On The Trail: Louisville Cardinals
Four-star LB Kendall Joseph to Clemson
June, 18, 2013
Jun 18
9:30
AM ET
By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
The Tigers picked up a commitment Monday from four-star inside linebacker Kendall Joseph (Honea Path, S.C./Belton-Honea Path), according to multiple reports.
Appalachian State, Duke, Furman, Georgia Tech, Louisville and UCLA also extended scholarship offers to the 6-foot, 227-pound prospect. South Carolina and Vanderbilt showed interest.
Joseph posted a 4.38 20-yard shuttle, 27.8-inch vertical and 35.5-foot power throw on this spring's Nike circuit. Additionally, the Post and Courier writes that he's a three-time state weightlifting champion who bench presses 350 pounds and squats 480.
Last season, he registered 129 total tackles, six tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hurries.
Clemson now has 12 pledges for 2014 and the country's 10th best class, according to ESPN RecruitingNation. The Tigers have secured seven players from the newly released ESPN 300, and three four-stars from outside the 300.
Appalachian State, Duke, Furman, Georgia Tech, Louisville and UCLA also extended scholarship offers to the 6-foot, 227-pound prospect. South Carolina and Vanderbilt showed interest.
Joseph posted a 4.38 20-yard shuttle, 27.8-inch vertical and 35.5-foot power throw on this spring's Nike circuit. Additionally, the Post and Courier writes that he's a three-time state weightlifting champion who bench presses 350 pounds and squats 480.
Last season, he registered 129 total tackles, six tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hurries.
Clemson now has 12 pledges for 2014 and the country's 10th best class, according to ESPN RecruitingNation. The Tigers have secured seven players from the newly released ESPN 300, and three four-stars from outside the 300.
Class of 2014 tight end Andrew Gray (Chardon, Ohio/Chardon) committed Saturday to play in the ACC for Maryland, according to multiple reports.
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound prospect selected the Terrapins over scholarship offers from Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Louisville, Ohio, Toledo and Western Michigan.
Gray caught 12 passes for 200 yards last season, according to the News-Herald.
Maryland has five pledges.
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound prospect selected the Terrapins over scholarship offers from Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Louisville, Ohio, Toledo and Western Michigan.
Gray caught 12 passes for 200 yards last season, according to the News-Herald.
Maryland has five pledges.
Kentucky is making a strong push in the state of Ohio, but the Wildcats have their eyes set on a bordering state too.
Aliquippa (Pa.) High School athlete Dravon Henry, the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania, is eyeing a visit to several schools at the end of the month. The ESPN 150 prospect is hoping to visit Kentucky with a family member, his father, Roland, said Tuesday.
Henry, No. 127 in the ESPN 150, does not have Kentucky among his favorites, although Henry has said several times he is not limiting himself to just the four schools in his top four: Ohio State, Penn State, Pittsburgh and West Virginia.
Aliquippa (Pa.) High School athlete Dravon Henry, the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania, is eyeing a visit to several schools at the end of the month. The ESPN 150 prospect is hoping to visit Kentucky with a family member, his father, Roland, said Tuesday.
Henry, No. 127 in the ESPN 150, does not have Kentucky among his favorites, although Henry has said several times he is not limiting himself to just the four schools in his top four: Ohio State, Penn State, Pittsburgh and West Virginia.
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Perception of Big East reality to recruits 
June, 12, 2013
Jun 12
9:16
AM ET
By
Tom Luginbill | ESPN.com
Recruiting is the lifeblood of every program in the country, and every conference has its own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to landing top prospects. In the start of a weeklong series, we'll examine the BCS conferences, plus Notre Dame, to find each's strength, the biggest obstacle each faces and the overall view of the conference. The Big East is up today.
Biggest obstacle: Perception. Although the Big East is an automatic qualifying conference for a BCS bowl game (for now), it is not perceived the same way by prospective recruits as the other five BCS conferences. The departure of Pitt, Syracuse and West Virginia did not help its cause, either. Adding quality mid-major programs with more of a national layout has not enhanced the image. You can claim you are a BCS conference, but if the top players in the country don't buy it, there is a ceiling that will be tough to raise. With the departures and additions, this conference is perceived to be more of a glorified mid-major.
Biggest obstacle: Perception. Although the Big East is an automatic qualifying conference for a BCS bowl game (for now), it is not perceived the same way by prospective recruits as the other five BCS conferences. The departure of Pitt, Syracuse and West Virginia did not help its cause, either. Adding quality mid-major programs with more of a national layout has not enhanced the image. You can claim you are a BCS conference, but if the top players in the country don't buy it, there is a ceiling that will be tough to raise. With the departures and additions, this conference is perceived to be more of a glorified mid-major.
