Max Redfield may know which schools are currently at the top of the list, but the safety from Mission Viejo, Calif., is in no hurry to make a decision.
The senior-to-be at Mission Viejo High said Oregon, USC, Washington, LSU and Notre Dame are leading at this point, but he's not planning on announcing a decision until the Under Armour All-American game in January. Those five schools combined with a couple others leave Redfield in a flexible situation.
"If I had to make a decision today, I honestly don't know what it would be," Redfield said. "I'm just playing everything out and taking my time with it all."
Redfield, who is rated as the No. 4 safety in the 2013 class by both Rivals.com and 247Sports.com, is one of several top safety prospects in California. Vista Murrieta's Su'a Cravens announced his commitment to USC on Wednesday, but fellow California safeties Tahaan Goodman and Hatari Byrd remain uncommitted like Redfield. All four safeties havePac-12heavy offer lists and each decision could impact the other.
Redfield said he'd been in touch with Cravens and was interested to see where he would commit, but that he doesn't foresee anyone's decision impacting the way he looks at schools.
"I don't think it will ultimately affect me because I've got to focus on me and what's best for my decision, not as much other people," Redfield said.
This spring, Redfield visited USC for its junior day and spring game. He plans on visiting Oregon and Washington this summer, but won't be able to make a trip to South Bend for an unofficial visit. Redfield said he's planning on taking one of his official visits to Notre Dame in the fall.
To date, Redfield believes the five schools at the top of his list offer similar things. Redfield listed academics, comfortability with the campus, program prestige and trust in the coaching staff as key factors.
"They're all just all-around great programs and I feel like if I went there I can reach my full potential," Redfield said. "Even if I didn't make it to the NFL, which is my ultimate goal, I'll still be successful and get a good career that I'd be interested in."
ND wide receivers coach Mike Denbrock has been recruiting the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Redfield.
"I feel pretty open with him and I can talk to him almost like a friend," Redfield said of Denbrock. "We talk over Facebook a lot and he's been out to Mission a few times as well."
Redfield played both safety and wide receiver as a junior, but most programs project him as a safety. Redfield recorded 91 tackles and three interceptions on defense and 420 receiving yards and five touchdowns on offense.
At safety, Redfield said he has elite ball-hawking skills that allow him to read the quarterback and make plays on pass attempts. He said he's not afraid to come up and hit to stop the run as well.
While Redfield has his sights on the NFL, Notre Dame has been able to use the success of former Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith as an example after he was drafted in the first round by the Minnesota Vikings.
"They've definitely mentioned it," Redfield said. "It definitely proves to me that they can help get you to that ultimate level of the NFL."
