Cornerback Kelee Ringo recently released a top five consisting of Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon and Texas. It was no surprise to see Texas make the cut for Ringo, a five-star prospect out of Scottsdale (AZ) Saguaro. Ringo has taken four unofficial visits to Texas so far in his recruitment, with his last stop being a weeklong stay over spring break.
“They’re most definitely one of my top schools, my top five. They’re a very huge school in the race. I haven’t visited any other school four times, so that’s something to take notice of,” Ringo said.
Along with unofficial visits this spring, Ringo was in Austin last fall for the Longhorns’ game against Iowa State. Over the course of his recruitment, he’s built up good relationships with members of the Texas staff, including cornerbacks coach Jason Washington.
“I like coach (Tom) Herman and coach (Jason) Washington. We build a great relationship every time I go up there,” Ringo said. “I’ve gotten to see a lot of their practices. I actually came to a game last year. I feel like just doing that to start with, it really helped me with the process and also getting them a good jump in the lead. I like (Washington) a lot. He’s really enthusiastic on the field. He’s just a great coach overall, gets his dudes to listen to him, teaches them the right technique and things like that. I’ve really taken notice of that.
“Also, when I talk with coach Herman, he’s a really good coach. He lets us know he likes his players. If someone was to commit and they wind up getting hurt, he upholds their scholarship. I definitely like coach Herman a lot. That shows a good character trait in him.”
Along with multiple visits to Texas, Ringo has been on the Georgia campus a lot and there’s been recent buzz that the Bulldogs may have the inside track.
“I like coach Kirby Smart, what he’s doing with the program. They’re very consistent with winning,” Ringo said. “I most definitely like that. Coach Kirby, he’s a fanatic. I most definitely feel like he’ll keep me right if I wind up going there.”
Now that his top five is official, Ringo said he doesn’t have a plan on how he’ll trim his list going from here. He could go very late in the process before deciding, but said an early commitment is not out of the question either.
“It is most definitely possible. Anything can happen in the race,” Ringo said. “If I want to pull the trigger, I could pull the trigger at any moment.”
The 6-3, 195-pound Ringo recently won the fastest man competition (for the second straight year) at the Rivals Five-Star Challenge, turning in a blistering time of 4.35 in the forty-yard dash. Ringo doesn’t have any plans yet for official visits but said he may return to Austin for the Longhorns’ game against LSU. As for what Texas could do to ultimately win him over, he said it will mostly just come down to a gut feel and his overall level of comfort.
“There’s really not anything specific. When I go there on my official – if I go up there another time before my official – just have to get that feeling,” Ringo said. “If I feel like it’s a better place for me than any place in my top five, then that will be the decision I will make.”
