Florida Gators

Most people would think that being the son of an NFL tight end coach would result in long, laborious, tactical conversations about the position and schemes.

And don’t get it wrong, Watch List wide receiver Austin Roberts (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) has had a few of those conversations with his father, Colts tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts. But more often, the two will talk about the recruiting process, with Alfredo giving advice to his son about how to handle it as a player.

“He was at FAU before he was in the NFL so he’s able to give me the recruiter’s perspectives,” Austin said of his father. “He has been a really big help so far.”

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They’re still kicking. But so is everyone else.

That’s what one four-star wide receiver from Urban Meyer’s old stomping ground had to say about the Ohio State Buckeyes and his recruitment.

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Four-star wide receiver James Clark (New Smyrna Beach, Fla./New Smyrna Beach) was all set to go to Florida on an official this weekend, but not before a round of in-home visits from other programs. Did a visit from Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer change Clark’s travel plans?

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Offensive tackle Denzel Ward (Chicago/Hales Franciscan), a 2014 Michigan commitment, has made quite an impression at the Under Armour 2013 Combine.

The 6-foot-9, 295-pound prospect now has other schools in hot pursuit, and he is considering jumping back into the process.

"I am committed to Michigan, but I don't know what is going to happen," Ward said. "Our family might be opening the recruiting process soon. Some other schools may be coming in real hard.

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Apparently, Florida didn’t get the memo. Huge recruiting weekends are supposed to happen around Midnight Madness. Billy Donovan is hosting a prospect party a week early, and he’s invited five five-star recruits. Seriously, you have to be a bona fide stud to be in Gainesville this weekend.

Here’s the ranking of the players the Gators have on campus: No. 3 2013, No. 8 2013, No. 9 2013, No. 4 2014 and No. 1 2015. Donovan already owns commitments from point guard Kasey Hill and power forward Chris Walker. If he can just land one other player from this visit, it would be an historic recruiting weekend.

Elsewhere, there are talented underclassmen on a number of campuses. Pay close attention to Duke and Texas, as they host high-profile big man targets.

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Class of 2014 defensive back Trey Marshall (Lake City, Fla./Columbia) admits that he was surprised the ringer on his phone didn't break last week when the contact period began.

The 6-foot, 190-pound junior has plenty of interest and a few offers already.

"South Florida was the first school to get in touch with me and that makes sense because they were the first school to offer," Marshall said. "Tennessee, Clemson, Vanderbilt, Purdue, Minnesota ... a lot of schools made contact last Saturday."

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Junior college tight end Beau Sandland (Woodland Hills, Calif./Pierce College) is making the most of his first foray into the recruiting process. A non-qualifier out of high school, the 6-foot-5, 250-pound athlete turned in an impressive showing on the recruiting trail this offseason. Beginning in February, Sandland said it felt as though he collected an offer -- and sometimes two -- each day, through the end of spring. Though things have slowed considerably since then with the end of the spring evaluation period and fall camps starting, Monday proved that it isn’t over completely, as Tennessee stepped forward with a scholarship offer.

“It’s been fun,” Sandland said of recruiting. “This is the first time I’ve ever gone through it, so I didn’t fully know what to expect. You hear stories and see the sophomores from last year, but it’s been a really exciting and fun time. It can get a little hectic, but in a good way. It’s been really humbling talking to these schools and having offers from some of the top programs in the nation.”

Several SEC heavyweights extended offers to Sandland, including Florida, Georgia, LSU and Mississippi, though he took opportunities this summer to get a better feel for programs in other conferences. Pac-12 programs Arizona State, California and UCLA received unofficial visits, while Nebraska was the recipient of an official visit. This weekend, Sandland will travel for Oklahoma for his second official visit.

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Class of 2014 defensive back Juan Jenkins (Gainesville, Fla./Gainesville) was checking out the football offices at the University of Florida during the weekend as the 6-foot, 190-pound sophomore is looking for an offer from the hometown school.

"I just received my first offer from Utah a few days ago," Jenkins said. "But I'm here and I'll work out in hopes of getting an offer from the Gators.

"This is where I live and this is the team that I've been rooting for, so I hope it works out."

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The next prospect from Durham (N.C.) Hillside should be one of the best.

The talent-rich school has a rising junior prospect whom college recruiters are already well aware of. Trevion Thompson, a 6-foot-2, 170-pound wide receiver, is well aware of the exposure he can give his teammates. He's benefited from as much during his time at Hillside High.

“It's great,” Thompson said of the attention from college recruiters. “It gives opportunities for other kids on the team to get looked at, not just me.”

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The 7th annual Heath Evans Foundation 7-on-7 tournament will be loaded with FBS talent when the first pass is thrown Saturday morning in West Palm Beach, Fla.

ESPN 150/300 Prospects

Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Tampa (Fla.) Wharton (No. 4)

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Four-star Under Armour All-American quarterback Kevin Olsen (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) committed Friday to play for the Hurricanes, multiple sources report.

Auburn, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Stanford, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Notre Dame, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina, Rutgers, Virginia, Iowa, Purdue, East Carolina and Central Florida also offered the 6-foot-2, 195-pound talent.

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Matt Rolin has picked up a coveted scholarship offer.

Florida is the latest school to offer the outside linebacker from Ashburn (Va.) Briar Woods.

"I'm really interested in them," Rolin stated via text message to ESPN. "Really excited about the offer and I'd say they jump in my top five."

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The Peach State has firmly entrenched itself in producing the fourth most FBS talent in the country, and while Georgia has some growing to do before it catches California in overall talent, it trails only Florida in FBS signees per player. Over 100 prospects from Georgia in the 2013 class are already claiming offers, with close to 10 in the 2014 class. In today's Peach State Quick Hitters, one glance at the number of schools mentioned by the prospects and it becomes evident that colleges from coast to coast are hoping to sign players from Georgia. Get the latest on several of the top recruits in Georgia right here:

• Wide receiver Carlos Burse (Alpharetta, Ga/Alpharetta) is going to Mississippi State tomorrow then Florida for its spring game April 7.
• Offensive lineman Josh Cardiello (Buford, Ga./Buford) is visiting FSU tomorrow and Florida next weekend.

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