LSU Tigers: Michigan State Spartans
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The 2013 Nike Elite 11 tour continued in the Midwest on Saturday as several top players from not just Ohio but the entire country flocked to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Ohio State’s campus to compete for a spot at the finals later this month.
RecruitingNation writer Jared Shanker attended the camp. Here is what he learned:
LSU should have a clearer picture at QB
College coaches are not allowed to attend the Elite 11, but an exception was made on Saturday for LSU coach Les Miles and Tigers quarterbacks coach Cam Cameron. Both coaches had a son participating at the Elite 11, which allowed for Miles and Cameron to stand on the sidelines. The two spent most of the afternoon chitchatting with staff, media and even Norv Turner, but there is a good chance their eyes wandered toward the direction of four-star quarterbacks Brandon Harris (Bossier City, La./Parkway) and DeShone Kizer (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic). Both have LSU offers, and Kizer will visit next week. Kizer earned the ticket to the Elite 11 finals, but Harris was not far behind and could still land an invite.
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Peppers should know future school soon 
April, 24, 2013
Apr 24
6:15
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By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
By mid-July, one of the top players in the country will have a pretty good idea as to where he will be playing his college football in 2014.
Paramus (N.J.) Catholic cornerback Jabrill Peppers, No. 2 in the ESPN 150, will visit Stanford in July. Following that trip, he will have his future program in mind.
“Definitely after I visit Stanford I should have it pretty clear where I want to go,” Peppers said.
The five-star cornerback is coming off April trips to LSU, Michigan and Ohio State, and while Peppers did not tip his hand, people close to the dynamic two-way athlete say Michigan has a sizeable lead of those three. He has listed Stanford as his No. 1 for several months and will visit Palo Alto before officially dropping them from the top of his list.
Paramus (N.J.) Catholic cornerback Jabrill Peppers, No. 2 in the ESPN 150, will visit Stanford in July. Following that trip, he will have his future program in mind.
“Definitely after I visit Stanford I should have it pretty clear where I want to go,” Peppers said.
The five-star cornerback is coming off April trips to LSU, Michigan and Ohio State, and while Peppers did not tip his hand, people close to the dynamic two-way athlete say Michigan has a sizeable lead of those three. He has listed Stanford as his No. 1 for several months and will visit Palo Alto before officially dropping them from the top of his list.
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RN Top 10: IMG SE Regional
April, 22, 2013
Apr 22
9:00
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By
Corey Dowlar and
Derek Tyson | ESPN.com
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Some of the top prospects at the skill positions took to the fields at the IMG Academy over the weekend to participate in the 7-on-7 Southeast Regional. Here are 10 players who really stood out based upon their performances alone.
10. Kyle Gibson
Seffner (Fla.) Armwood | ATH | 6-foot, 180 pounds
The safety wasn't flashy over the course of the two-day event, but Gibson consistently seemed to be in good position to knock down pass attempts. The four-star prospect continually took the right angles on deep balls and came up aggressively on underneath routes. On day one, Gibson helped Team Tampa beat the South Florida Express Elite, which consisted of big-time wide receivers Ermon Lane and Florida State commit JoJo Robinson. Vanderbilt and Louisville are two schools standing out for Gibson. He has no timeframe on making a decision.
10. Kyle Gibson
Seffner (Fla.) Armwood | ATH | 6-foot, 180 pounds
The safety wasn't flashy over the course of the two-day event, but Gibson consistently seemed to be in good position to knock down pass attempts. The four-star prospect continually took the right angles on deep balls and came up aggressively on underneath routes. On day one, Gibson helped Team Tampa beat the South Florida Express Elite, which consisted of big-time wide receivers Ermon Lane and Florida State commit JoJo Robinson. Vanderbilt and Louisville are two schools standing out for Gibson. He has no timeframe on making a decision.
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Watch List safety picks up Georgia offer
March, 21, 2013
Mar 21
1:41
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By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- For most high school players, the end of practice means they get a break from the incessant nagging and ceaseless instruction of their coaches. They go home, eat dinner, study and enjoy the respite until the whistles start blowing next time. For ESPN Watch List safety Quincy Wilson (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./University School), that is not the case.
