After several local trips to Michigan and Notre Dame, two visits west to USC and weeks of mulling over a very important decision, running back Ty Isaac (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Catholic) ended the recruiting process Tuesday morning, committing to USC.
Isaac made the announcement over Twitter with the statement, "Committed to The University of Southern California."
"I knew I was ready to make my decision," Isaac said. "My mom and dad were cool with it and we were all in agreement with it."
Isaac made the announcement over Twitter with the statement, "Committed to The University of Southern California."
"I knew I was ready to make my decision," Isaac said. "My mom and dad were cool with it and we were all in agreement with it."
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Tim Beckman is filling up his first full class at Illinois early, especially on the defensive line, and the first-year Fighting Illini coach added another piece Wednesday.
Detroit Cass Tech defensive tackle Kenton Gibbs is the latest commitment for Illinois and called the verbal a “no-brainer.”
Defensive line coach Keith Gilmore, who has been successful at putting linemen in the NFL over the last few years, was a major factor in Gibbs’ commitment.
Detroit Cass Tech defensive tackle Kenton Gibbs is the latest commitment for Illinois and called the verbal a “no-brainer.”
Defensive line coach Keith Gilmore, who has been successful at putting linemen in the NFL over the last few years, was a major factor in Gibbs’ commitment.
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With deep roots in the state of Ohio, it is not much of a surprise Bo Pelini and his staff at Nebraska are recruiting the Buckeye State hard. The Cornhuskers sent out another offer to an Ohio product Tuesday night.
Four-star defensive tackle Donovan Munger (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights) reported an offer from the Huskers on his Twitter account.
"Nebraska just offered!!!" he wrote on Twitter.
Four-star defensive tackle Donovan Munger (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights) reported an offer from the Huskers on his Twitter account.
"Nebraska just offered!!!" he wrote on Twitter.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Louisville was offer No. 1 for big offensive tackle Skylar Lacy (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove), and the Cardinals sit atop his list.
Lacy, who has a total of four offers, picked up the scholarship from Louisville in mid-March after the Cardinals talked with Lacy’s high school coach and Warren Central assistant coach Greg Brookey, who runs a combine in Indianapolis. Lacy was told to give the Cardinals’ coaching staff a call, and he picked up the offer while talking with offensive line coach Dave Borbely.
“It was my highlight film,” Lacy said of what sold the Cardinals on him. “Coach Borbely liked how low I stay in my highlight."
Lacy, who has a total of four offers, picked up the scholarship from Louisville in mid-March after the Cardinals talked with Lacy’s high school coach and Warren Central assistant coach Greg Brookey, who runs a combine in Indianapolis. Lacy was told to give the Cardinals’ coaching staff a call, and he picked up the offer while talking with offensive line coach Dave Borbely.
“It was my highlight film,” Lacy said of what sold the Cardinals on him. “Coach Borbely liked how low I stay in my highlight."
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Coming into his junior season, Reynoldsburg (Ohio) prospect Mykel Traylor-Bennett had never played receiver. A growth spurt forced him from running back to the outside. He’s done well at wideout, though, and has seven offers to show for it.
Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Minnesota, Northern Illinois, Syracuse and Toledo all have extended scholarship offers to the 6-foot-3, 189-pound receiver.
Traylor-Bennett’s favorite team has not offered, though.
Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Minnesota, Northern Illinois, Syracuse and Toledo all have extended scholarship offers to the 6-foot-3, 189-pound receiver.
Traylor-Bennett’s favorite team has not offered, though.
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Offensive tackle Alex Gall (Cincinnati/Moeller) had 13 offers heading into Tuesday, but surprisingly the hometown Bearcats were not among them, despite offers from more esteemed programs historically.
That finally changed when Cincinnati offered the 6-foot-5, 290-pound tackle Tuesday.
"I will consider them more now," Gall wrote in a text.
That finally changed when Cincinnati offered the 6-foot-5, 290-pound tackle Tuesday.
