4-star '24 TE Dylan Mesman includes Kentucky in Top 5, will decide on Friday

One of the nation’s top tight ends could be a Kentucky Wildcat by the end of the week.

On Wednesday evening, class of 2024 four-star TE Dylan Mesman announced that he is down to just five finalists for his college destination, and Kentucky made the cut. Joining the ‘Cats on his list are Auburn, Louisville, Michigan State, and Ole Miss. Mesman, who checks in at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, has taken just two visits during the spring, which went to Michigan State (March 18) and Kentucky (April 14).

“It was really tough to get down to five schools,” Mesman told On3’s Chad Simmons. “I thought about waiting a little longer and looking at more schools. But when I thought more about it, now was a good time. The five schools on my list are schools I could see myself at. I love the fit at each and I could see myself in all five of those jerseys.”

Mesman will make his final decision on Friday, April 28 at 6:00 p.m. EST at his Michigan-based high school, Saline.

Breaking: Four-star TE Dylan Mesman named his top five schools with a commitment coming later this week.

Story: https://t.co/9HqsLGxRfh pic.twitter.com/XCUbUtn7UK

— ChadSimmons (@ChadSimmons_) April 26, 2023

Two days out from his announcement date, Mesman is trending towards landing with the Michigan State Spartans. Not only did both of his parents play sports at MSU, but he’s also visited the in-state program more than any others, taking five trips to East Lansing during his recruiting process. Michigan State’s campus is roughly an hour’s drive from Mesman’s home. On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine gives the Spartans a 95.8 percent chance to secure his commitment.

That being said, Kentucky is certainly in the mix. Mesman has visited Lexington three times, including two stops in 2023. He came down for January’s Junior Day and then returned less than two weeks ago to check out spring practice. Associate head coach Vince Marrow has led this recruitment for UK, initially offering Mesman back in Sept. 2022.

“Coach Marrow and Coach (CJ) Conrad, they really make me feel at home,” Mesman told KSR earlier this month. “They were super welcoming to me, even with all the people that was there (for Junior Day). There was hundreds of people there and they still made me feel individually welcome. I super appreciated that.”

Mesman is considered the No. 382 rising senior in the country and the No. 25 overall tight end, per the On3 Industry Ranking. We’ll find out in less than 48 hours if Marrow’s pitch was enough to secure Kentucky’s third commitment for the ’24 class.