Wilson’s father is the defensive coordinator and the defensive backs coach at the University School, so Wilson jokes that he gets no respite.
“Oh no, there’s no break, there’s no break,” Wilson said. “Monday through Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Yeah, I get it at practice, before practice, after practice, in the car, at the dinner table ...”
The talented junior laughed about the nonstop instruction but he also credited his father with making him the player he is today -- one of the most coveted safeties in Florida.
Wilson’s father is the defensive coordinator and the defensive backs coach at the University School, so Wilson jokes that he gets no respite.
“Oh no, there’s no break, there’s no break,” Wilson said. “Monday through Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Yeah, I get it at practice, before practice, after practice, in the car, at the dinner table ...”
The talented junior laughed about the nonstop instruction but he also credited his father with making him the player he is today -- one of the most coveted safeties in Florida.
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A week ago, DeShone Kizer sat down with his parents to discuss his future. The three of them were planning to end the Toledo (Ohio) Central Catholic quarterback’s recruitment.
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2015 DB Kevin Toliver still weighing choice
January, 16, 2013
Jan 16
1:14
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By
Derek Tyson | ESPN.com
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Class of 2015 defensive back Kevin Toliver (Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian) is sure to be one of the most highly rated cornerback prospects in the country by the time he is a senior.
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Cincinnati Colerain has produced several high-level BCS prospects and sends several players to FBS programs annually, and the Cardinals already have coaches inquiring about their 2015 class.
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Elite programs interested in 2014 Ohio RB
January, 11, 2013
Jan 11
5:51
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By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
Some of the country's biggest programs have sat down in Larry Cox's office at West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West. Many will be back again this month and again in April and May.
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Class of 2014 prospect Michael O'Connor was one of the top quarterbacks on hand at the Under Armour National Combine on Friday.
The 6-foot-5, 205-pound signal-caller, who was born and raised in Canada, is starting to receive college interest from several programs.
As a sophomore at Ashbury College in Ontario, Canada, O'Connor threw for 51 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Impressive numbers, considering he was playing 12-on-12 football. Last season, O'Connor moved to Chattanooga, Tenn., where he played at Baylor high school. After one season at Baylor, O'Connor and his family decided to move to Bradenton, Fla., where will he will play at IMG Academy, an upstart football program.
The 6-foot-5, 205-pound signal-caller, who was born and raised in Canada, is starting to receive college interest from several programs.
As a sophomore at Ashbury College in Ontario, Canada, O'Connor threw for 51 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Impressive numbers, considering he was playing 12-on-12 football. Last season, O'Connor moved to Chattanooga, Tenn., where he played at Baylor high school. After one season at Baylor, O'Connor and his family decided to move to Bradenton, Fla., where will he will play at IMG Academy, an upstart football program.
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More than 150 of the top underclassmen prospects in the country were in attendance for registration to the Under Armour All-America Combine, several of which are from Georgia.
Massive OL looking to visit Wolverines
ESPN 2014 Watch List prospect Orlando Brown Jr. (Suwanee, Ga./Peachtree Ridge) should have no problem finding a place to play at the next level. At 6-foot-8, 370 pounds, the mammoth offensive lineman boasts offers from 36 programs, although he maintains eight of them are at the top.
Massive OL looking to visit Wolverines
ESPN 2014 Watch List prospect Orlando Brown Jr. (Suwanee, Ga./Peachtree Ridge) should have no problem finding a place to play at the next level. At 6-foot-8, 370 pounds, the mammoth offensive lineman boasts offers from 36 programs, although he maintains eight of them are at the top.
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Army Bowl: Wednesday notebook
January, 2, 2013
Jan 2
3:08
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By
Damon Sayles and
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
SAN ANTONIO -- Wednesday was a day off for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl teams. Instead of working out and participating in drills, the players took in visits around the city -- including a stop at the Alamodome for photo opportunities and to see their game apparel -- and used the day to recover from two days of practice.
