ADDISON, Ill. -- The top defensive end at the Nike Opening Regional Chicago on Sunday was Fort Wayne (Ind.) consensus four-star prospect Auston Robertson, and he delivered by making the OL/DL Final 5 while spending time at defensive end and three-technique defensive tackle.
No. 1 Indiana recruit Auston Robertson down to Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State
An upcoming visit to South Bend could be decisive for the top-10 weakside defensive end.
Before the camp, SB Nation Recruiting caught up with Robertson to talk about the state of his recruitment ahead of his June 7 decision between his three finalists -- Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Ohio State.
“Growing up, I was an Ohio State fan because I’m from Lima, so that’s where my family wants me to go, but my relationship isn’t as tight as it should be,” he said. “It is what is, but I’m not going to stop liking them because I’ve always been a fan since I was little.”
The reason for the lack of interest from the Buckeyes despite the offer and the high interest from Robertson? Ohio State may not have a spot left for the nation’s No. 7 weakside defensive end because head coach Urban Meyer and his staff already hold two commitments from players at the position, including Terrell Hall, a player 247Sports has ranked as the No. 2 weakside defensive end nationally.
So Robertson is effectively down to Michigan State and Notre Dame, the two schools that are currently recruiting him the hardest.
“The recruits there that are committed to both schools, we’re forming a relationship,” said the 6’5, 230-pounder. “So if I go to either school, there’s going to be a family atmosphere. I feel at home.”
Robertson attended a Michigan State practice during the spring and has an upcoming visit planned to Notre Dame with his mother. She hasn’t been in a college environment yet because of work conflicts, so Robertson said that he wants to show her the type of atmosphere he could play in at the next level. It could be a key visit for his recruitment.
Since the Spartans have produced a top-10 defense in S&P+ every year since 2011, Michigan State is an ideal landing spot for a defensive recruit, a fact made more pronounced by the fact that the staff does a strong job of bonding with prospects.
“I just like the coaches,” Robertson said. “I like the way they coach. I like everything about them, to be honest, from the way that they run practice to how hard they try to build a relationship with the players. In talking to the players, they have only positive things to say about the coaches. Nothing negative. They’re not regretting anything about the recruiting process and their decisions.”
Of course, the same thing is also true about the Fighting Irish. Fort Wayne is about 90 miles from South Bend, but the city has become something of a pipeline to Notre Dame and Robertson has a close relationship with Fighting Irish players like linebacker Jaylon Smith and safety Drue Tranquill, who both hail from Fort Wayne.
Since Smith and Robertson have a lot in common, Indiana’s top recruit in 2016 believes that he would enjoy playing at Notre Dame, too.
Robertson doesn’t plan on taking any other visits after he commits in June.
