WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Fast friends doesn't even begin to describe it.
In December, Yannick Ngakoue and Derwin Gray were practically strangers. After transferring to Washington (D.C.) Friendship in January, they became teammates. Now, they're close friends that are strongly considering playing college football together.
“Both of us transferred first of all, so we’re both coming in new,” said Gray, who played for Washington (D.C.) Dunbar last season. “We kind of have a bond off of that.”
In December, Yannick Ngakoue and Derwin Gray were practically strangers. After transferring to Washington (D.C.) Friendship in January, they became teammates. Now, they're close friends that are strongly considering playing college football together.
“Both of us transferred first of all, so we’re both coming in new,” said Gray, who played for Washington (D.C.) Dunbar last season. “We kind of have a bond off of that.”
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Class of 2014 dual-threat quarterback A.J. Long (Bangor, Pa./Pius X) thought he was going to have to camp at Syracuse if he was going to get an offer from the Orange. Turns out the Orange coaching staff has seen everything it needs to from Long already.
Long reported an offer from Syracuse in a text message to ESPN.com. It his second offer as the Orange join UCLA, which offered in late January.
Long's high school coach spoke with the Orange staff Friday and relayed the message. The Orange visited his school last week, but Long was in Columbus, Ohio, competing at the Elite 11 regional.
Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Nathaniel Hackett is recruiting Long for Syracuse.
Long reported an offer from Syracuse in a text message to ESPN.com. It his second offer as the Orange join UCLA, which offered in late January.
Long's high school coach spoke with the Orange staff Friday and relayed the message. The Orange visited his school last week, but Long was in Columbus, Ohio, competing at the Elite 11 regional.
Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Nathaniel Hackett is recruiting Long for Syracuse.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – With his first offer already under his belt, Class of 2014 dual-threat quarterback A.J. Long (Bangor, Pa./Pius X) will hit the camp scene this summer in hopes of adding more.
“Syracuse is a definite. My dad and I talked about that,” Long said. “And Penn State wants me to go and throw for their coach. Those two right now I think are definite.”
It would take a lengthy flight for Long to camp at the one program that has already offered. UCLA was the first to offer the 6-foot-1, 185-pound sophomore back on Jan. 28 – just days after his birthday. Long received a letter telling him about the offer and also got word from his coach after he spoke with the UCLA staff.
“Syracuse is a definite. My dad and I talked about that,” Long said. “And Penn State wants me to go and throw for their coach. Those two right now I think are definite.”
It would take a lengthy flight for Long to camp at the one program that has already offered. UCLA was the first to offer the 6-foot-1, 185-pound sophomore back on Jan. 28 – just days after his birthday. Long received a letter telling him about the offer and also got word from his coach after he spoke with the UCLA staff.
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Chris Laviano continues to draw recruiters to New York.
College coaches from Miami, North Carolina State, Purdue and Alabama are visiting Hicksville (N.Y.) Holy Trinity later this month.
Alabama has expressed strong interest through linebackers coach Lance Thompson and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier is scheduled to make the trip to see Laviano next.
College coaches from Miami, North Carolina State, Purdue and Alabama are visiting Hicksville (N.Y.) Holy Trinity later this month.
Alabama has expressed strong interest through linebackers coach Lance Thompson and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier is scheduled to make the trip to see Laviano next.
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Tashawn Bower is about to have a busy summer.
After competing in the NFTC camp in Baltimore on May 12, Bower plans to start hitting prospective schools in June and July. The ESPN 150 prospect from Somerville (N.J.) Immaculata will visit Auburn on June 3 and possibly LSU, followed by Michigan, Notre Dame and Michigan State in July.
He has already taken a trip to South Carolina and made glowing comments about the SEC, so some have wondered if Bower was destined to head south to play college football. Bower said that's not necessarily the case even though he's been impressed by the Gamecocks.
After competing in the NFTC camp in Baltimore on May 12, Bower plans to start hitting prospective schools in June and July. The ESPN 150 prospect from Somerville (N.J.) Immaculata will visit Auburn on June 3 and possibly LSU, followed by Michigan, Notre Dame and Michigan State in July.
He has already taken a trip to South Carolina and made glowing comments about the SEC, so some have wondered if Bower was destined to head south to play college football. Bower said that's not necessarily the case even though he's been impressed by the Gamecocks.
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First-time coach Gus Malzahn is not treating Arkansas State like a team in the Sun Belt Conference.
On Monday, Malzahn's staff sent an offer to ESPN 150 athlete Tyler Boyd. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound WR/CB is not a local talent either; Boyd plays for Clairton (Pa.) in western Pennsylvania.
Boyd is ranked 144th in the ESPN 150 and 13th among athletes.
The Red Wolves are the 18th offer for Boyd.
On Monday, Malzahn's staff sent an offer to ESPN 150 athlete Tyler Boyd. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound WR/CB is not a local talent either; Boyd plays for Clairton (Pa.) in western Pennsylvania.
Boyd is ranked 144th in the ESPN 150 and 13th among athletes.
The Red Wolves are the 18th offer for Boyd.
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Linebacker Yannick Ngakoue's recruitment continues to grow.
The standout from Washington (D.C.) Friendship picked up a scholarship offer from Georgia Tech this week.
The standout from Washington (D.C.) Friendship picked up a scholarship offer from Georgia Tech this week.
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Tyler Boyd (Clairton, Pa./Clairton) continues to inch closer toward a total of 20 offers.
