JaCoby Stevens
Oakland’s JaCoby Stevens (7) catches a pass and runs the ball in for a touchdown as William Blount’s Trent Collins (14) tries to catch Stevens during the first round of playoffs at Oakland on Friday, Nov. 6, 2015.
Oakland junior JaCoby Stevens was bumped up to 5-star status by 247Sports recently.
Oakland’s JaCoby Stevens, on Wednesday, August 5, 2015.
Oakland junior JaCoby Stevens (7) has decommitted from LSU.
MURFREESBORO — The biggest high school football prospect from Middle Tennessee for the Class of 2017 has narrowed down his search.
Oakland junior JaCoby Stevens announced via Twitter that he’s trimmed his list of college football suitors from 32 to seven.
Stevens, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound athlete, listed in order Georgia, LSU, Florida State, Florida, Tennessee, USC and Oklahoma as his top seven.
“Georgia is my No. 1,” Stevens said. “We are both interested in each other. I just love Kirby Smart coming over. I love his vision.
“I love what they are doing in Athens. Everything people say about Athens and the University of Georgia are positive things. I haven’t heard any negative things.”
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨 https://t.co/54OSfpLse5
—
JaCoby Stevens (@jacobystevens7) April 04, 2016Stevens said he chose a list of seven to coincide with his jersey number he wears at Oakland. However, he said there isn’t much difference throughout his set of schools in regard to his ranking.
Stevens, a five-star prospect, is the No.22 rated college prospect by 247Sports for next year with a composite rating of 20. The composite ranking is the average of all major recruiting services.
The only in-state prospect rated higher is Oak Ridge wide receiver Tee Higgins (No. 16). Stevens is the No. 1 rated athlete for next year’s signing class.
He is being recruited mainly as a defensive back, but some schools have shown interest in him as a receiver.
Stevens originally committed to LSU in September before decommitting from the SEC program in November after coach Les Miles’ future at the school became uncertain. However, Miles remained the coach and LSU has remained in consideration and is currently second on his list.
Stevens’ family is from Louisiana.
Stevens told The Daily News Journal originally he would wait until national signing day on Feb. 1, 2017 to make his college decision. However, he said on Monday that he may make an official announcement prior to signing day at school or during an all-star football game.
Oakland’s JaCoby Stevens lists his top 7 schools
He said he’s pretty much closed the door on schools outside of his trimmed down list.
“Outside of those seven, I’ve kind of closed up shop,” Stevens said. “If a school is really interested in me and can tell me why they should be in my top seven, I’m all ears. But those seven schools I’m going to take very serious.”
Stevens, who was a Tennessee Titans Class 6A Mr. Football Back finalist in 2015, was The Daily News Journal’s 2015 Defensive Player of the Year.
Stevens caught 32 passes for 806 yards with 11 touchdowns and 16 carries for 123 yards with three TDs in 2015.
Stevens tallied 84 tackles with 8.5 for loss on defense. He had six interceptions, recovered two fumbles and had two defensive scores.
Reach Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Kreager.