FSU Seminoles: Vanderbilt Commodores
The football program at Locust Grove High School started in 2009 with a freelance Class AAA schedule, then continued to play in AAA for two more years before making the move to AAAA in 2012. Heading into last fall, the Wildcats had a record of 6-19, having won two games each season. For rising junior Cortez McDowell, it was time to help the fledgling program take the next step.
“My main goal was to help my football team since we have not done well the last two years, so my mindset was to help my team win more than two games,” McDowell said.
The 6-foot, 200-pound prospect was a major part in his program doubling its win total in one season, recording 60 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 10 passes broken up, two interceptions, forcing two fumbles, recovering one fumble on defense while rushing 25 times for 209 yards and three touchdowns and catching 29 passes for 679 yards and eight touchdowns on offense. He took a leadership role on defense, and whenever the team needed a big play on offense, McDowell was there.
Syracuse and NC State had already offered him during the spring of his sophomore year, and after his junior season, scholarships started pouring in. This spring, McDowell has visited Florida State, Tennessee, Georgia, Georgia Tech, South Carolina and North Carolina. While most visits were similar, a few of the trips left an impression on the talented athlete.
“My main goal was to help my football team since we have not done well the last two years, so my mindset was to help my team win more than two games,” McDowell said.
The 6-foot, 200-pound prospect was a major part in his program doubling its win total in one season, recording 60 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 10 passes broken up, two interceptions, forcing two fumbles, recovering one fumble on defense while rushing 25 times for 209 yards and three touchdowns and catching 29 passes for 679 yards and eight touchdowns on offense. He took a leadership role on defense, and whenever the team needed a big play on offense, McDowell was there.
Syracuse and NC State had already offered him during the spring of his sophomore year, and after his junior season, scholarships started pouring in. This spring, McDowell has visited Florida State, Tennessee, Georgia, Georgia Tech, South Carolina and North Carolina. While most visits were similar, a few of the trips left an impression on the talented athlete.
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Mike Johnson (Clearwater, Fla./Countryside) now sits as one of the top cornerbacks on the board for several colleges. His rise to this position, though, could have gone much differently.
Johnson wasn't a bad kid by any stretch. But as he got older, and so too did his friends, an increasing amount of trials and temptations presented themselves. Some gave in, but Johnson didn't.
And perhaps his extracurricular activities, most notably football, kept him going in the right direction.
Johnson wasn't a bad kid by any stretch. But as he got older, and so too did his friends, an increasing amount of trials and temptations presented themselves. Some gave in, but Johnson didn't.
And perhaps his extracurricular activities, most notably football, kept him going in the right direction.
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Whether he realized it before, Bailey Granier (Galliano, La./South Lafourche) can be certain now -- he's got an offer from Florida State.
Late last week, offensive line coach Rick Trickett dropped by the school to check on the 6-foot-6, 350-pound tackle to make sure he knew they were interested.
Late last week, offensive line coach Rick Trickett dropped by the school to check on the 6-foot-6, 350-pound tackle to make sure he knew they were interested.
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BRADENTON, Fla. -- On the fields of the IMG Academy Southeast Regional 7-on-7 Tournament, George Campbell (Tarpon Springs, Fla./East Lake) stood off to the side with a sling hanging off his shoulder and covering his broken wrist.
That injury, suffered a few weeks back, will keep him out of East Lake's spring practices starting at the beginning of May. But fortunately for him, he's already got a ton of offers to begin with and won't be reliant on coaches coming by for the evaluation period.
That doesn't mean he isn't frustrated, though.
That injury, suffered a few weeks back, will keep him out of East Lake's spring practices starting at the beginning of May. But fortunately for him, he's already got a ton of offers to begin with and won't be reliant on coaches coming by for the evaluation period.
That doesn't mean he isn't frustrated, though.
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ASHBURN, Va. -- Cornerback Jalen Tabor (Washington, D.C./Friendship Collegiate), the No. 19 overall player in the ESPN 150, is in no rush to commit.
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Vols, Vandy, Ole Miss impress Barnett 
April, 17, 2013
Apr 17
10:00
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By
Mitch Sherman | ESPN.com
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Defensive end Derek Barnett (Brentwood, Tenn./Brentwood Academy) looked forward to a meeting this offseason with Drew Richmond (Memphis, Tenn./Memphis University School).
After all, Richmond’s team ended the season for Barnett last November with a one-point win the state-playoff semifinal round.
Barnett said he thought he earned a victory over Richmond on Sunday at the Nike Football Training Camp on the home turf of the coveted 2015 offensive tackle.
“I want to go up against the best,” Barnett said, “so I was like, ‘Come on, let’s battle.’ It went well. I got the best of him. He got me a few times, but I think I won that one.”
After all, Richmond’s team ended the season for Barnett last November with a one-point win the state-playoff semifinal round.
