Fresh off a positive visit to Michigan, Derrick Green is close to announcing his finalists.
The ESPN 150 tailback from Richmond (Va.) Hermitage said he plans to cut down his 14-team list of potential suitors later this week. Green previously told ESPN his other finalists are Tennessee, Michigan, Oregon, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Auburn, Clemson, Alabama, Miami, Pittsburgh, Oklahoma State, Georgia and Oklahoma.
Since then, some schools have fallen from the list but Green hasn't declared the primary schools he is considering. The 6-foot, 215-pound prospect declined to confirm that Michigan would make the final cut.
“Maybe,” Green said. “We'll just have to wait and see.”
Green said the announcement, which will consist of approximately five schools, could come with a declaration of where he'll take his official visits.
“Not yet,” the nation's 53rd overall prospect said when asked whether he had any definite destinations in mind for this fall. “I'm going to talk to my coach and my parents this week. We'll sit down and weigh out the pros and cons about each school.”
Michigan seems a strong possibility as a finalist. Green has shown a good bit of interest in the Wolverines and spoke highly of them after this past weekend's visit.
“I liked everything,” he said Monday. “It was a real nice visit. I had a good time with the recruits, the coaching staff and it really went well.”
The connection with Michigan's coaching staff should be a factor in Green's decision.
“I like them,” he said. “We've built up a really good relationship with the head coach, the coordinator [and] my position coach, so that makes it that much easier to communicate if I do go there.”
Michigan's signing class also figures to work in the Wolverines' favor. The second-ranked class in the nation boasts 23 commitments, including 15 from members of the ESPN 300.
“Definitely,” Green said as to whether the class was important, “because I want to go somewhere where I can definitely win a national championship. That's a great class. They've definitely got some great guys that can help them do that so that's a big factor.
Green has long said he'll sign with a school that features a big, powerful tailback. Michigan would certainly seem to fit the bill.
He has been active on the recruiting trail this summer, visiting several schools and participating in several camps. Michigan, however, gets the final say this summer, as he said he's now ready to focus on preseason camp.
“That's it,” Green said. “That's the last visit.”