CLEMSON — One of Clemson’s top recruiting targets in the 2028 class is nearing a decision.

Four-star linebacker Jay Schell (Rabun Gap, GA) recently announced that his two finalists are Oklahoma and Clemson, and has set September visits to both schools. After that, Schell is planning to sit down and make a decision, which he said might come before the end of the month.

“I feel like I am getting somewhat close to a decision, and I have felt that for a little bit of time,” Schell told The Clemson Insider. “Really, I just feel like I am an early guy. Lead the class, and kind of just focus on ball. The biggest thing for me is just getting better every day and winning football games with my guys. In order to do that, my attention needs to be on that.”

“In the recruiting process, it definitely takes a lot of energy out, even for the recruits. Through a lot of prayer and talks with my family about what is best for me and my timeline, I came to the conclusion that sooner rather than later is good for me. The two schools kind of just jumped off the page. It was kind of obvious to me. Being able to just be down to those two schools this fall just gives me so much more freedom and being able to focus on the main thing. I see myself making the decision not too far after I have had the time to visit both, think and gather my thoughts after both visits.”

Schell will be back in Clemson this weekend when the Tigers open the home slate by hosting Georgia Southern. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound prospect is a legacy recruit, with his father Matt Schell serving as a quarterback during the Tommy Bowden era. That means he’s spent plenty of time on campus over the years.

His most recent visit came on June 1, when Dabo Swinney made Schell the first offer in the 2028 class.

Schell will then head to Norman on the 19th, when the Sooners host New Mexico.

“I am not putting too much stress on these visits,” Schell said. “They are definitely big visits, but it is just giving me more time to think and pray. Cutting down to two is kind of making it easier to decide for me. Going from 47 (offers) to one is nearly impossible, so cutting it down to two makes it a lot more manageable. I have built great relationships with both staffs. I know both schools really want me, and I am at the top of their boards. They have proven themselves to me, and that is part of why it was so easy to get down to these two. They are very similar.”

Getting so close to having a decision made, Schell has a really good idea of exactly what it is he is looking for.

“I think some of the boxes I am looking at are culture fit, development, relationship with the staff, my schematic fit,” he added. “Something else I have to take into consideration is proximity to home. Clemson is very close to home. Oklahoma is not. And that is a part I have to pray about, and it is a part of my decision.”

Schell is considered one of the top linebackers in the country. ESPN ranks him as the top player at the position and No. 90 overall, while Rivals slots him as the 9th best linebacker in the class and No. 135 overall, regardless of position.

The blue-chip talent is backing up those rankings by getting his junior campaign off to a sizzling start, having racked up 49 total tackles over his first three contests.

Despite Schell’s hot start, his Rabun Gap team is sitting at 0-3 after starting the season by playing an extremely tough slate. But the goal remains the same. Let that tough slate prepare them for a playoff run that is sure to come and help his team to a second state title in the past three seasons.

At the same time, Schell is still having to carve out some time to wrap up his recruitment. With his father having played at Clemson, the school certainly has a sentimental pull. But make no mistake, there are a lot of other things Schell likes about the program, including linebackers coach Ben Boulware.

“Just the relationship I have with the staff,” Schell said. “Coach Boulware has been awesome. He is probably one of the more real football coaches I have gotten to know. I have a genuine relationship with him, and I enjoy talking to him and cutting up and talking ball. Every time we talk, I get some laughs in, and then we talk ball and also lock in with some serious stuff too. He is just a great coach. Him being a former Clemson player, and he is still young, and all that is pretty attractive. Obviously, the proximity- it being so close. And kind of my history with Clemson as well. I am picking the place that is best for me. It is a place I know a lot about, growing up around it. It is just a special place. I know I could go to Clemson and be developed.”

He really likes what Brent Venables’ program has to offer, as well. Not to mention his relationships with James Skalski and Wes Goodwin, who both also have ties to Clemson.

“For Oklahoma, it is the same thing. I love Coach V, Coach Dreiling, Coach Skalski and Coach Wes Goodwin, too. We talk a good bit. They are all great people and the culture is a lot like Clemson’s for obvious reasons. They share a lot of the same stuff. I think Coach Swinney and Coach Venables share a lot of the same cultural beliefs. And I believe a program starts with who is at the top, so I think that is why both are pretty alike. And the development is there with Coach V.”

A decision timeline isn’t set in stone, but Schell believes one will come fairly quickly after these final two visits.

“I don’t know if my decision comes in late September after I have taken both visits, but probably somewhere around there, to be honest.”