“Georgia is certainly recruiting Immanuel Iheanacho at a high level.” 7 schools but not a single mention of Georgia? We still remember what Charles Power’s comments were regarding Immanuel Iheanacho: “Mountain of an offensive tackle prospect with light-footed movement skills. Has truly rare dimensions for a young offensive tackle.” This guy, coming out of Georgetown at around 6’7, is any OL coach’s dream come true. A monster at 350 pounds with massive arms (35 inches long – wild, we know), and hey, if that ain’t enough for you, he is abnormally strong with a solid basketball background and is nearly unmovable. All of this adds up to something Kirby Smart could use.
But as always, fate has a dirty way of toying with Smart.
“Five-Star Plus+ OT Immanuel Iheanacho is down to 7⃣ schools, @Hayesfawcett3 reports.” The moment we saw this update from On3, our interest peaked. After all, Immanuel’s official visit to Georgia was supposed to take place between May 30 – June 1. Plus, Smart and his roster being one of the top contenders in this rat race surely meant Georgia would crack the 7-team list. Right? Well, no.
NEWS Five-Star Plus+ OT Immanuel Iheanacho is down to 7⃣ schools, @Hayesfawcett3 reports.
More from @ChadSimmons_: https://t.co/oto4wBos1l pic.twitter.com/vNToxfNd7k
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) March 29, 2025
“Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Maryland, Oregon, Penn State, and Texas A&M are my top seven schools.” This is exactly what Immanuel told On3. Now, call it bad juju or just other SEC powerhouses overpowering Smart and Co., these are the final 7 teams that have a shot at snagging the OT.
Honestly, this entire situation is more funny, rather than sad. Why? Well, just a few days back, On3 Recruits dropped the update that Georgia is still a big player in this battle for the No.2 overall player in the 2026 class. “Georgia’s always been one of his favorites. They’ve spent time at the top.” These were the exact words Steve Wiltfong had pointed out.
But now, it looks like Smart has lost his tug-of-war against Maryland. It was a no-brainer that it would either be the Terrapins or the Bulldogs. Maryland is in-state, closer to home, and they have continuously made sustained efforts to bring in Immanuel.
Plus, No.2 OT pretty much belongs with the Tarps, man. HC Mike Locksley has already snagged the No.1 DT in the country, Zion Elee. And all of this despite their 4-8 record. Locksley is brewing something addictive at College Park, and we are all here for it.
However, does it mean Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Ducks, Penn State, and Texas A&M would just let Locksley walk out the door with Immanuel? Yeah, not exactly.
Four SEC powerhouses vs. two B1G monsters
Let’s talk about the Big Ten first. Aside from Maryland (which Immanuel has visited over half a dozen times), Penn State is the only team on the 7-team list that has hosted the OT 4-3 times. “Penn State has been recruiting me for some time, so we have strong relationships. It is not too far from home either,” Immanuel had pointed out. Now, to lead this recruitment to fruition, Lions’ OT coach Phil Trautwein has to work hard.
However, Dan Lanning won’t be making it easy. “Coach Lanning and coach Terry are great coaches and they we strong relationships,” Immanuel confessed. Lanning and his squad have made massive strides to lead Oregon to another successful season. While 2024 ended in a bust, we are sure that the Ducks HC would use all that NIL to fuel this commitment.
Finally, for the SEC squad. While Auburn, LSU, and A&M are good places to prosper, the main threat comes from Alabama. With such a massive portal exodus, Kalen DeBoer is going to need any/every recruit he can get his hands on. Brick by brick, DeBoer needs to build back the Bama O-line, and Immanuel is a big part of that mission.
“Coach DeBoer and coach Kap (Chris Kapilovic) have made me feel like a priority,” was what Immanuel had to say about the Tide. Now, only time will tell of the OT picks someplace close to home or if he will take a gamble on a massive SEC powerhouse.
Who knows? Maybe Smart slides in from somewhere?
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