Xavier Gilliam discusses Penn State and adds two more official visits to June schedule

Maryland native Xavier Gilliam is one of a few defensive linemen who have locked in an official visit with Penn State for June. According to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine, the Nittany Lions are a heavy favorite to land the Wilde Lake prospect’s signature come December, but there are a few other schools who remain serious players in Gilliam’s recruitment.

During Sunday’s Under Armour Camp in Baltimore, Gilliam informed Blue White Illustrated that he’s added two more schools to next month’s official visit schedule. In addition to Penn State (June 2-4) and Duke (June 16-18), both N.C. State and Virginia Tech have also now locked in dates. The trip to Raleigh will take place June 9-11, while Brent Pry and his staff will host him June 23-25.

Gilliam Discusses Top Four Schools

NC State: I love the coaching staff. Coach [Dave] Doeren and Coach [Charley] Wiles are really good people. Coach Wiles, when I went on my visit there, he and my mom really connected. She loves that place and I love that place. It was easy for us to set an official visit there.

Duke: It’s similar to NC State. I feel very comfortable with the coaches there. Coach [Harland] Bower and Coach [Jess] Simpson, and really the whole defensive coaching staff, has been amazing to us. They’re another school my mom feels very comfortable with. Duke has also been recruiting me as long as anyone. They were one of my first offers, so it was easy to include them in there. When we visited Duke, we sat in Coach [Mike] Elko’s office and everything was very real, very honest.

Related: Benedict Umeh opens up about Penn State & adds a third official visit

Virginia Tech: Tech is a great football environment. I always think about Enter Sandman and every game being sold out. I just imagine what it’s like to play in that stadium. But just like the other schools, I love the coaches, I love the facilities. Everything about Virginia Tech is appealing.

Penn State

– On how often they’re in touch

I was on the phone with Coach [Deion] Barnes [last] week. Him and Coach [Anthony] Poindexter actually came up to my school recently. But I’ve been getting on the phone with them a couple times a week now. I’ve also been talking to DJ Bryant and [Alan Zemaitis] pretty regularly. I feel like I’ve really made a connection with a lot of the guys there. I’m loving Penn State right now. They’re in my top four for a reason.

– On his relationship with Barnes

When Coach [John] Scott was at Penn State, we talked for a couple of weeks, but since Coach Barnes was already there, I already knew him. We were talking leading up to all of that, so it was an easy transition. It never really impacted me at all. He’s a really cool, down-to-earth person. It’s always been easy to build a relationship with him.

Decision Timeline

Like so many other top prospects, Gilliam plans to have his recruitment wrapped up before his senior season. He said that he doesn’t have a specific date in mind at the moment but also knows the range in which he’d like to wrap this up.

“I could see it being somewhere around June 28th,” Gilliam said. “I don’t want to call that the specific date yet, but my final visit to Virginia Tech wraps up June 25th. I could see myself taking a few days, so maybe June 28 to June 30 range, somewhere around there. I think by then I’ll be ready to make that move. “

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