Decision day for nation's No. 1 QB

The theater at Skyline High School in Sammamish, Wash., will be the stage for some of the most relevant drama in the 2013 recruiting cycle.

Max Browne will provide a major boost to someone's class when he announces tonight.

That’s where Max Browne, the nation’s top-ranked quarterback and No. 5 prospect overall for 247Sports, will make his college declaration tonight.

Browne is set to announce at 8 p.m. (Pacific) between a stated final four of Alabama, Washington, Southern California and Oklahoma.

“I just thought now was the right time because I wanted the ability to build a recruiting class around me and start to focus on my senior year of football,” Browne told 247Sports on Tuesday night.

Smart money figures to have Browne selecting USC, where the 6-foot-5, 210-pounder spent three full days over the weekend.

Browne would be in line as the heir apparent to heralded Matt Barkley and, perhaps as important in his decision, have a climate where he would be able to fit in more comfortably as a student.

Oklahoma would appear the next-likeliest destination, based on the timing of Browne’s campus visit March 10. Browne was scheduled to visit Alabama this week.

For any of the four parties, Browne’s pledge would represent a boon for their class’ profile.

Over two seasons as Skyline’s starter, Browne has thrown for 8,216 yards and 95 touchdowns, posting 4,034 yards and 45 scores in leading the Spartans to last season’s 4A championship.

Because of his profile, Skyline will have a pair of out-of-state match-ups next season against fellow quarterback recruits: Cottonwood (Utah)’s Cooper Bateman and Manatee (Fla.)’s Cord Sandberg.

As for building a supporting cast, it is interesting to note that USC enters the day ranked with the nation’s No. 33 class, having collected its second commitment last weekend from four-star safety Chris Hawkins. Oklahoma, for that matter, is ranked No. 27, with Alabama at No. 5 and Washington at No. 35.