Preston Carey is ready to make his move. Well, the four-star defensive lineman out of IMG Academy has officially set his commitment date, and the nation’s top programs are lined up. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 280 pounds, Carey is a true force in the trenches. Originally from East Northport, New York, he’s ranked among the top five defensive linemen in the country. However, in Florida, no defensive tackle in the 2026 class is ranked higher. Right now, with powerhouse programs in hot pursuit, the countdown to Carey’s decision has officially begun.

After receiving more than 42 offers, Carey has narrowed his list to seven programs ahead of his commitment announcement on June 30, according to On3. Florida, Georgia, Auburn, Ohio State, Alabama, Rutgers, and USC have all made the cut, with official visits scheduled with each school.

He will start his visits with Georgia on May 16 and wrap up with Ohio State at the end of , before he arrives at the final decision. Here is a breakdown of dates for Carey’s visits to the remaining programs on his list.

• Georgia – May 16

• Ohio State – May 30

• Auburn – June 3

• Florida – June 6

• Rutgers – June 14

• Alabama – June 17

• USC – June 20

Carey is ranked as the nation’s No. 28 DL and the No. 40 overall recruit in Florida. But why are the nation’s elite chasing him?

Hailing from Long Island, Carey made a major move before his junior year, transferring to the national powerhouse IMG Academy. And he made his presence felt. In his first season with the Ascenders, he racked up 24 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and multiple quarterback hurries. And before IMG, he dominated at New York, where he totaled 90 tackles, five TFLs, and two sacks over 2 seasons. So, whether in New York or Florida, Carey has been a problem for offenses, and college coaches have taken notice.

With the race to recruit him now down to seven colleges, which program stands the best chance of landing him? Well, for one, he has made multiple trips to Columbus and has spoken highly of the program. In fact, Ohio State and Larry Johnson have been pursuing Carey for quite some time, extending an offer to him back in March 2023.

“It felt amazing sitting down with coach (Ryan)Day and coach Johnson, two of the best, if not the best coaches in the country,” Carey said following his offer. “Being able to learn from them from such a short time was really an honor. Ohio State is one of the best places for defensive linemen in the country, if not the best.” While the presence of Coach Johnson does tilt the scales slightly in OSU’s favor, other contenders remain in pursuit and for good reason.

Carey received an offer from Alabama in January and expressed his delight in a post on X, writing, “Alabama was an offer I was waiting for. I had been talking to them, recruited by them for a while…” He had a phone call with defensive line coach Freddie Roach, who broke the news to him.

Coach Roach said he loved the way I played and definitely saw me as a great defensive lineman. He said he would love to have me in. his DL (defensive line) room. It was a great conversation,” he further stated. Meanwhile, other schools are already making moves. USC and Florida hosted Carey for unofficial visits last month, and both left a mark. The buzz is real. These two may have gained early momentum in the race for his commitment.

Preston Carey’s thoughts on the Trojans and Gators

USC made a big impression on Preston Carey during his recent visit to Los Angeles. It was his first time in California — and it didn’t disappoint. The bright lights, big city vibes hit home for the New York native. “I also loved seeing California and LA for the first time in my life… LA is somewhat similar to where I was born and where I grew up as a kid (New York City) and I loved that,” Carey told Steve Wiltfong. Adding, “The program and 2026 class USC is building is great and you can see when you visit why so many people are getting on board… Love was shown and I felt it the whole weekend.” So, the Trojans rolled out the red carpet — and it showed.

However, Carey didn’t stop there. The Trojans’ staff left a lasting impression. He felt the energy — and the urgency. “Coach Riley and Coach Henderson truly showed and expressed how bad they want me at USC. I loved my visit and it excites me that their 2026 Class and staff is only getting better and better by the day,” he said. With momentum building in L.A., USC made sure Carey knew he was a top priority.

But Florida isn’t backing down. The Gators are hoping to keep Carey close to home after his move to the Sunshine State. And they’ve built a strong bond with him along the way. His visit in early March turned into a game-changer. “My eyes have opened with them way more (Saturday) than they have in the past,” Carey said. So, Gainesville made its case — and it hit different this time.

But it’s not just USC and Florida turning heads — Ohio State has long been in the mix. The Buckeyes, led by legendary defensive line coach Larry Johnson, offered Carey back in March 2023. Their relationship has only grown since. And when Carey connected with Ryan Day and Johnson, it left a real impact. “It felt amazing sitting down with coach Day and coach Johnson, two of the best, if not the best coaches in the country,” said Carey following his offer. Adding, “Being able to learn from them from such a short time was really an honor. Ohio State is one of the best places for defensive linemen in the country, if not the best.”

So, the Buckeyes are making sure they stay in the fight. Now, let’s see who’s able to land this standout.