4-star DL Juju Marks sets commitment date

After narrowing his list of top schools down to eight last month, Overland Park (Kan.) St. Thomas Aquinas four-star defensive lineman Juju Marks sees the finish line in his recruitment.

On Thursday, the 6-foot-7, 255-pounder announced via social media that he will be committing on June 30.

Marks is the No. 354 overall prospect and No. 30 DL in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 6 player in Kansas.

Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, Ole Miss, Oregon, Tennessee, USC and Wisconsin made his top eight on April 21. Official visits to USC (May 31-June 2) and Kansas (June 7-9) have already been set.

“I have been in the most contact with these schools and each is a very intriguing school for me,” Marks said of his top eight to On3 last month. “The culture, the background the coaches and everything about those schools has my attention.”

Earlier this month, Marks told On3’s Chad Simmons that Oregon and USC, the two West Coast programs in the mix for his pledge, have both been in “heavy contact” with him and are making moves in his recruitment.

“USC is one of the universities where people win the Heisman,” Marks said. “It has a very beautiful campus right in the middle of LA.” 

“At Oregon, coach Dan Lanning has been building a great foundation there,” he added about the Ducks. “They should be national championship contenders this year.” 

Marks’ commitment timeline will follow a stretch of official visits as he looks to come off the board before the beginning of his senior season. He has felt like a priority to each of his contenders and is looking for his home at the collegiate level.

“I am looking for a place I can call home,” Marks said. “In addition to academics, will the school be a place where I am going to be taken care of and developed? NIL plays a role because that’s the world we live in now and ultimately, I want to be at a place where I can play.”