Projecting Where 5-Star DE Joshua Kaindoh Will Commit


Five-star defensive end Joshua Kaindoh has narrowed down his recruitment and will announce his commitment on Friday. The Campus Insiders staff gave its predictions on where the nation’s No. 6 defensive end will end up. 


There has been a change of plans, and the recruiting trail is about to spark up because of it.

Five-star defensive end Joshua Kaindoh has moved up his commitment date to this Friday after he was initially scheduled to announce at the Under Armour All-America Game on Jan. 1.

Kaindoh, a former Maryland commit, backed off his pledge to the Terrapins on Nov. 28. He’s spent official visits at Maryland on Oct.1, FSU on Oct. 14, Penn State on Nov. 25, UGA on Dec. 2 and Alabama on Dec. 10.

The Campus Insiders staff got together and offered predictions for where Kaindoh will end up.

Robert Judin

Initially, when Kaindoh backed off his pledge to the Terps, I thought it was imminent he’d re-join Maryland’s class. He’s close friends with defensive tackle Cam Spence, who’s committed to the Terrapins, and Kaindoh’s mom would prefer he stay close to home. She would love for him to re-commit to Maryland and play in front of his friends and family.

I also think most of the momentum is in Penn State’s corner. The Nittany Lions have a Big Ten title and just added 5-star cornerback Lamont Wade. James Franklin is on a heater right now.

Having said, I’m picking FSU. The Seminoles have been known to pick up commitments from an IMG Academy player here and there, and I believe Kaindoh will join that group. He’ll team up with Brian Burns to give Florida State a nasty pass-rush duo on the edges.

Dave Miller

The Maryland product would obviously be a standout snag for the Terps, but he decommitted from the school in late November. Penn State head coach James Franklin and his staff visited earlier this month, and his decommitment occurred just days after his official visit to Happy Valley. Florida State remains a prime player, as well, but I think he stays in Big Ten land and commits to PSU, which is coming off of a conference championship and has momentum on the recruiting trail after landing 5-star cornerback Lamont Wade. The Nittany Lions don’t want to become an afterthought in the Big Ten East, and winning a conference title—something Ohio State and Michigan weren’t able to do this season—is a great start.

Kurt Schwerman

Despite decommitting from Maryland right after visiting Happy Valley, Florida State will pull this one off. They are really high on what Kaindoh brings to the table, and when Jimbo smells blood in the water, he usually closes the deal – especially from a player who attends school in the state he lords over in recruiting.

Jonathan Bass

This feels like a strong Penn State close. Kaindoh decommitted from Maryland shortly after his official visit to Happy Valley – that weekend, the Nittany Lions pummeled Michigan State in Beaver Stadium meaning he received the full experience of one of college football’s best environments.

Quite obviously, D.J. Durkin would love to keep the Maryland native in his home state, but the Terps just aren’t there yet – a signature win or two next season will allow the program to land a couple of these local 4-star defensemen to build the bottom line.

Meanwhile, always a strong recruiter, James Franklin now has wins, a conference championship and a Rose Bowl berth to sell players on. Jimbo Fisher can sell FSU’s pedigree to the young man, but it sounds as if Kaindoh’s mother would rather have him closer to home – especially after the young man attended high school down in Florida at IMG Academy. Separate Visits from Josh Gattis and Franklin in the week just before the dead period prove enough to salt this commitment away for Penn State.

Glenn McGraw

This one’s going to come down to Penn State and Florida State. Kaindoh is originally from Maryland, and playing closer to home with the surging Nittany Lions is enticing. All signs point to James Franklin pulling this one off, especially considering Kaindoh decommitted just after visiting Happy Valley. And yet, I’m leaning towards Jimbo Fisher and his staff ultimately closing the deal and keeping the IMG Academy prospect in the state of Florida. Fisher and the Noles close the deal.

MORE: Campus Insiders’ 2016 Freshman All-American Team