Oregon Ducks: Clemson Tigers
Holding more than 40 offers, running back Joe Mixon (Oakley, Calif./Freedom) is arguably the most sought-after recruit in the West region. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound, four-star back is the top running back in the West and the No. 135 player in the country. His offer sheet has seemingly grown by the minute this spring, but he isn't in any hurry to narrow it down.
Despite tweeting out a list of 16 programs several weeks ago, Mixon said Sunday that he only did that to highlight the schools recruiting him the hardest, not anything to be taken as a group of finalists.
"I'm still talking to a lot of people," Mixon said. "The recruiting thing has been crazy the past couple of weeks. I've pretty much been taking it well. I talk to them before school, during lunch and after school. I'm not to the stressful part yet, but the hard part has been staying in contact with everybody."
Despite tweeting out a list of 16 programs several weeks ago, Mixon said Sunday that he only did that to highlight the schools recruiting him the hardest, not anything to be taken as a group of finalists.
"I'm still talking to a lot of people," Mixon said. "The recruiting thing has been crazy the past couple of weeks. I've pretty much been taking it well. I talk to them before school, during lunch and after school. I'm not to the stressful part yet, but the hard part has been staying in contact with everybody."
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After being committed to Clemson since signing day 2012, ESPN 150 quarterback Deshaun Watson (Gainesville, Ga./Gainesville) has made a change in his recruitment.
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#BlueChipBattles: ESPN 150 release edition
April, 19, 2013
Apr 19
9:49
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By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
Student Sports, ESPN, ESPNSpeedy Noil, Adoree Jackson and Da'Shawn Hand are three of the most coveted recruits in the Class of 2014.
: RecruitingNation summoned its writers from around the country to outline the recruiting battles for the ESPN 150's top 10 prospects.
Plus, rank the battles in SportsNation.
#TopFBMixtapes: Athlete mixtapes are all the rage in this highlight-crazed era of sports. We reached out to our Twitter followers to find out which 2014 football stars had the best highlight reels on YouTube, then had our staff rank and comment on the top submissions.
Tom Luginbill writes
: After talking to many coaches across the country and hearing their frustrations, here are their five biggest complaints about homemade highlight videos.
BUFORD, Ga. – ESPN Watch List quarterback Deshaun Watson (Gainesville, Ga./Gainesville) has been committed to Clemson for more than 14 months, but that has not kept other programs from pursuing the record-setting passer, who earned an invite to the Elite 11 and The Opening following his performance at the Atlanta Elite 11 regional qualifier Friday.
For a few lucky schools, the interest seems to be mutual.
For a few lucky schools, the interest seems to be mutual.
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Super sophomore Patrick likes latest offer 
March, 7, 2013
Mar 7
6:39
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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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ATHENS, Ga. -- ESPN Watch List wide receiver Demarre Kitt (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek) recently cut his mammoth offer list down to a top-15 group of schools that he will consider.
“It got crazy at one point with almost everybody that offered me trying to talk to me,” Kitt said. “So I had to cut my list down to 15 schools. After spring practice I will cut it down to eight or 10. At the end of summer I will do five and then go from there.”
“It got crazy at one point with almost everybody that offered me trying to talk to me,” Kitt said. “So I had to cut my list down to 15 schools. After spring practice I will cut it down to eight or 10. At the end of summer I will do five and then go from there.”
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Coaching change helps UF with McMillan
February, 18, 2013
Feb 18
6:56
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By
Kipp Adams | ESPN.com
The University of Florida had several prominent targets on campus Saturday, including one of the more coveted prospects from Georgia. Linebacker Raekwon McMillan (Hinesville, Ga./Liberty Co.) was in Gainesville, Fla., to check out the Gators, and it looks like they have made yet another solid impression on the ESPN Watch List prospect.
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Recruiting is never static, especially at this time of the year. Coaches are on the road and visits are being taken. That holds true not just for the Class of 2013 but for this year’s junior class, which is being wooed by college coaches trying to get a jump on the ever-quickening recruiting cycle.
Each day we find college coaches checking in on the top prospects for the Class of 2014. Such is the case with ESPN Watch List wide receiver Demarre Kitt (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek).
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New Volunteers head coach Butch Jones is hoping to make a splash with his first recruiting class in Knoxville, Tenn. Jones could go a long way toward accomplishing that by plucking ESPN 150 wideout target Marquez North (Charlotte, N.C./Mallard Creek) from out of state.
