There's no place like home.
AlthoughTerry Beckner Jr.technically plays at East St. Louis (Illinois) High School, he has long considered the Missouri Tigers an in-state school.
After a long recruitment that took the five-star defensive tackle on official visits to Florida State, Auburn and Ohio State, the No. 2 player in the ESPN 300 announced Wednesday morning on ESPNU that he was staying home to play for Mizzou.
"I just followed where my heart told me to go," he said after the announcement.
Beckner continues a long tradition of East St. Louis Flyers crossing the Missouri River to play for Gary Pinkel. The Tigers have always recruited the high school like it was an in-state school, especially since coach Darren Sunkett took over in 2008 and started producing Division I prospects on an annual basis.
Beckner has a chance to be the next great defensive lineman at twice-defending SEC East champion Missouri, following the likes of Aldon Smith, Sheldon Richardson, Michael Sam, Kony Ealy, Shane Ray and more.
'Something great going on' at UCLA:Soso Jamabo must have known something.
When the No. 28 recruit in the ESPN 300 committed toUCLAover in-state Texas on Wednesday morning, he said, "Coach [Jim] Mora's got something great going on.
At the time he said that, Mora had already snagged TE Chris Clark (No. 111 in the ESPN 300). But the Bruins kept rolling after that, landing guard Joshua Wariboko (No. 105) and outside linebacker Roquan Smith (No. 29).
Along with No. 2 pocket passer Josh Rosen, who signed earlier this year, Jamabo and Clark help give the Bruins one of the best offensive classes in the country.
Jamabo is the nation's No. 4 athlete, but he projects at running back at UCLA. Over the past three years at Plano (Texas) West High School -- playing in one of the state's best districts -- Jamabo rushed for more than 5,000 yards and had 78 rushing touchdowns.
Wariboko fills a huge need for the Bruins, who have allowed 77 sacks over the past two years.
Smith, who chose UCLA over Georgia, Michigan and Texas A&M, now gives the Bruins a difference maker on the other side of the ball.
Gators land No. 5 recruit Ivey:Martez Ivey, No. 5 in the ESPN 300 and the No. 1-ranked offensive tackle prospect, committed to Florida over Auburn in a ceremony at Apopka (Fla.) High.
The recruitment of Ivey was back and forth due to him having a very close relationship with former high school teammate and current Auburn fullback Chandler Cox.
In the end, Ivey followed his heart and went with his childhood favorite -- the Gators.
Ivey is a huge win for Florida and head coach Jim McElwain as offensive tackle is a glaring position of need as the Gators try to regain their footing with a new coaching staff.
"He's a guy that can really get after you," McElwain said. "... We're going to do our darndest here as we keep rolling through this state. I think we've made some huge inroads."
While Ivey needs time to fill out his frame to maximize his ability, he is expected to play his way into the rotation quickly if not challenge for a starting position.
Gerry Hamilton of ESPN.com contributed to this report.