The teams will return to the fields on Thursday in arguably the most important practice of the week. Here are five things to keep an eye on for Thursday’s practice:
The teams will return to the fields on Thursday in arguably the most important practice of the week. Here are five things to keep an eye on for Thursday’s practice:
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RB Jalen Hurd gets another big-time offer
December, 12, 2012
12/12/12
5:24
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By
Dave Hooker | ESPN.com
Jalen Hurd's pile of scholarship offers continues to grow.
LSU is the latest school to offer the ESPN Watch List tailback from Hendersonville (Tenn.) Beech, Hurd confirmed on Wednesday. Hurd, a junior, already has scholarship offers from several big-name schools, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Tennessee.
Hurd helped his team to a 15-0 season and a state championship this fall. He rushed for more than 3,300 yards and more than 40 touchdowns in 2012 and was named Mr. Football in 5A football in Tennessee.
Hurd has drawn early comparisons to Derrick Henry, the senior athlete from Yulee (Fla.) High who is committed to Alabama. Henry, who is 6-foot-3 and 243 pounds is high school tailback whom analysts say has outgrown the position despite setting the national career record for yards gained. Hurd is 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds. According to his head coach, Anthony Crabtree, Hurd is intent on playing tailback.
LSU is the latest school to offer the ESPN Watch List tailback from Hendersonville (Tenn.) Beech, Hurd confirmed on Wednesday. Hurd, a junior, already has scholarship offers from several big-name schools, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Tennessee.
Hurd helped his team to a 15-0 season and a state championship this fall. He rushed for more than 3,300 yards and more than 40 touchdowns in 2012 and was named Mr. Football in 5A football in Tennessee.
Hurd has drawn early comparisons to Derrick Henry, the senior athlete from Yulee (Fla.) High who is committed to Alabama. Henry, who is 6-foot-3 and 243 pounds is high school tailback whom analysts say has outgrown the position despite setting the national career record for yards gained. Hurd is 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds. According to his head coach, Anthony Crabtree, Hurd is intent on playing tailback.
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ESPN 150 defensive lineman Maquedius Bain (Davie, Fla./University School) raved about his trip to Oklahoma after his high school clinched a berth in the Class 3A championship game Friday.
“The Oklahoma visit was just tremendous,” Bain said. “Right away I felt like it was a place I could succeed at. The coaches and players were very easy to talk to and they answered my questions.
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#BlueChipBattles: Nov. 30
November, 30, 2012
11/30/12
2:20
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By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
ESPN.comCarl Lawson, Dee Linerand Reuben Foster are still committed to Auburn, but the Tigers' coaching situation could change things for the three ESPN 150 recruits.Auburn bid farewell to head coach Gene Chizik on Sunday. Could the Tigers also be saying goodbye to a trio of ESPN 150 recruits who could take their talents elsewhere?
Each week, RecruitingNation summons its writers from around the country to compile a list of the top 10 battles for elite football recruits leading up to February's signing day.
Here are this week's top battles
, and you can take a shot at ranking the top 10 recruiting battles on SportsNation.#BlueChipBattles: Nov. 16
November, 16, 2012
11/16/12
12:13
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By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
ESPN.comUncommitted 2013 running backs Alvin Kamara and Derrick Green.ESPN 100 running backs Alvin Kamara and Derrick Green can score from anywhere on the field thanks to their breakaway speed, an attribute that makes them very attractive recruits to the Oregon Ducks. Oregon's pursuit of the duo headlines this week’s #BlueChipBattles.
Click through for our list to rank the top 10 recruiting battles
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Gary Laney
Gary Laney joined ESPN.com in 2012 after spending a year and a half as online sports editor of the Baton Rouge (La.) Advocate. Before that, he covered LSU sports for the Advocate. He has also been the sports editor at the Beaumont (Texas) Enterprise and covered McNeese State athletics for the Lake Charles (La.) American Press. Laney currently lives in Baton Rouge. Email him at glaneyespn@gmail.com