One of the top offensive tackles in the 2023 class, Cayden Green has landed more than 30 offers and has toured campuses across the country over time to find which ones he likes best.
In recent days, the high four-star from Lee’s Summit (Mo.) Lee’s Summit North narrowed his choices to five programs. It was a major drawdown of teams but it also shows that Green is getting much more serious about figuring out which program fits him best.
In today’s Making the Case, experts from around the Rivals network make an argument for a particular school and then National Recruiting Director Adam Gorney issues his verdict as to where he sees Green ending up.
MIAMI
Most buzz we have heard has been directed toward Oklahoma. Miami is the only school in his top five that he has not visited. If that visit happens, then maybe Miami becomes a legit contender. – Gary Ferman, CaneSport.com
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MICHIGAN
Green’s latest visit to Michigan back on March 13 has put the Wolverines well within the driver’s seat to land the Rivals100 offensive tackle. It was his second time in Ann Arbor since January. For Green to see Sherrone Moore in action during the team’s spring camp practice made the difference in why Michigan’s within the top five. When Green and I talked before the visit, he said the Wolverines were in his top two along with Oklahoma, which made his official top five unsurprising when Michigan made the cut. Green has announced that he’ll take an official visit to Michigan in mid-June. It’ll give him more time to spend with Moore in-person as the two have built a strong connection over these last few months. Michigan has done everything right to keep Green interested and made him feel like a top priority – Zach Libby, TheMaizeandBlueReview.com
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MISSOURI
Missouri is the in-state school and was one of the first to be on Green before he became a national prospect. He’s been to campus multiple times already and has a high school teammate who signed with the Tigers to play offensive line just last year in Armand Membou. Eli Drinkwitz has improved Mizzou’s in-state recruiting significantly and Lee’s Summit has always been an area that has sent a lot of its players to Columbia. All that said, Green has all kinds of options and it’s never easy to keep a kid like that in the state. – Gabe DeArmond, PowerMizzou.com
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NEBRASKA
In a year for very good offensive tackle from the middle of the country, Green from Lee’s Summit (Mo.) North is noticeable. Green dropped his top five, which could also be called the fortunate five, because an argument can be made for Green to be the top offensive tackle in the country. Green is massive, 6-foot-5 and 310-pounds, but it’s not his size that stands out, it’s his feet. He is an incredible athlete for a man his size. He is also a finisher. When he gets his hands on a defender it’s game over. There are five very fortunate teams that will get a chance to host Green from May to June, but only one can earn his signature. – Bryan Munson, HuskerOnline.com
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OKLAHOMA
The case for Oklahoma is a pretty easy one to make due to his numerous trips to Norman as well as his family’s connection to not just the school but the state itself, with his parents both being Oral Roberts graduates. It would be easy to be concerned about the change in coaching staff but Green has always talked glowingly about his relationship with Bill Bedenbaugh. Beyond that, one of the most interesting things about his recent trip to Norman was how direct he was about Brent Venables, Jeff Lebby and the new staff changing the feeling around the building. He talked about the staff just feeling more upbeat and ‘how much more of a family’ things feel like in Norman now. – Josh McCuistion, SoonerScoop.com
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THE VERDICT
This has gotten closer and more interesting as time has gone on but Oklahoma is my pick here. I actually think the Sooners have moved up more with the new coaching staff in place and Bedenbaugh staying in Norman was huge. Oklahoma has always been a top school, it remained that way when Brent Venables took over and after his recent visit, things were even more reinforced. Michigan is the one to watch because Green is intrigued by the dominant offensive line play there, his relationship with Sherrone Moore is strong and the Wolverines are intriguing. Missouri has to be considered a real player, too, since it’s the home-state school but Green has never seemed really over-the-top about that program. Nebraska and Miami seem like long shots at this point. I’d be surprised if Oklahoma doesn’t land him and that’s huge for the Sooners because Green is really good. – Adam Gorney, Rivals National Recruiting Director
