One of the top prospects in the Northeast has trimmed his list of top schools down to five.



Barnegat (N.J.) Donovan Catholic four-star wide receiver <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/michael-thomas-154307/">Michael Thomas</a> tells On3’s Chad Simmons that he is down to <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/rutgers-scarlet-knights/">Rutgers</a>, <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/penn-state-nittany-lions/">Penn State</a>, <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/syracuse-orange/">Syracuse</a>, <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/boston-college-eagles/">Boston College</a> and <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/illinois-fighting-illini/">Illinois</a>.



Thomas is the No. 137 overall prospect and No. 19 wideout in the 2025 cycle, according to the <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/rankings/industry-player/football/2025/">On3 Industry Ranking</a>, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 3 player in New Jersey.



Of the five programs still in the mix for the 5-foot-10, 185-pounder, Rutgers and Penn State have had Thomas on campus the most throughout his recruitment. He’s also made his way to Rutgers and Syracuse for Junior Day trips so far in 2024.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thomas-talks-nittany-lions">Thomas talks Nittany Lions</h2>



<a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/penn-state-nittany-lions/news/four-star-new-jersey-wide-receiver-michael-thomas-plans-attend-penn-state-season-opener-against-west-virginia/">Thomas spoke with Blue and White Illustrated last fall</a>, detailing his interest in the Nittany Lions and the PSU coaching staff. He was in Happy Valley for the season-opener against West Virginia last year.



“My relationship started with Coach [Taylor] Stubblefield and then with the recruiting staff, Coach <a href="https://gopsusports.com/staff-directory/khalil-ahmad/1157" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">[Khalil] Ahmad</a> and Coach <a href="https://gopsusports.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/marques-hagans/1726" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">[Marques] Hagans</a>. I also met Coach <a href="https://gopsusports.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/james-franklin/775" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">[James] Franklin</a>,” Thomas told BWI.



“I’ve spoken to Coach Ahmad a few times recently,” he added back in August. “Coach Ahmad is a cool dude. We built a relationship a while ago before he joined PSU. He keeps it 100 all the time. He just checks in on me, makes sure I’m good and gives me some good points and advice about my upcoming season.”



Penn State has the highest-ranked 2025 recruiting class of the five contenders, per the <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/rankings/industry-team/football/2025/">On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings</a>. The Nittany Lions already have 11 commits, but if Thomas were to pledge to the Big Ten program, he would be the second highest-ranked pledge, as of the beginning of March.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-syracuse-rutgers-looking-to-take-next-step-and-land-thomas">Syracuse, Rutgers looking to take next step and land Thomas</h2>



It’s a new era of football for the Orange, as former Georgia defensive backs coach <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/coach/fran-brown-132746/">Fran Brown</a> is now at the helm. After acquiring some momentum to finish the 2024 cycle, Cuse is now looking to make some moves with its 2025 class. Adding a player of Thomas’ caliber would help Brown and Co. do just that.



As for Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights are currently trending for the four-star, according to the <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/michael-thomas-154307/recruiting/170324/rpm/">On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM)</a>. <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/coach/greg-schiano-132709/">Greg Schiano</a> and his staff already own a pair of pledges from New Jersey prospects this cycle in Hillside three-star linebacker <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/talibi-kaba-176430/">Talibi Kaba</a> and Matawan Regional three-star offensive tackle <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/jayden-elijah-176116/">Jayden Elijah</a>.

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