The state’s top-rated high school football prospect is about to make a decision on his next education.
Warren Central senior defensive end Damien Shanklin, rated the nation’s 48th-ranked prospect and the 5th-ranked defensive end by 247sports, will announce his college attendance on his Instagram page on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
The 6-5, 245-pound Shanklin said he was considering Alabama, LSU and Ohio State among his three choices. He has taken official visits to those three schools and Tennessee in the past month. He said in an interview with IndyStar in May that he had been in contact with several LSU targets, including quarterback Bryce Underwood, the nation’s top-ranked prospect who committed to the Tigers in January.
“Especially when I go on visits, I look at the coach and how they connect with the players and see if they’re being themselves and not just trying to recruit someone and not being themselves,” Shanklin said in May. “I look to see myself out there and be around people that I know are going to help me in any way they can. When I’m here (at Warren Central), I have a great support system and I have everyone on my side pushing me to be better. I just want to make sure I’m comfortable with everything.”
Regardless of which of the three schools he chooses, Shanklin will be joining a loaded recruiting class. Ohio State, Alabama and LSU are ranked No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, by On3 for their current 2025 recruiting classes.
Shanklin is one of the last uncommitted highly ranked in-state players in the 2025 class. His defensive end teammate at Warren Central, Tyrone Burrus Jr., committed to Louisville on Saturday. Another top defensive end prospect, Elkhart Central’s Mariyon Dye, committed to Tennessee on Friday, the same day that Fishers receiver JonAnthony Hall committed to Stanford.
Top 20 potential candidates within the state according to On3:
- Damien Shanklin, DE, Warren Central: Will announce Friday
- Mark Zackery, CB, Ben Davis: Notre Dame
- Mariyon Dye, DE, Elkhart Central: Tennessee
- Brock Schott, TE, Leo: Miami (Fla.)
- JonAnthony Hall, WR, Fishermen: Stanford
- Mason Alexander, CB, Hamilton South East: Pitt
- Tyrone Burrus, DE, Warren Central: Louisville
- Eugene Hilton Jr., WR, Zionsville: Wisconsin
- Nizyi Davis, TE, Lawrence Central: Wisconsin
- Cameron Gorin, OL, Hamilton Southeast: Purdue
- Cameron Herron, OL, Warren Central: Iowa
- Lebron Hill, WR, Hammond Morton: Purdue
- Davion Chandler, WR, Lawrence North: Indiana
- Isaiah White, DL, Ben Davis: Illinois
- Israel Oladipupo, DE, Noblesville: Boston College
- Benny Patterson, DL, Castle: Cincinnati
- Jimmy Sullivan, QB, Carroll (Fort Wayne): Iowa
- Landon Brooks, DE, Delta: Purdue
- Jaron Thomas, RB, Concord: Purdue
- Enoch Atewogbola, DE, Avon: Minnesota
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.
