2024 5-star DL David Stone announces top schools

Oklahoma City (Okla.) IMG Academy five-star defensive lineman David Stone currently holds more than 30 offers. He is ready to start trimming that list.

On Friday, Stone announced his top 10 schools. They are Oklahoma, Texas A&M, USC, LSU, Oregon, Alabama, Michigan State, Miami, Tennessee and Florida.

“I feel like out of those 10 schools, those are probably the most realistic options for me to go to,” Stone told On3. “I feel like I can take them seriously in this process and they take me pretty seriously as well.”

The 6-foot-4, 270-pound recruit has already visited Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Michigan State, Miami and Florida. He has already scheduled a trip to see the Spartans again, as well as Georgia and Tennessee. Even though the Bulldogs are not currently among his top 10, Stone acknowledged that his list could change in the future.

According to Stone, it is a “pretty close” race for his commitment, which almost caused him to release a top 12 instead of a top 10. As the recruiting process continues, the five-star has a plan for the coming months.

“My process is going to be pretty fast because I am enrolling early, so everything is just gonna have to speed up a little quicker,” said Stone, the No. 9 overall prospect and No. 1 defensive lineman in the 2024 On3 Consensus. “I hope that I find a school where I’m committed to before the summer.”

Stone wants to embrace the recruiting process

Stone plans to use all of his official visits, and “most likely” before his commitment. He added that Michigan State is going to get his final official.

“We talk probably the most,” Stone said about the Spartans. “When we were talking, I was given a rundown of everything and discussions of everything. It was like, ‘Alright, that’s fine.’ (They added), ‘And then whenever you feel like you’re ready to take the official, we want to be the last one.’ I said, ‘Alright, I can make that happen.’ So I pretty much plan on them being the last one after I get done handling business with every other school. I’ll be ready.”

The Oklahoma native shared that visits are an important factor in his decision. His mom’s opinion will play a key role, as well.

Right now, Stone likely has multiple months before revealing a commitment. Until then, h top 10 schools will continue to work hard for his pledge.

“We talk pretty much every other day, at least once a week,” Stone said of communication with his finalists. “It’s just constant communication. We’re building relationships off the field and I feel like that’s pretty necessary for them to consider you as an option. I want to have relations with the coaches and staff and everyone on the team.”