Elite safety Joenel Aguero trims list to four, sets commitment date

Danvers (Mass.) St. John’s Prep safety Joenel Aguero thought he would take his recruitment into the season and make a decision closer to the Early Signing Period, but he has had a change of heart.

The No. 34 prospect in the On3 Consensus is going to announce his decision later this summer. Aguero has set a commitment date of July 23 and he will commit to Florida, Georgia, Miami or Ohio State. LSU has been eliminated.

“I changed my mind to commit earlier because I always have had a sense of where I wanted to go and commit to,” Aguero told On3. “After talking to my parents and some of my coaches, I decided that I wanted to build my recruiting class and be the face of it instead of waiting around.”

Before the No. 4 safety in the country announce his decision, he will take official visits to Georgia (June 10-12) and Miami (June 24-26). He will also work in an unofficial visit to Florida on June 18.

Aguero was planning to take an official visit to Ohio State in the fall, but he is now working to move that up to June.

With about a month and a half to go until his commitment, Aguero will really focus on what matters and what will ultimately make his decision.

“The biggest things are who can help me grow as a person and as a man,” he said. ” I’m big on that. And the relationship with coach and all the position coaches will be important to me too. All the head coaches are involved recruiting me. … It’s exciting and I’m enjoying the process. This only happens one time.”

Georgia is “like family” for Joenel Aguero

No program has hosted Aguero, who spent last season at IMG Academy in Florida, more than Georgia has. The Bulldogs have brought him to campus four times, and each visit strengthens his relationship with the coaching staff.

“The reason I keep going back to Georgia is that it is like family,” he said. “I miss the coaches. Kirby Smart, Will Muschamp, and the coaches make it cool there. Georgia has always been one of my top schools. I am getting cool with Fran Brown now too, so the whole staff has gotten to know me and my family. Georgia has a need at safety in my class, so they offer me a chance for early playing time and to get developed by some great defensive coaches.”

The Bulldogs are currently considered the heavy favorite by the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM).

New staff at Florida making in-roads

Aguero visited Gainesville under the previous coaching staff and returned this spring for a chance to meet Billy Napier and his assistants. The Gators also have a player on campus with strong connections to Aguero.

“My boy Kamari Wilson going to Florida definitely helps them with me,” he added. “He keeps it real with me about the coaches, what it is like there, and to have someone that I know like him helps. He gives me the scoop about the coaches and the team, so that helps.

… Florida is a good school and I love it there. Coach PT (Patrick Toney) is my guy. He is a football wizard. He knows the game and I like that a lot. I think he can expand my mind on football. Florida needs help in the defensive backfield, so I see it as a place I could come in and make an impact as a freshman. Playing early is important, so that is big for me.”

Building on new relationships at Ohio State and Miami

Aguero has been to Ohio State three times now, but he is still building a relationship with the position coaches in Columbus. The Buckeyes brought Tim Walton in from the NFL and poached Perry Eliano away from Cincinnati, where he developed one of the nation’s best secondaries.

“I really like the changes they made,” Aguero said. “Coach Eliano is a great guy. Once he came in, it spiked up my connection with Ohio State. I liked Ohio State before, but love them even more now that Eliano is there. He is cool with my parents, and he is a great person. Easy to talk to, strong background, and we talk a lot outside of football.”

At Miami, Aguero has a familiar face recruiting him despite connections with other coaches being new. His parents love head coach Mario Cristobal, and defensive backs coach Jahmile Addae coming over from Georgia has put the ‘Canes in contention.

“I love everything about Miami, including the area and the coaches,” Aguero added. “Me and Coach Addae go way back; he offered me when he was at Georgia. He feels good at Miami, and we are still building our relationship. And I love how Ed Reed is working down there; he’s a legend.”