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4-star OT Claude Mpouma names final 5 schools

Wg0vf-nP_400x400by:Keegan Pope•06/06/25•

bykeeganpope

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(Photo by Chad Simmons/On3)

Chicago (Ill.) Mount Carmel four-star offensive tackle Claude Mpouma is down to five schools in his recruitment, he announced on Friday.

The final quintet includes Michigan, Ohio State, Nebraska, Florida and Auburn.

Each of the five programs has made a strong impression, but the Huskers, Gators and Tigers in particular have long been in the race to land him.

Mpouma is scheduled to be on The Plains this weekend for an official visit with Hugh Freeze and Co. before making stops at Florida (June 13) and Nebraska (June 20). No official visit dates have been locked in as of now with the Wolverines and Buckeyes.

Coming into these visits, most of the buzz has been around Florida and Nebraska. The Gators hosted him this spring for an unofficial visit and made a strong move up his list.

“It was pretty good. I actually liked it,” Mpouma told Gators Online of his visit. “I liked the practice, meetings and I liked meetings with the coaches. Everything was good. The biggest takeaways were probably the meetings. The meetings with the o-line groups were good. The coaches take their time to explain the drills and take their time to talk with the players so they know what to do. I really enjoyed practice today too. They have time to develop the players and have the room for that.”

Academics, development will be a key factor for Mpouma

Following that trip, he stopped in Auburn and got in a visit with the Tigers.

“It was fun … I really liked it,” he told AuburnLive. “Just the people in general and I really liked the environment, the vibe around the program. It was fun.”

As he narrows in on a decision after these official visits, Mpouma has a few key criteria that whatever school he chooses will have to meet.

“Who is going to help me with my development, who I have a better relationship with, and also academics,” he told GatorsOnline. “I’m not from here (the United States), so being far away from home is not a problem for me anymore. I’m kind of far away from home (Cameroon) right now, so I’m used to it by now.”

The 6-foot-8, 260-pounder is the No. 175 overall prospect in the 2026 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also ranks as the nation’s No. 14 offensive tackle and No. 6 recruit in Illinois.