Four-star defensive tackle Kendrick Norton of Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity Christian said his top choices remain Florida and Miami, but makes it clear the current state of both programs could lead him to consider out-of-state schools.
"Florida and Miami are definitely at the top," the 6-foot-2, 292-pound Norton said. "In order for me to think about committing to Florida they have to at least go to a bowl game. I know the coaching staff would be in place for at least one more year if that happened. I need to see some security there.
"As for Miami, I'm not too sure about down there because they don't look very good, but I do like the coaches right now. It just doesn't look too solid for that program right now."
With the future of Norton's top choices in question, and with him having already de-committed from Florida State in the summer, the door is opening for some out-of-state schools among his 20-plus offers to enter the mix.
He's still working out his official visit schedule.
"I'll go to Florida and Miami for sure," Norton said. "Then I'm looking at some out-of-state schools. I might go with (Trinity Christian teammate Jeffery Holland) and a whole bunch of others to the UCLA game when they play USC. And I might go to Notre Dame."
For Norton, considering Notre Dame, UCLA and others, he said it will come down to opportunity.
"For those schools it would be about coming in early and making a big impact my first year with the program," he said. "Just those kind things. That's what I'll be looking at."
Norton doesn't know when he'll decide and appears to be willing to let the fate of his in-state choices play out.
"I'm not sure," he said of a decision date. "I don't really have a timeline. I guess whenever it feels right."