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Nico Firios joins Kentucky's commit parade
June, 11, 2013
Jun 11
3:46
PM ET
By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
The Kentucky Wildcats have made their case to move up ESPN RecruitingNation's class rankings following a big weekend on the trail.
According to multiple sources, four-star inside linebacker Nico Firios (Longwood, Fla./Lyman) has also jumped on board.
Cincinnati, Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa State, Louisville, Memphis, Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers, South Florida, Southern Miss and Wisconsin also extended scholarship offers to the 6-foot-1, 220-pound prospect. Georgia Tech, Miami (Fla.), Penn State and Vanderbilt showed interest.
Firios' decision comes on the heels of the re-commitment of ESPN 150 defensive end Denzel Ware (Crestview, Fla./Crestview) and the pledges of four-star cornerback Darius West (Lima, Ohio/Lima Central) and safety Mike Edwards (Cincinnati/Winton Woods).
Kentucky has 15 total commitments for 2014.
Cincinnati, Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa State, Louisville, Memphis, Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers, South Florida, Southern Miss and Wisconsin also extended scholarship offers to the 6-foot-1, 220-pound prospect. Georgia Tech, Miami (Fla.), Penn State and Vanderbilt showed interest.
Firios' decision comes on the heels of the re-commitment of ESPN 150 defensive end Denzel Ware (Crestview, Fla./Crestview) and the pledges of four-star cornerback Darius West (Lima, Ohio/Lima Central) and safety Mike Edwards (Cincinnati/Winton Woods).
Kentucky has 15 total commitments for 2014.
Four schools are standing out to four-star defensive tackle Daniel Cage (Cincinnati/Winton Woods), and he hopes to visit all four this summer.
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Duncan part of a talented extended family
June, 10, 2013
Jun 10
3:51
PM ET
By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Right now, Malik Duncan (Cleveland/Central Catholic) is losing the burrito battle.
That could change in the coming months, however, as the 5-foot-8, 167-pound Duncan continues to blow up on the recruiting scene.
A first cousin to BCS prospects Erick Smith (Cleveland/Glenville) and Jerome Baker (Cleveland/Benedictine), Duncan has a running bet with Baker every time the two get an offer.
That could change in the coming months, however, as the 5-foot-8, 167-pound Duncan continues to blow up on the recruiting scene.
A first cousin to BCS prospects Erick Smith (Cleveland/Glenville) and Jerome Baker (Cleveland/Benedictine), Duncan has a running bet with Baker every time the two get an offer.
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Cards, Huskers hosting S nearing decision
June, 6, 2013
Jun 6
8:54
AM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
Mike Edwards has been pegged as a future Kentucky commitment for several months. If another program is going to surpass the Wildcats for the Cincinnati Winton Woods product before his summer decision, it will have to begin in the next few weeks.
The 6-foot, 180-pound defensive back will visit Nebraska the weekend of June 15 for the Cornhuskers’ Big Red Weekend.
The 6-foot, 180-pound defensive back will visit Nebraska the weekend of June 15 for the Cornhuskers’ Big Red Weekend.
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FAIRFIELD, Ohio -- Part of a tight-knit family, Fairfield (Ohio) High School lineman Danny Burns would like to play in front of his mom and grandparents in college. But that won’t be a major factor in his decision.
So it is more coincidence, he says, that schools from bordering states Michigan and Kentucky lead for him.
So it is more coincidence, he says, that schools from bordering states Michigan and Kentucky lead for him.
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WARREN, Ohio -- They’re the cornerstones of Warren (Ohio) Harding’s defense and teams have certainly taken notice.
The fact D.D. Morgan and Lamar Carmichael, who also plays quarterback for the Raiders, are getting college looks is no surprise to their coach, Steve Arnold, as the recruiting process heats up.
The fact D.D. Morgan and Lamar Carmichael, who also plays quarterback for the Raiders, are getting college looks is no surprise to their coach, Steve Arnold, as the recruiting process heats up.
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Famurewa is Louisville's latest pledge
June, 3, 2013
Jun 3
2:52
PM ET
By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
Linebacker/ defensive end Henry Famurewa (Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern) committed Monday to sign with Charlie Strong's Louisville Cardinals, multiple sources report. Famurewa was recruited by assistant head coach / linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary.
"I really like the coaching staff and the environment, also the schools itself, and they stomped Florida [in the Sugar Bowl]," Famurewa told the Courier-Journal last month.
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound prospect also holds scholarship offers from Boston College, East Carolina, Illinois, Iowa, Marshall, Middle Tennessee, North Carolina State and Tulane. Auburn, Duke, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest showed interest.
