12 schools make the cut for 4-star EDGE Jake Kreul

Orlando IMG Academy four-star EDGE Jake Kreul is wanted by just about every high-profile college football program in the nation. Many of them remain in the hunt for his pledge, he announced on Thursday.

Kreul told On3’s Hayes Fawcett that he’s down to 12 schools: Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M.

The 6-foot-2.5, 220-pounder is the No. 51 overall prospect and No. 6 EDGE in the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 7 player in Florida.

It’s already been a busy year for Kreul, as a slew of head coaches and assistants from many of his top schools stopped by to see him at IMG in January. He remains on track with his process, previously noting that he’s aiming for a summer commitment before his senior season.

“The communication is super-important to me. Early on, someone told me to go to a school that is desperate for you. The communication and how hard schools recruit me show me a lot,” Kreul told On3’s Chad Simmons in November. “That and how the coaches teach means a lot to me. I love ball, so who can teach me will go a long way in my recruitment.”

Kruel opted to transfer from Bishop Moore in Orlando to IMG for his final two season of high school football. As a sophomore for the Hornets, he was an absolute menace to offensive lines. Along with 76 total tackles, he notched 34 tackles for loss and a whopping 17 sacks. Playing alongside tons of Division I talent at IMG, he still managed to total 39 tackles, six sacks and 11 QB hurries in 2024.

With Kreul beginning to narrow his focus, continued communication and the next round of visits will likely play a major part as contenders look to emerge from the middle of the pack. Competition remains stout for one of the top blue-chip defensive prospects in the nation.