Skip to main content

By Zach Shugan | Photo by Josh Major

One of the nation's top high school student-athletes will join the college ranks earlier than expected. 

Milton defensive end Lebbeus "LT" Overton will forgo his senior year and enroll in college. The five-star pass rusher announced Thursday he intends to reclassify to the class of 2022 and begin his college football career at Ohio State, Georgia, Oregon, Oklahoma or Texas A&M. 

Overton has long been considered one of the top football recruits in his class. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound pass rusher is a rare five-star plus, a new term coined by On3 Sports for players with five stars from all four major recruiting services.

After the Milton football team's season ended Dec. 11 with a loss to Collins Hill in the 7A state championship game, Overton returned for his third season with the Milton boys basketball team.

In his first game, the Eagles' 65-42 win over Charlotte (Florida), the big man posted eight points and seven rebounds.

Photo by Ed Turlington

Photo by Ed Turlington

Overton isn't the first to make the early jump to college, and he likely won't be the last. Last summer, Southlake Carroll (Texas) quarterback Quinn Ewers reclassified from 2022 to 2021 and signed with Ohio State. 

After spending the fall semester with the Buckeyes as a backup and earning a reported $1.4 million off his name, image and likeness, the gunslinger transferred to Texas prior to this semester.

In December, five-star Pickerington Central (Ohio) junior safety Sonny Styles reclassified to 2022 and signed with Ohio State.

Overton began his high school career in Alabama at Bessemer Academy. After his father, Milton Overton, a former offensive lineman at Oklahoma, took over as the athletic director for Kennesaw State University, the elite prospect moved to Georgia and enrolled at Milton High School.

In his two years playing for the Eagles, Overton tallied 29 sacks and 124 total tackles. 

Photo by Josh Major

Photo by Josh Major