Julian Armella's Recruitment Could Go the Distance
On February 4, a day after the class of 2021 made things official on National Signing Day, elite class of 2022 prospect Julian Armella cut his list to seven programs.
The Miami (Fla.) Columbus offensive lineman is still working through the communication with the group, including national champion Alabama, Clemson, LSU, Ohio State as well as in-state powers Florida, Florida State and Miami.
Like many top prospects, the inability to make campus visits with college coaches present has slowed down his decision-making process. The NCAA has been under a dead period, eliminating all in-person recruiting contact and evaluation, since the pandemic surfaced one year ago.
The measure is currently set through May 31 as Armella and the rest of the college football world looks to get back on the road soon after. There is growing optimism for the recruitment world to return to normal operation in June, but it has yet to be made official.
"I think right now my main approach is to keep communication with them because I can't go visit," he told SI All-American. "The dead period just keeps getting pushed back, so it's communication until I can visit."
Despite being a well-known prospect for several years, the 6'6" talent has yet to see considerable college campuses. A legacy to Florida State, where his father Enzo played, he spent some time in Tallahassee in his youth and has seen local program Miami on occasion.
In a perfect world, each program in Armella's top seven would get him on campus before a decision is made. In order to maximize that potential, the rising-senior recruit will likely take the recruitment into the winter of 2021, and possibly into the New Year.
"I'm in no rush at all," he said of a commitment. "I'll probably do it senior year, on ESPN or at the All-American game or at my school. I haven't really been advancing with these schools, there's no favorites or non-favorites in my top seven.
"They're all in it."
Armella kicked off the month of March with an intriguing workout at the Under Armour All-American Game camp in Miami, working out at both tackle as well as inside, but it was his re-shaped physique that caught onlookers' attention before it began.
At this time in 2020 he was well over 300 pounds.
"I'm like 285 now," he said. "The main thing going into that work was noticing that NFL offensive linemen and college offensive linemen aren't sloppy anymore. They've transformed their body, their more lean offensive tackles, so that's what I strive to be.
"I don't want to be one of these sloppy tackles, slow with their footwork. I want to be able to go to college, put on muscle, and advance from there."
Working with his local coaches this offseason, the focus has been beyond the fitness and weight loss.
"I've advanced on my technique, my hands, my footwork, all of that," he said.
Armella is currently committed to play in the 2022 All-American Bowl in January.
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