4-star DL Trent Wilson details top contenders, commitment timeline
Things are beginning to take shape in the recruitment of Upper Marlboro (Md.) Henry D. Wise four-star defensive lineman Trent Wilson.
The stout prospect has lined up four spring visits throughout March and April. He expects to trim his list of top schools down to five or four soon after. Official visits in June will then be up next, with the end goal being a July commitment.
Now the No. 94 overall prospect and No. 9 DL in the updated On300 Rankings, Wilson continues to emerge as one of the top players at his position in the 2025 cycle. He named his top eight schools in January, but only half of those programs will have him back on campus in the coming weeks.
Wilson told On3’s Chad Simmons in late February that he has lined up visits to Oklahoma (March 9), Texas A&M (March 23), Ohio State (March 30) and Penn State (April 13). On the latest edition of ‘The Five Star Flex’, Wilson sat down with On3’s Phillip Dukes to detail his interest in the four schools.
Wilson impressed by coaching staffs at Oklahoma, A&M
Interest has continued to pick up between Wilson and the Sooners as he approaches his senior season of high school football. Co-defensive coordinator Todd Bates and defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis make for an impressive pair — which is something that has certainly caught the eye of Wilson.
“Todd Bates and Coach Miguel, they offered me when I was at St. Francis last year. I had just reached out to Todd Bates earlier this year to start building relationships with him and set up a visit, because I was interested. Bates has a great résumé with D-linemen since he was at Clemson and when he went to Oklahoma,” Wilson said.
…Him and Coach Miguel together, that’s a really good coaching room. I was very impressed with them. Just by Oklahoma’s culture and by the good things that you hear from them — I haven’t heard anything negative from them and a lot of great players came from Oklahoma. That’s why I just had to give them a shot and put them in my top eight.”
The same can be said for the new-look staff in College Station. New A&M head coach Mike Elko and defensive line coach Sean Spencer may be re-tooling some things, but the pedigree is still there. The Aggies have also made an impression on Wilson and will welcome him back to campus this month.
“I visited there last year around this time, I really liked the campus. I know they had some people move from there and go other places, but I still think that Texas A&M has something good going on,” Wilson said. “Coach Spencer, he has a great résumé as well. He has some league time and also coached some great defensive linemen. My relationship with him and Coach Elko. He came from a good school, has head coaching experience … them two together, that’s what made me look their way.”
Long relationships have Ohio State, Penn State near the top for Wilson
When it comes to résumés, Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson often stands head and shoulders above his competition. The longtime Buckeyes assistant has funneled many D-linemen into the league, making the vision for playing in Columbus quite easy for Wilson and his family.
“Coach Larry Johnson, that was one of the coaches that I’ve had a relationship with since like my sophomore year. The first time I took an unofficial visit there, I really was impressed by his résumé, because he’s definitely put some great defensive linemen inside the league. That stood out to me. Just the environment at Ohio State, the coaching staff, the aura felt good to be in,” Wilson said.
…I took another visit there, maybe the next month and I brought my family up. They really enjoyed it as well, so if they enjoyed it and I enjoyed it, then that’s just something hard to pass by, as well. I just had to make sure that we take another visit there just to see if Ohio State is really a place that’ll be for me.”
As far as relationships go, though, Penn State has been in the mix for Wilson longer than any program that’s still contending for his pledge. Whether it be DL coach Deion Barnes, head coach James Franklin or another member of the PSU staff, communication has remained consistent with the 6-foot-2.5, 260-pounder.
“That’s one of the schools that’s been recruiting me since my freshman year. I think that was my ninth offer. They’ve been very consistent throughout my recruitment. I talk to the coaches all the time, once a week. I’ve built a great relationship with Coach Deion Barnes and with Coach Franklin,” Wilson said of the Nittany Lions. “I’ve been up there more than any school that I’ve went to. It’s been great. They have one of the loudest stadiums in the Big Ten. That family culture, that’s something that I would like to be a part of.”