as he announced his commitment to the school over Alabama.
"I've been more at home (at LSU) and I've been more comfortable there throughout the whole process," Beckwith said during his announcement on ESPN.
At 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, Beckwith brings a versatile defensive end/outside linebacker presence to the Tigers. Part of his reasoning as to why he wanted to stay home was to try to extend the legacy of one of the nation’s best defensive units.
"I see myself as a defensive end or outside linebacker," he added.
-- John Garcia Jr., Recruiting analyst
Ebenezer Ogundeko, LB
Ranking: (No. 37 overall OLB)
Commitment: Clemson
Other finalists: Florida, Syracuse
Recruiting has been quite the process for Ebenezer Ogundeko.
The Brooklyn (N.Y.) Thomas Jefferson product burst onto the scene as a junior locally, picking up offers from area schools like Syracuse and Connecticut. A quick commitment to UConn ended once word got down the coast of the talented pass-rusher’s ability.
Several big-time offers later, in addition to four official visits and plenty of drama in between the beginning of his senior season and a December graduation, the three-star finally announced his decision on Friday on national television.
"I’m going to Clemson," he told FOX Sports NEXT/Scout.com.
Why Clemson?
"The great opportunity to play in the ACC and to play with a great team as well as great D-linemen that are in the same class as me," he said.
Read more about Ogundeko's commitment.
-- John Garcia Jr., Recruiting analyst
Trey Johnson, LB
Ranking: (No. 21 overall OLB)
Commitment: Ohio State
Other finalists: Auburn, Florida, Tennessee
Four-star linebacker Trey Johnson has committed to Ohio State. The Lawrenceville (GA) Central Gwinnett prospect chose the Buckeyes over Tennessee and Florida.
"Next year I will be attending The Ohio State University," Johnson stated. "It just felt perfect on my visit with the coaches and everything, and I just loved it there."
Johnson was previously committed to Auburn before backing off that pledge in late November after a visit to Columbus.
-- Bill Greene, Ohio recruiting analyst
Max Redfield, S
Ranking: (No. 7 overall S)
Commitment: Notre Dame
Other finalists: USC
Notre Dame continues earning pledges from some of the top talent in the 2013 recruiting class, and that trend continued Friday at the Under Armour All-American Game.
Mission Viejo (Calif.) four-star safety Max Redfield issued his verbal pledge to the Irish.
Redfield, who stands 6-foot-2, 195-pounds, picked the Irish over USC and will bring great physical size as well as great instincts and a high football IQ with him to South Bend.
-- Dave Berk, Recruiting analyst
Leon McQuay, S
Ranking: (No. 6 overall S)
Commitment: USC
Other finalists: Florida State, Michigan, Vanderbilt, Oregon
Leon McQuay is headed to USC.
Keeping things quiet for most of the week of practice, Seffner (Fla.) Armwood defensive standout Leon McQuay spilled his commitment plans in the fourth quarter of Friday's Under Armour All-America Game.
The four-star safety narrowed his choices to Michigan, Vanderbilt, Florida State, Oregon and USC and he took official visits to each before announcing for USC on Friday.
"I'm going to be playing college football at the University of Southern California," he said.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder knew of his decision for some time, but he wanted to announce his intentions on national television.
-- John Garcia Jr., Recruiting analyst
Thomas Duarte, TE
Ranking: (No. 8 overall TE)
Commitment: UCLA
Other finalists: Oregon, Notre Dame, USC, Washington
Thomas Duarte is headed to UCLA.
The highly skilled tight end from Mater Dei in Santa Ana, Calif., announced his commitment to the Bruins on Friday at the Semper Fi Bowl.
He did not take any official visits but chose UCLA over a host of other top programs.
"For me, I felt like it was the right time and I feel real good about the school I’m choosing," Duarte said earlier this week. "I’m looking for that family feel and atmosphere, a place where I’ll be really comfortable and I think I have that."
-- Scout.com staff
Still to announce: Semper Fi -- David Williams, John Ross
Note: Three-star running back Laray Smith was initially scheduled to commit at the Semper Fi Bowl before opting not to.
