re: Class of 2017 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Say Your Goodbyes Edition

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Plus, he just this past week for the first time.

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The nation's No. 5 running back in the nation and No. 34 overall prospect said he knows four of his five official visit destinations, and added he is considering announcing his college decision at the Under Armour All-American Bowl in early January.

"The only date I have is Alabama for the Auburn game. That's going to be my official," McFarland said of the Nov. 26 game. "My officials are going to be Alabama, Miami, Maryland, Texas A&M and I have to find one other school. Maybe South Carolina or Ohio State."

McFarland's top 10 also includes Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Tennessee. The Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha standout is being recruited primarily as a running back, but schools are also interested in using him as a slot receiver to take advantage of his skill set.

"I like how they are all in contact with me," McFarland said. "All the people I put in my top 10, those are the schools that contact me every week. When they show me love like that every week, I appreciate that. That's why I put those schools in my top 10. I'm definitely going to see all those schools before I make my decision.

"I'm going to hit all of my top 10 schools before I pull out my top five before I make my decision either at the Under Armour game or signing day (Feb. 1)."

McFarland's latest trip was to Alabama, which has a pair of running backs committed, but it does not phase McFarland.

"It was great. I loved it," he said. "It is basically the family atmosphere. People see it as a football factory, and they have a lot of football players and that's why they win national championships, but you have to look at it from the family side. Definitely, building a relationship with the coaches -- my recruiting coordinator, coach Tosh (Lupoi), (offfensive coordinator) Lane Kiffin, the running backs coach and talking to Nick Saban -- is important. They definitely have to be in my top (list of schools). Why not?"

And that does not even inlcuding McFarland's relationship with Alabama assistant Mike Locksley, the former Maryland assistant.

"He's definitely involved with me," McFarland said. "He's been involved with me since he was at Maryland. He was the first person to recruit me in the eight grade."

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A recent newcomer to McFarland's recruitment is Ohio State, which is doing well with his teammage, five-star defensive end Chase Young.
"I haven't really seen much yet," McFarland said. "They just started contacting me, and Chase has been in my ear about Ohio State because he likes Ohio State a lot, so I decided to put it in my top 10 and see what happens when I go there."

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