4-star OT Fletcher Westphal names top five schools

Leesburg (Va.) Tuscarora four-star offensive tackle Fletcher Westphal is down to five schools in his recruitment, he announced on Sunday.

Among the contenders remaining are Auburn, Arkansas, Clemson, Florida, and Georgia.

Westphal is the No. 234 overall prospect and No. 17 offensive tackle in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 4 player in Virginia.

Top 5…

Grateful for the relationships I’ve built over the last year. Thank you to every coach that has poured into me. I can’t thank you enough. @TuscaroraFB @336Edits pic.twitter.com/uHtNmgpq2Z

— Fletcher Westphal (@FletcherWestph1) April 30, 2023

The 6-foot-8, 295-pounder narrowed down his top five from a list of nearly three dozen offers that also included Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Penn State, Michigan and more.

Westphal has visited multiple top schools recently

Westphal has been active on the recruiting trail over the past year, taking upwards of 30 recruiting visits since last April. More recently though, he’s narrowed his focus to schools that ultimately made his top schools list.

Early this month, he was back at Georgia and the Bulldogs made a strong impression on him.

“I can’t really talk about OVs until after all my visits this spring, but UGA is definitely high on my list,” Westphal told DawgsHQ. “What’s unique about them is their winning culture and mentality in everything they do on and off the field. There is confidence and stability in knowing Coach Smart and Searels are not going anywhere.”

He also tripped to see their SEC rival Florida in March, his second known trip to Gainesville as a recruit.

“Florida has been all gas, no brakes since they offered me back in the fall,” Westphal told GatorsOnline. “They visited twice in January and Tuesday (offensive line coach Rob Sale) was back. On top of the visits, lots of mail comes to my house every couple of weeks and I get texts almost every day. I know I am a priority recruit based on all their actions.”

Sale and Florida’s other offensive line coach, Darnell Stapleton, seem to have made a good impression on Westphal — and Westphal previously said he liked the Gators’ two-coach approach for the line.

“I like both Coach Sale and Stapleton and their coaching style. I got to see them in action at spring practice.”

Auburn, Hugh Freeze making a strong impression

Westphal has also become one of Auburn’s top targets since Hugh Freeze took over as head coach, with them having a previous relationship during Freeze’s time at Liberty. That, along with his connection to offensive line coach Jake Thornton, has made Auburn a legitimate contender to land him as well.

“Coach (Hugh) Freeze and Coach Thornton have definitely been putting the effort in to build a relationship with me,” Westphal told Auburn Live after his recent visit. “I talk to them often and they have visited my school in Virginia. They want me to know I am a priority recruit. Today, I definitely felt that.”

Each of Westphal’s finalists are now expected to get official visits, though no dates have been set.