Tennessee hosted North on an official visit back on October and it was able to get North back on campus this weekend for an unofficial visit. According to his father, Ramondo North, it went very well.
“We enjoyed everything,” North's father said. “It was actually better than the visit we took during the season because that entire visit was structured around the game. This time we talked to the players and asked them what they thought about the new coaches and everyone had a lot of positive stuff to say.”
Tennessee hosted North on an official visit back on October and it was able to get North back on campus this weekend for an unofficial visit. According to his father, Ramondo North, it went very well.
“We enjoyed everything,” North's father said. “It was actually better than the visit we took during the season because that entire visit was structured around the game. This time we talked to the players and asked them what they thought about the new coaches and everyone had a lot of positive stuff to say.”
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Ducks No. 2 in Way-Too-Early Top 25
January, 8, 2013
Jan 8
10:50
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By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
Streeter Lecka/Getty ImagesAlabama, with three of the past four national titles, is No. 1 in the Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2013.There are still seven months before the start of the 2013 season, and the teams and their order figure to change frequently, but it's never too early to take a look at the Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2013.
And with three national championships in the past four years, there's no reason to change the team that's on top. Oregon, which finished the season No. 2 in the polls, starts there in 2013 as well.
Also see:
More than 150 of the top underclassmen prospects in the country were in attendance for the Under Armour All-America Combine. There is no shortage of talent set to come out of the Tar Heel State in the 2014 class, and it was well represented on Friday.
Coaches line up to see WR Thompson
The AFCA coaches convention is in Nashville, Ten. Jan. 6-9, but for ESPN 2014 Watch List wide receiver Trevion Thompson (Durham, N.C./Hillside), it might as well have taken place at his school over the past few months.
Coaches line up to see WR Thompson
The AFCA coaches convention is in Nashville, Ten. Jan. 6-9, but for ESPN 2014 Watch List wide receiver Trevion Thompson (Durham, N.C./Hillside), it might as well have taken place at his school over the past few months.
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Army Bowl: Wednesday notebook
January, 2, 2013
Jan 2
12:08
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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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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- There were several standouts at Tuesday's Day 2 practice for the Under Armour All-America Game (5 p.m. ET Friday, ESPN). Two players -- one for Team Nitro, the other for Team Highlight -- said they are closing in on their college decisions and will make their announcements Friday. Meanwhile, the nation's No. 1 player left the field at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports with an injury.
Folston closing in on decision
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Wisconsin pledge James setting up visits
December, 31, 2012
12/31/12
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By
Erik McKinney | ESPN.com
FULLERTON, Calif. -- Wisconsin has done a terrific job in-state with this recruiting class, as the Badgers earned verbal commitments from four of the state's top six prospects. But new head coach Gary Andersen could have a battle on his hands for the state's top-ranked player, four-star defensive end Alec James (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East).
While James still considers himself a Wisconsin commit, he will take visits between now and signing day. While he isn't sure how many he will take and when he will take them, he said trips to Clemson, Florida State, Michigan State and Oregon could all happen. The only one that will definitely happen is the Oregon visit, as James will see the Ducks on Jan. 11.
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U.S. Army Bowl: Monday notebook
December, 31, 2012
12/31/12
5:51
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By
Damon Sayles and
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
SAN ANTONIO -- ESPN 150 outside linebacker Mike Mitchell (Plano, Texas/Prestonwood Christian) isn’t big on speaking publicly. He’d rather let his game do the talking -- and it speaks volumes.
On Monday, the 6-foot-5, 222-pound linebacker officially confirmed that he will announce his college plans during Saturday’s U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Oregon, Texas A&M and Ohio State are his three finalists.
Mitchell said all three schools -- and even a fourth, Oklahoma -- had their positive qualities throughout his recruiting process. It was a feeling of comfort, however, that seemed to win him over.
On Monday, the 6-foot-5, 222-pound linebacker officially confirmed that he will announce his college plans during Saturday’s U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Oregon, Texas A&M and Ohio State are his three finalists.
Mitchell said all three schools -- and even a fourth, Oklahoma -- had their positive qualities throughout his recruiting process. It was a feeling of comfort, however, that seemed to win him over.
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ABOUT DUCK NATION
Brandon Oliver
Brandon Oliver joined ESPN in 2012. In recent years, Oliver has been involved in the Nike Football Tour with both ESPNHS and Nike. He has covered West Coast recruiting for various online outlets since 2008, with an emphasis on Oregon football. Email him at boliverespn@gmail.com.