Boyd, ranked No. 144 in the ESPN 150, picked up offer No. 17 on Wednesday when Cincinnati became the latest program to offer the nation's No. 13-ranked athlete.
Cincinnati was one of three teams to come to Clairton this week. Purdue and Wisconsin also visited the Western Pennsylvania school.
Boyd, ranked No. 144 in the ESPN 150, picked up offer No. 17 on Wednesday when Cincinnati became the latest program to offer the nation's No. 13-ranked athlete.
Cincinnati was one of three teams to come to Clairton this week. Purdue and Wisconsin also visited the Western Pennsylvania school.
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BALTIMORE, Md. – Recruiting fans already know about Henry Poggi, Shane Cockerille and Micah Kiser from Gilman School in Baltimore.
Poggi is one of the top defensive tackle prospects in the nation and he's considering dozens of schools. Kiser also held several scholarship offers before committing to Virginia this week. Cockerille committed to Maryland last month.
Yet there's more – many more – top-flight prospects that will be coming out of Gilman in the near future.
Poggi is one of the top defensive tackle prospects in the nation and he's considering dozens of schools. Kiser also held several scholarship offers before committing to Virginia this week. Cockerille committed to Maryland last month.
Yet there's more – many more – top-flight prospects that will be coming out of Gilman in the near future.
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Micah Kiser has committed to Virginia, according to assistant coach Henry Russell.
The linebacker from Baltimore (Md.) Gilman told ESPN this week that he was down to Virginia and Maryland among his many scholarship offers.
Kiser cited academics as one of the main priorities in his recruitment and said Virginia offered a top-flight education. He also had grown close to the coaching staff there, including head coach Mike London.
The linebacker from Baltimore (Md.) Gilman told ESPN this week that he was down to Virginia and Maryland among his many scholarship offers.
Kiser cited academics as one of the main priorities in his recruitment and said Virginia offered a top-flight education. He also had grown close to the coaching staff there, including head coach Mike London.
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It seems just a matter of time until Chris Laviano's list of scholarships continues to grow.
The four-star quarterback from Hicksville (N.Y.) Holy Trinity currently has two scholarship offers, from Boston College and Rutgers.
Miami, Purdue, North Carolina State and Syracuse are all scheduled to visit the school during the spring evaluation period.
Maryland visited this morning and Alabama is scheduled to be there Tuesday.
The four-star quarterback from Hicksville (N.Y.) Holy Trinity currently has two scholarship offers, from Boston College and Rutgers.
Miami, Purdue, North Carolina State and Syracuse are all scheduled to visit the school during the spring evaluation period.
Maryland visited this morning and Alabama is scheduled to be there Tuesday.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Aazaar Abdul-Rahim has a challenge. He has to maintain top-flight college football prospects.
As Washington (D.C.) Friendship continues to grow, its head coach is trying to make sure that early scholarship offers don't affect his young players.
Case in point, Jalen Tabor, the sophomore defensive back who had a handful of scholarship offers last fall. Fortunately for Abdul-Rahim, the tutelage seems to be working.
As Washington (D.C.) Friendship continues to grow, its head coach is trying to make sure that early scholarship offers don't affect his young players.
Case in point, Jalen Tabor, the sophomore defensive back who had a handful of scholarship offers last fall. Fortunately for Abdul-Rahim, the tutelage seems to be working.
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BALTIMORE, Md. - Henry Poggi is taking a patient, pensive approach to recruiting.
While that might not be exactly what recruiting fans want, it's the way it's going to be. The defensive tackle from Baltimore (Md.) Gilman isn't one to willingly talk to reporters to generate news or cut down his list, only to add more schools to light up message boards. Poggi doesn't even like discussing when he'll visit schools because that causes his phone to blow up from reporters.
“Whenever it feels right, I'll commit,” Poggi said. “I might cut down the list but I probably won't though.”
While that might not be exactly what recruiting fans want, it's the way it's going to be. The defensive tackle from Baltimore (Md.) Gilman isn't one to willingly talk to reporters to generate news or cut down his list, only to add more schools to light up message boards. Poggi doesn't even like discussing when he'll visit schools because that causes his phone to blow up from reporters.
“Whenever it feels right, I'll commit,” Poggi said. “I might cut down the list but I probably won't though.”
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Derrick Green has picked up a scholarship offer from Oregon.
The ESPN 150 tailback prospect from Richmond (Va.) Hermitage is approaching 30 scholarship offers.
The ESPN 150 tailback prospect from Richmond (Va.) Hermitage is approaching 30 scholarship offers.
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Tyler Boyd (Clairton, Pa./Clairton) is in no rush to make a decision and is content with watching the offers pile up. He added another one Thursday.
UConn became the latest team to offer the ESPN 150 athlete, giving Boyd a total of 16 offers.
The Huskies are also a number of teams to make it to the Western Pennsylvania product's high school to check him out this week.
UConn became the latest team to offer the ESPN 150 athlete, giving Boyd a total of 16 offers.
The Huskies are also a number of teams to make it to the Western Pennsylvania product's high school to check him out this week.
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ABOUT THE EAST REGION
Dave Hooker
Dave Hooker joined ESPN in 2011, covers East and Southeast recruiting and lives in Knoxville, Tenn. He has covered recruiting and college football for more than a decade. Email him at davehookerespn@gmail.com.
Roger Brown
Roger Brown has covered football throughout New England since 1992. He publishes the New Hampshire Football Report and can be reached at espnrecruits@yahoo.com.
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