Five-star Plus+ DL Elijah Griffin announces Top 12 schools

It all started when Georgia offered Elijah Griffin when he was in middle school. The Bulldogs were first to offer the No. 4 prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking, and since, 40 others have offered.

The 6-foot-4.5, 290-pound Five-star Plus+ defensive lineman of Savannah (Ga.) Savannah Christian has kept his options open long enough. He is ready to take that first step in his recruitment and he has narrowed his list down to 12 schools.

Alabama, Clemson, Colorado, Duke, Florida, Georgia, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Oregon, South Carolina and USC remain in contention.

“I am just ready to start narrowing it down,” Griffin told On3. “These schools have done a great job communicating with me, getting to know me and showing their love and appreciation for me. I like a lot of the same things about these schools and I think all 12 can help me reach my potential.”

Griffin has visits to Miami, Georgia and USC locked in

Griffin has visited about half the schools on this list. Georgia has had him on campus over a dozen times. South Carolina is not far behind with around 10 trips to Columbia. Clemson has hosted him four times, Florida twice and Alabama once.

He has three March visits scheduled, another one could be added and he is eyeing another trip in April.

“I will be visiting Miami on March 8, Georgia on March 16 and USC on March 23. I am trying to visit Colorado the week after Miami during my spring break, but that is not set yet. In April, I am planning to visit Oregon.”

Official visits have yet to be set. Griffin has talked about taking his official visit to Clemson on May 31, but that hasn’t been locked in. He could take some in the summer and others during the season because the No. 1 prospect in Georgia is in no rush to make his decision.

“The plan is to commit closer to Signing Day in December,” Griffin said. “In the future, I might narrow it down to six or I could leave it at 12 until I commit.

“When I commit, a big thing will be development. I look at the coaching, how many they have gotten drafted and who I feel can develop me to the best of ability will be a big factor. Teaching me to be a man outside of football is something else I am looking at.”