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4-star DL Derrick LeBlanc breaks down the process behind his top 7

PeterWarrenPhoto2by:Peter Warren•12/31/21•

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As Kissimmee (Fla.) Osceola four-star defensive lineman Derrick LeBlanc was narrowing down his list of schools to a top seven, he had a clear idea of how to choose which schools made the list

“I went everything off relationships and who I talked to on the regular,” LeBlanc told Joseph Hastings of Clemson Sports. “That’s mainly what I based it off of. Like how can I fit your scheme and like how can you develop me. That’s really all it came down to.”

Those seven schools ended up being Clemson, Florida, Miami, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State and UCF.

The On3 Consensus – a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies – has LeBlanc as the No. 63 overall player and No. 10 defensive lineman in the 2023 cycle.

One schools unlike the others on his final seven is UCF. The Knights are the only non-Power Five team to make the cut, although they will soon be Big 12 members.

LeBlanc said his relationship with coach Gus Malzahn is the main reason behind that decision.

“I’ve been talking to Gus since my freshman year,” LeBlanc said. “He’s always told me like, wherever I’m at, I’m gonna come after you hard and everything. He always kept that promise.”

That reasoning is the same for the Nittany Lions and James Franklin.

“Since my freshman year, he’s always been saying like, ‘Oh, you’re one of the top guys. We need Florida guys like you.'” LeBlanc said.

LeBlanc is also “homeboys” with 2022 four-star defensive lineman and Penn State commit Zane Durant and added that he likes the way the Nittany Lions have treated his friend.

Durant and LeBlanc were at Penn State’s open practice Wednesday ahead of the Outback Bowl.

LeBlanc has three trips scheduled for January. He will be at Penn State on Jan. 15, Miami on Jan. 22 and Clemson on Jan. 29.

The Hurricanes are one of three schools in his top seven who have hired new coaches in the last few weeks, along with the Sooners and Gators.

New Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables and LeBlanc know each other from Venables time at Clemson when LeBlanc “used to talk to him all the time, almost every day.” He also knows Mario Cristobal from being recruited by Oregon.

Florida’s new staff doesn’t have that same previous connection as the other two, but LeBlanc is excited to see the changes Billy Napier will be bringing to Gainesville.

As for Ohio State, they have been steadily be at or near the top of LeBlanc’s list for months.

“Coach (Larry) Johnson, he’s one of the best in the business,” LeBlanc said. “He can really help you get to the league and everything. That’s what I like.”