re: Class of 2016 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Waiting On Demetris Robertson Edition

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Tre Nixon Tweets Top 10: Which School Is Best Fit for 4-Star WR?
By Tyler Donohue , National Recruiting Analyst Jul 1, 2015

Speedy wide receiver Tre Nixon updated his widespread recruitment process Tuesday night, announcing a top-10 list on Twitter:

The 4-star Florida prospect pinpointed Alabama, Auburn, Duke, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee and Texas A&M as programs of greatest interest. This collection of favorites features universities from four Power Five conferences, highlighted by seven SEC squads.

“The biggest thing for me here on out is to see which school could best prepare me as a receiver and as a young man,” he told Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports. “All of them have good facilities and good coaches, now what I’m looking for is who can develop me."

Nixon, a 6'1", 170-pound senior at Viera High School, enjoyed a rapid rise on the recruiting trail following a monstrous 2014 campaign. He caught 43 passes for 1,065 yards and 13 touchdowns last fall.

His yards-per-reception average (24.7) provides evidence of Nixon's tremendous quickness. He was clocked at 4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash, per 247Sports.

College coaching staffs always covet speed along the perimeter and, considering his solid size, it's no surprise Nixon sparked serious looks from the next level. He holds nearly 50 scholarship offers seven months shy of national signing day.

His decision isn't likely to arrive until much later in the year. Nixon expressed plans to further whittle the list before lining up a few official visits, according to Wiltfong.

Rated 43rd nationally among wide receivers, he seems as wide open to possibilities as any player in the 2016 class. Duke, Penn State, Notre Dame and Georgia equally share expert commitment predictions in his 247Sports' Crystal Ball, though projections remain limited at this point.

The Nittany Lions joined this pursuit early, hosting him in Happy Valley twice last year. Nixon is expected to return to Penn State on July 18, per Greg Pickel of PennLive.com.

"Love where things are heading [at Penn State]," he told Pickel. "Love the coaches and everything about them."

Head coach James Franklin's class already features Elite 11 finalist quarterback Jake Zembiec and impressive running back Miles Sanders, but this group still needs field-stretching pass-catchers. Nixon certainly fits the bill.

Oregon rarely lacks elite speed in its uptempo offensive attack, and the Ducks have clearly identified Nixon as a potential valuable commodity. Despite the lack of an offer until late May, head coach Mark Helfrich has his team firmly in the equation.

Though Nixon lives at the opposite end of the country, his willingness to reciprocate interest has roots.

"Oregon is an amazing school. It was my favorite school growing up," he told Andrew Nemec of The Oregonian. "It's definitely a game-changer for me. They gave me a good feeling, let me know I was a priority for them and showed me how I'd fit in their offense."

Oregon and Penn State present intriguing options beyond Nixon's home region, but odds are in favor of him landing in the SEC based on sheer numbers.

Tennessee and Florida are two contenders that stand out among the group.

The new Gators regime is attempting to recharge a dormant offense, and local priorities like Nixon are necessary in that effort. Florida is his lone in-state favorite and arguably offers him the most realistic chance to immediately contribute.

Despite that proximity, Tennessee is the team that requires a close look on this list.

The Volunteers continue to be very aggressive in his recruitment, spurred by a strong recent campus visit.

“[Head coach] Butch Jones was following me everywhere I went, same thing with [passing game coordinator Zach] Azzani, they definitely care," Nixon told Wiltfong. "It’s not easy to rebuild in the SEC playing that tough schedule but they’re doing it, and they’re bringing in top recruits and it’s great to see where the program is headed.”

Blue-chip quarterback Jarrett Guarantano is one of those recruits who could help Tennessee take another step in conference competition. He's also among the most active player-recruiters in this class, so expect him to spend significant time selling Nixon on the prospect of pairing up.

Upcoming visits should help clarify Nixon's ultimate intentions. Tennessee seems to be on the rise but with an abundance of contenders in the SEC and beyond, it's an unpredictable race for this Sunshine State standout.

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