On3 RPM: Prediction on where 5-star DJ Pickett will land on Wednesday
Zephyrhills (Fla.) High five-star plus cornerback DJ Pickett will announce his commitment on Wednesday night.
Pickett’s finalists are LSU, Miami and Oregon. The time of his ceremony is set for 7pm.
It’s time to make an On3 RPM prediction.
I’ll go with Oregon.
The buzz behind the pick
The Ducks have hosted the 6-foot-4, 180-pound Pickett several times including his official visit the weekend of June 21. Shortly after the trip, On3’s No. 1 ranked cornerback and No. 3 prospect overall moved up his decision date from October to now.
Pickett originally planned to commit at that point in the fall because he wanted to watch Miami play.
“I don’t even know if we even have to watch an Oregon game,” Pickett’s father Damien said earlier this summer. “We know what they’re about. We know Georgia is going to be good. We know Oregon is going to be good. We know LSU’s class is going to be outstanding.
“The only school we’re eager to see what’s going on when they start the season is Miami. We pretty much know everything with the rest of them. We want to see how things start out and see how they roll and see if this is the start of something great or is it going to be the same Miami to be honest with you.”
The Pickett family does have belief that the Hurricanes are very much on the right track, it was just a matter of seeing it come to fruition after a month of the season before announcing.
But then Pickett had another terrific visit to Oregon. Besides the official visit he was also at the spring game. He was in Eugene for a game this past season as well.
“It was more the resources and school itself and eye-opening for me the resources they have out there for the kids,” Damien said. “I can see a successful path for him out there. It’s more life after football and they talk more about that than football themselves.
“The resources they have for the kids was more spoken about and I thought that was more interesting. Jobs, so many people out and about in business and you have Nike right there. Marketing. You have so much marketing stuff right there with Nike and other stuff they have going on. It’s a lot of resources as far as future jobs and people that have just been there. There is a lot of business endeavors, a lot of opportunity outside of football at the school.”
The Pickett family has raved about Oregon after every experience. They’ve talked about the travel being long but forgetting about the trek out West the minute they step on campus.
“Oregon is different. I could see my son playing here,” the elder Pickett said. “No distractions this far from home. School and football.
“Coach Lanning seems to be a genuine person who is about the players. His staff is very engaged with the recruits and their entire family. A lot of resources and they made sure it was pointed out.”
Other finalists still battling
When Pickett put out his decision date two Wednesdays ago, it looked like Oregon was the leader. Buzz around Miami has picked up since then. The Pickett family has always shown love to the Hurricanes.
“Tradition,” Damien said. “Home. It’s just home.
“We’ve been Hurricanes fans forever. Myself, him, the family, it’s always been home. My nephew (Booker Pickett Jr.) is there. Miami is a private school. The smaller class room is something we like. There’s a lot of resources at Miami too.
“I think Coach (Mario) Cristobal, I really truly believe he can win a National Championship at Miami.
LSU isn’t going away. The Tigers looked like they were maybe the one to beat back in the spring. Corey Raymond, Frank Wilson and the Tigers staff have been working to have daily communication with Pickett leading up to his decision.
“Corey Raymond,” Damien stated. The family also has a connection with Patrick Peterson who happened to be in Baton Rouge during the official visit this summer. “The defensive backs, the history of their defensive backs. The location. Baton Rouge is in a great location, the school is.
“Just the Corey Raymond factor. And it’s Defensive Back U. DBU. That’s a big factor for LSU. The fact they have developed so many DBs. Coach Raymond developed so many DBs at the school. The recruiting is in the pudding. There are so many greats that played at LSU. I’d say history as far as LSU.”
We’ll see what happens on Wednesday night. Damien said his son knows where he’s headed.
“He’s at peace,” Damien said. “I keep saying that but it’s been stressful to say the least. These coaches aren’t letting up but they don’t know.
Stats and rankings
As a junior Pickett turned 52 receptions into 1,033 yards and 15 touchdowns. He had 31 tackles and an interception. As a sophomore he posted 43 receptions for 886 yards and 12 touchdowns and 39 tackles and four interceptions.
Oregon has the On3 Industry’s No. 4 ranked recruiting class. LSU is right behind at No. 5. Miami is looking to push back into the Top 10 sitting at No. 11.
The post On3 RPM: Prediction on where 5-star DJ Pickett will land on Wednesday appeared first on On3.