"I will consider them more now," Gall wrote in a text.
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Assistants from Oklahoma State and Oregon traveled quite a few miles to keep tabs on one of the country's top receivers Tuesday.
The nation's fifth-ranked receiver, Laquon Treadwell (Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee) wrote in a text message that both programs came to visit him. Oklahoma State has already offered Treadwell, ranked No. 42 in the ESPN 150.
Treadwell planned to visit Oklahoma State last month but bad weather and tornado warnings in the Heartland caused him to cancel the trip after already departing for Stillwater.
The nation's fifth-ranked receiver, Laquon Treadwell (Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee) wrote in a text message that both programs came to visit him. Oklahoma State has already offered Treadwell, ranked No. 42 in the ESPN 150.
Treadwell planned to visit Oklahoma State last month but bad weather and tornado warnings in the Heartland caused him to cancel the trip after already departing for Stillwater.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Over the last month, 2014 Mineral Ridge (Ohio) running back Devine Redding’s name has started to pop up more often, and teams are taking notice. Redding picked up his first offer on Friday and had a big-time school come visit him Tuesday.
Indiana became the first program to offer Redding when assistant coach Deland McCullough came through Mineral Ridge late last week. After a brief conversation, McCullough extended an offer.
“[McCullough said] I could run through tackles, had good cuts, I was pretty quick through the holes and my outside speed is pretty good,” Redding said.
Indiana became the first program to offer Redding when assistant coach Deland McCullough came through Mineral Ridge late last week. After a brief conversation, McCullough extended an offer.
“[McCullough said] I could run through tackles, had good cuts, I was pretty quick through the holes and my outside speed is pretty good,” Redding said.
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SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio – As the offers continue to pile up for four-star defensive tackle Donovan Munger (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights), he is reluctant to start cutting teams from his list. The plan is to have a top five in the coming months, though.
Munger has already made a handful of visits, but he will take his recruitment into his senior season so he can take official visits.
“I want to take [official visits] as soon as possible [to] my top five,” Munger said, “so that’s why I want to narrow them down in the summer so I know where I want to go.”
Munger has already made a handful of visits, but he will take his recruitment into his senior season so he can take official visits.
“I want to take [official visits] as soon as possible [to] my top five,” Munger said, “so that’s why I want to narrow them down in the summer so I know where I want to go.”
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Isaac enjoys USC trip, unsure of next step 
May, 8, 2012
May 8
12:01
PM ET
By
Tom VanHaaren | ESPN.com
Running back Ty Isaac (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Catholic) has been a hot commodity over the past few months. After taking some time off from the recruiting process, Isaac and his parents decided to take a trip out to USC.
This was the second visit for Issac, but it was the first time his mother was able to see the Trojans' campus in person. The visit was mainly for her, and to see the surrounding area outside of campus.
"For me I'm still in the same spot as I was before. They're a school that I'm really considering," he said. "For my parents they both said they had a good time. My mom wanted to know more about the staff and what type of people they are."
This was the second visit for Issac, but it was the first time his mother was able to see the Trojans' campus in person. The visit was mainly for her, and to see the surrounding area outside of campus.
"For me I'm still in the same spot as I was before. They're a school that I'm really considering," he said. "For my parents they both said they had a good time. My mom wanted to know more about the staff and what type of people they are."
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CLEVELAND HEIGHTS -- Akron stopped by the Cleveland area last week to watch a handful of Cleveland Heights players work out and included among them was Marcus McShepard. The Zips liked what they saw and handed McShepard his first offer.
“It was amazing,” 5-foot-11, 180-pound cornerback said shortly after the offer. “… It was out of the blue.”
A speedster for the track team, McShepard ran a 10.7 in the 100-meter dash, and the Zips’ coaches made sure to mention that when offering.
“It was amazing,” 5-foot-11, 180-pound cornerback said shortly after the offer. “… It was out of the blue.”
A speedster for the track team, McShepard ran a 10.7 in the 100-meter dash, and the Zips’ coaches made sure to mention that when offering.
