Jamaal Jarrett has been one of the stars of the spring camp season after an impressive showing at the Rivals Camp Series in Charlotte and now the big time defensive tackle is taking the next step in his recruitment. The Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley star just named North Carolina, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, and Auburn his top five schools. Rivals.com spoke to Jarrett to breakdown each of the five teams and his upcoming visit schedule. Jarrett also formally named a leader.
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IN HIS OWN WORDS...
LSU- "I like how coach Cain keeps it real with me," Jarrett said. "He's watching my film and telling me what I need to work on stuff. I really respect that. Louisiana has a lot of great stuff surrounding the school. The school also has my majors. I'm definitely going to take an official visit there and to all of my top five.
Auburn- "I just love all the love from the staff," he said. "Defensive tackle from the 2022 class Enyce Sledge has been pretty much my mentor. The beginning of my recruiting process was like the beginning of 2021 so he's been like that big brother figure for me. Him going to Auburn has helped me look at Auburn even more because I'll be able to go in with him and play with him. The coaches seem really cool too. LSU and Auburn to be the school that I like go to for the first time."
North Carolina- "I just love how they were my first offer and my first school to ever give me an opportunity to further my academic and athletic career," said Jarrett. "I've always loved being on campus over there. The recruiting coordinators and coaches, we all have a great bond. Of course, Mack Brown is a legendary Hall of Fame coach and has a lot of tricks up his sleeve. UNC is going to shock the world. I really think UNC is going to do really good with Mack Brown before he leaves.
"Travis (Shaw) being over there is pretty big for me," he said. "Seeing him and his process and how he took his process slow and how he developed as a player at Grimsley and being that in-state role model, it's a lot. I could see myself doing that."
Clemson- "I just love coach Swinney, coach Hall, coach Eason, and coach Goodwin," Jarrett said. "I love how they recruit and how they build the relationship before going on the visit. Seeing guys like Bryan Bresee, Myles Murphy, and Payton Page, their defensive line is legit. I can see myself playing with them.
"They just picked up coach Nick Eason from Auburn," he said. "He has 19 years experience in the NFL coaching and playing. They already got monsters on the defensive line and now they have a monster defensive line coach."
Georgia- "What this draft class is looking like just opens my eyes up even more about Georgia," said Jarrett. "Them having all those players in the draft, they're 'Running Back U' and 'D-Line U' so it's crazy. Georgia alone is producing great athletes. That really opened my eyes. On my previous visit I got to see them practice and watch film to see how I would fit in on their defensive line. I can see myself playing there and going there and fitting in the defensive line room. Georgia alone is just a great school. I talk to coach Smart and coach Scott everyday. Georgia is my top school right now."
RIVALS' REACTION
Jarrett isn't in a rush to make a decision so Clemson, North Carolina, Auburn, and LSU should breath a sigh of relief because none of them would get him if he committed right now. Georgia has been steadily building a lead in Jarrett's recruitment and they seem to picking up more and more momentum as the weeks roll on. The Dawgs have had plenty of success recruiting the state of North Carolina over the years and seem to be hitting all the right notes with Jarrett. Clemson and North Carolina look like the two other main contenders for Jarrett right now but there is time for movement among his top schools. North Carolina will get Jarrett for an official visit on May 20th. He is set to travel to Auburn for the first time on June 3rd for an official visit. Georgia will host Jarrett again on June 10th for an official visit. Jarrett is working scheduling an official visit to LSU. He expects to visit Clemson again in the next few months for an unofficial visit but he has not locked in a date just yet.