Famurewa is Louisville's second 2014 pledge from Georgia and 15th overall for this recruiting cycle.
"I really like the coaching staff and the environment, also the schools itself, and they stomped Florida [in the Sugar Bowl]," Famurewa told the Courier-Journal last month.
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound prospect also holds scholarship offers from Boston College, East Carolina, Illinois, Iowa, Marshall, Middle Tennessee, North Carolina State and Tulane. Auburn, Duke, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest showed interest.
Famurewa is Louisville's second 2014 pledge from Georgia and 15th overall for this recruiting cycle.
Editor’s note: Finding the Future is a RecruitingNation feature that will appear throughout camps and combine season, ranking prospects strictly on their on-field performance at the particular event. It does not reflect where each will land when the class is ranked by ESPN.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Nike Football Training Camp was loaded with top upperclassmen on Sunday, but a handful of 2015 prospects showed they could compete with some of the top competition from the Midwest.
1. OT Sterling Jenkins
6-foot-8, 295 pounds | OT | Pittsburgh Baldwin
Considering: Offers from Arizona, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Toledo, Virginia, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech and West Virginia
What we learned: With some of the top committed and uncommitted defensive linemen in the Midwest flocking to the NFTC, Jenkins certainly didn’t back down as he more than held his own against top-ranked talent.
“What I like about Sterling is he has the reach, the length of an elite tackle,” said former Florida State and NFL offensive guard Montrae Holland. “He’s young right now and has to get a better understanding of angles, but the overall tools are there. He has the raw material to be very good.”
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Nike Football Training Camp was loaded with top upperclassmen on Sunday, but a handful of 2015 prospects showed they could compete with some of the top competition from the Midwest.
1. OT Sterling Jenkins
6-foot-8, 295 pounds | OT | Pittsburgh Baldwin
Considering: Offers from Arizona, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Toledo, Virginia, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech and West Virginia
What we learned: With some of the top committed and uncommitted defensive linemen in the Midwest flocking to the NFTC, Jenkins certainly didn’t back down as he more than held his own against top-ranked talent.
“What I like about Sterling is he has the reach, the length of an elite tackle,” said former Florida State and NFL offensive guard Montrae Holland. “He’s young right now and has to get a better understanding of angles, but the overall tools are there. He has the raw material to be very good.”
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Irish offer after DB West cancels decision
May, 31, 2013
May 31
1:27
PM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
A Friday offer validated a Thursday decision for Darius West.
The four-star cornerback out of Lima (Ohio) Central Catholic planned to commit to a school in his top four Thursday afternoon, but he delayed his decision after talking with his dad. The move paid dividends rather quickly as Notre Dame offered the No. 9 player in Ohio on Friday.
The four-star cornerback out of Lima (Ohio) Central Catholic planned to commit to a school in his top four Thursday afternoon, but he delayed his decision after talking with his dad. The move paid dividends rather quickly as Notre Dame offered the No. 9 player in Ohio on Friday.
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A top-10 prospect in the state of Ohio has postponed his commitment news conference.
Four-star Lima (Ohio) Central Catholic cornerback Darius West will not commit on Thursday, an announcement date he set two weeks ago. His finalists were Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State and Wisconsin.
Four-star Lima (Ohio) Central Catholic cornerback Darius West will not commit on Thursday, an announcement date he set two weeks ago. His finalists were Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State and Wisconsin.
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Virginia scores ESPN 150 OG Richardson
May, 25, 2013
May 25
9:09
PM ET
By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
Four-star offensive guard William Richardson (Burlington, N.C./Cummings), the No. 126-ranked recruit in the nation, committed Saturday to play for the University of Virginia, multiple sources report.
The massive, 6-foot-5, 339-pound blocker selected Virginia over scholarship offers from Ball State, Charlotte, Duke, East Carolina, Florida State, Indiana, Louisville, North Carolina State, Ohio and Virginia Tech.
ESPN writes in Richardson's scouting evaluation, "He is an intriguing prospect who is arguably flying a bit under the radar at this stage. If he can manage his size and play at a good weight, he could develop into a very good college offensive lineman."
Richardson is Virginia's second ESPN 150 pledge for 2014. Five-star Under Armour All-American safety Quin Blanding (Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside) announced for the Cavs in February. Virginia now has five verbal commitments.
ESPN writes in Richardson's scouting evaluation, "He is an intriguing prospect who is arguably flying a bit under the radar at this stage. If he can manage his size and play at a good weight, he could develop into a very good college offensive lineman."
Richardson is Virginia's second ESPN 150 pledge for 2014. Five-star Under Armour All-American safety Quin Blanding (Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside) announced for the Cavs in February. Virginia now has five verbal commitments.
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