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CLEVELAND HEIGHTS – Shelton Gibson’s announcement date is a little more than a month away, and the Cleveland Heights receiver still has the same two teams out front. But the gap continues to shrink between those two and a number of other programs.
Auburn and Ohio State are the leaders for the four-star prospect ranked No. 1 among receivers in the state of Ohio. Gibson went down with his high school coach, Jeff Rotsky, and a few teammates in early April to Ohio State to check out a spring practice, his first look at the Buckeyes’ new offense under Urban Meyer.
“Not to downsize their receivers at all, but they could definitely use some help – not help but I can see myself coming in and starting,” the 5-foot-11, 173-pound junior said. “I was a little shook up about them having a lot of receivers on the board, but I can see myself going in and starting.”
Auburn and Ohio State are the leaders for the four-star prospect ranked No. 1 among receivers in the state of Ohio. Gibson went down with his high school coach, Jeff Rotsky, and a few teammates in early April to Ohio State to check out a spring practice, his first look at the Buckeyes’ new offense under Urban Meyer.
“Not to downsize their receivers at all, but they could definitely use some help – not help but I can see myself coming in and starting,” the 5-foot-11, 173-pound junior said. “I was a little shook up about them having a lot of receivers on the board, but I can see myself going in and starting.”
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Class of 2014 quarterback Drew Barker (Hebron, Ky./Conner) will be seeing a lot of Ohio over the next two weeks.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound quarterback is visiting Cincinnati this weekend and Barker believes an offer could come on the visit.
He will also be seeing an assistant from Ohio State sometime soon, too, he said. The rising junior made two separate visits to Ohio State, twice in one week, in April.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound quarterback is visiting Cincinnati this weekend and Barker believes an offer could come on the visit.
He will also be seeing an assistant from Ohio State sometime soon, too, he said. The rising junior made two separate visits to Ohio State, twice in one week, in April.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – One of the more intriguing prospects at the Columbus Elite 11 regional and Nike Football Training Camp was quarterback Tra’Von Chapman (Kent, Ohio/Theodore Roosevelt). A dual-threat at the position, Chapman showed he is a more than capable passer.
The three-star prospect was placed in the top group following preliminary drills in the Elite 11, and he said that was a definite confidence boost for him.
“When you start hitting those first couple of throws and guys are patting you on the butt saying ‘good job,’ that’s when you start getting your confidence up,” Chapman said. “You start to think ‘OK I can do this' and 'I belong in this group with these bigger guys.’
The three-star prospect was placed in the top group following preliminary drills in the Elite 11, and he said that was a definite confidence boost for him.
“When you start hitting those first couple of throws and guys are patting you on the butt saying ‘good job,’ that’s when you start getting your confidence up,” Chapman said. “You start to think ‘OK I can do this' and 'I belong in this group with these bigger guys.’
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A rising junior, Kendric Mallory (Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison) was not expecting to be one of the Trotwood-Madison players to pick up an offer as coaches swarmed the Dayton-area school. But Illinois did not hesitate in offering the 2014 receiver.
“It felt good. That’s a big accomplishment,” Mallory said at the Columbus Nike Football Training Camp. “I just got to keep doing what I’m doing in the classroom and do right on the football field, as well.”
Caught off guard by the Illini offer, it is not much of a surprise Mallory does not know much about the program at this point.
“It felt good. That’s a big accomplishment,” Mallory said at the Columbus Nike Football Training Camp. “I just got to keep doing what I’m doing in the classroom and do right on the football field, as well.”
Caught off guard by the Illini offer, it is not much of a surprise Mallory does not know much about the program at this point.
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ABOUT THE MIDWEST REGION
Jared Shanker
Jared Shanker, a New Jersey native who now lives in Columbus, Ohio, joined ESPN in 2011 and covers the Midwest. Shanker has covered recruiting for five years. He can be reached at jshankerespn@gmail.com.
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