Barnett said he thought he earned a victory over Richmond on Sunday at the Nike Football Training Camp on the home turf of the coveted 2015 offensive tackle.
“I want to go up against the best,” Barnett said, “so I was like, ‘Come on, let’s battle.’ It went well. I got the best of him. He got me a few times, but I think I won that one.”
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Nicholson's recruitment has Steel City feel
April, 4, 2013
Apr 4
2:00
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By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
When Stanford and Vanderbilt offered ESPN Watch List athlete Montae Nicholson (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway), it immediately caught his attention. Both programs have the athletics, but more importantly the academics, he is looking for in a school.
“I understand there’s life after football,” Nicholson said. “If I’m blessed enough to make it to the NFL, I’ll be done by the time I’m 35 if I’m lucky. So I have 25 years after that until I retire.”
Academics will only be part of the equation for Nicholson, whose recruitment has a very local flavor despite offers from all over the country.
“I understand there’s life after football,” Nicholson said. “If I’m blessed enough to make it to the NFL, I’ll be done by the time I’m 35 if I’m lucky. So I have 25 years after that until I retire.”
Academics will only be part of the equation for Nicholson, whose recruitment has a very local flavor despite offers from all over the country.
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Two-way prospect T.J. Harrell (Tampa, Fla./Tampa Catholic) had his first real opportunity to check out Florida State's campus Tuesday. And according to the 6-foot, 197-pound athlete, it didn't disappoint.
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D'Andre Payne is ready to announce his college decision.
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T.J. Harrell (Tampa, Fla./Tampa Catholic) is going to be leaning heavily on visits.
The 6-foot, 197-pound two-way athlete has a bunch of offers, but to distinguish them, he's going to have to see what the school is like behind the brochures he gets in the mail.
The 6-foot, 197-pound two-way athlete has a bunch of offers, but to distinguish them, he's going to have to see what the school is like behind the brochures he gets in the mail.
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When offer No. 31 came in for Washington (Pa.) running back Shai McKenzie last week, he figured it was time to start cutting his list. It sounds simple, but McKenzie had a harder time when it came to putting pen to paper.
“He struggled to make a list,” Washington coach Mike Bosnic said. “He’s really unsure.”
“He struggled to make a list,” Washington coach Mike Bosnic said. “He’s really unsure.”
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Outside linebacker Jacob Pugh (Tallahassee, Fla./Godby) isn’t exactly sure of how many offers he has. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound junior has not counted them. Once he had received over 30 offers to the top programs in the nation, there really seemed no point in doing so. Pugh is more concerned about the five that he has on top.
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Wilbon likes what one school has to offer
March, 11, 2013
Mar 11
5:41
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By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
Chicago De La Salle running back Mikale Wilbon was careful not to name a leader, but he said one team sticks out as having the best résumé among his double-digit offers.
“Everybody is the same but as far as résumés and what schools have to offer, probably Vanderbilt is the best because it's ranked in the Top 25 in education, football and recruiting and that’s the only school,” Wilbon said of his 11 offers. “Vanderbilt is looking good right now, but they’re not leading, though.”
Arizona, Arizona State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi State and Purdue are Wilbon’s other offers.
“Everybody is the same but as far as résumés and what schools have to offer, probably Vanderbilt is the best because it's ranked in the Top 25 in education, football and recruiting and that’s the only school,” Wilbon said of his 11 offers. “Vanderbilt is looking good right now, but they’re not leading, though.”
Arizona, Arizona State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi State and Purdue are Wilbon’s other offers.
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Super sophomore Patrick likes latest offer
March, 7, 2013
Mar 7
9:39
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By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Considering that running back Jacques Patrick (Orlando, Fla./Timber Creek) is only in his second year of high school but already has 25 scholarship offers, the case can be made that Patrick is one of the most coveted prospects in the Class of 2015.
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ATLANTA -- As a junior, Petera Wilson (Memphis, Tenn./White Station) had over 100 tackles, eight sacks, six passes broken up and two blocked punts. His double-digit list of offers reads like a who’s who of college football, with Florida State, Georgia and Ohio State being his most recent scholarship options.
The coveted linebacker gave his thoughts on the newest offers.
The coveted linebacker gave his thoughts on the newest offers.
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ABOUT NOLE NATION
David Hale
David Hale joined ESPN.com in 2012 after covering the Philadelphia Phillies for The News Journal in Wilmington, Del., and the University of Georgia for The Macon (Ga.) Telegraph. Hale has written about college and professional sports since 2004. He currently lives in Tallahassee, Fla., and can be reached at davidmhale@gmail.com.
Corey Dowlar
Corey Dowlar joined ESPN.com in 2012 after covering Florida State and South Florida athletics for 247Sports.com and Rivals.com. Dowlar has written about Florida State sports and recruiting since 2007. He currently lives in Clearwater, Fla., and can be reached at cdowlar@gmail.com.