Defensive back Iman Marshall is one of the top recruits in the 2015 college football class. (YouTube)
The college football season never stops.
The games are played in the fall, but the battles for the top players go year-round.
And Wednesday is National Signing Day, so we’ll find where the top recruits are headed.
Normally it’s the skill position players who garner the headlines, but 2015 is the year of the linemen.
Most of the top recruits are the big guys – defensive tackles, ends and road-grading offensive blockers.
Here are the top recruits in the 2015 class:
Terry Beckner Jr., Defensive Tackle
Size: 6-foot-4, 298 pounds
Hometown/High School: East Saint Louis, Illnois/East Saint Louis HS
Top Choices: Florida State, Auburn, Ohio State, Missouri, LSU, Michigan
Beckner took an official visit to Missouri this past weekend, though National Champion Ohio State and Florida State are each making a serious push for the defensive end.
Missouri went all out during Beckner’s visit, hoping to land the 5-star recruit.
Beckner is scheduled to make his choice at 10:45 a.m. Eastern on ESPNU.
Byron Cowart, Defensive End
Size: 6-foot-4, 258 pounds
Hometown/High School: Seffner, Florida/Armwood HS
Top Choices: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Maryland
Cowart is widely considered the top prospect in the nation. In the mold of former South Carolina star Jadeveon Clowney, Cowart made visits to Florida and Auburn late last month and told ESPN those schools are his top 2 choices.
Former Gators coach Will Muschamp went after Cowart hard. Muschamp is no longer at Florida, but is now the defensive coordinator of Auburn.
Cowart is scheduled to make his choice at 9 a.m. Eastern on ESPNU.
Martez Ivey, Offensive Tackle
Size: 6-foot-6, 271 pounds
Hometown/High School: Apopka, Florida/Apopka HS
Top Choices: Florida, Auburn, LSU, Alabama, Florida State, Georgia
Ivey has seemingly narrowed his choices to 2 schools. He told GatorCountry.com:
Right now I would say I’m 50/50 between Florida and Auburn
His best buddy and high school teammate, Chandler Cox, has already enrolled at Auburn.
Ivey is scheduled to announce his decision during the 11 a.m. Eastern hour on ESPNU.
Iman Marshall, Cornerback
Size: 6-foot-1, 195 pounds
Hometown/High School: Long Beach, California/Long Beach Polytechnic HS
Top Choices: USC, Notre Dame, Florida State, Michigan, LSU, Alabama
USC is considered the favorite, though Michigan and new coach Jim Harbaugh are making a late push.
He’s the top-rated defensive back in the class and has great size.
Marshall is scheduled to make his announcement at 4 p.m. Eastern on ESPNU.
Trenton Thompson, Defensive Tackle
Size: 6-foot-4, 311 pounds
Hometown/High School: Albany, Georgia/Westover HS
Committed: Georgia
Thompson verbally committed to Georgia last August, but he recently took an official visit to Auburn.
The run-stuffing yet agile Thompson was named the Junior of The Year by Rivals.
