On The Trail: Ole Miss Rebels

Despite debuting at No. 89 in the initial ESPN 150 rankings, wide receiver Jesse Jackson (Petal, Miss./Petal) is still flying a bit under the radar. He picked up offers from Alabama and Ole Miss in March, but he’s stayed at four offers for nearly two months.

Last week, the interest picked up. Four SEC schools came by the school in a matter of two days, and Jackson came away with offers from Auburn and Missouri as well as a camp invite from Georgia that could turn into an offer.


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Four-star WR Pack heading to FSU

May, 19, 2013
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video Markell Pack (Purvis, Miss./Purvis) has been high on the Seminoles board for quite a while. So when he committed to Florida State late Saturday night, it was not a surprise that the Florida State coaches were a happy group.

New assistant coach Tim Brewster was the first to get the news Sunday morning.

"I decided to do it last night and when we talked this morning, they were pretty fired up," Pack said.

During the recruiting process, it was Brewster's candid approach that really hooked Pack.

"He's just straight up with me," said Pack, who holds offers from Georgia, Ole Miss and Mississippi State amongst others.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound receiver is versatile given his size. He'll be able to do a lot of things at the next level, whether in the slot or out wide.

And from his perspective, he thinks he'll enter the offense as a good match.

"I just really like what they've got going," he said. "I think I'll fit in great."

Pack joins J.C. Jackson (Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee), JoJo Robinson (Miami/Northwestern) and C.J. Worton (Homestead, Fla./South Dade) as the other wide receivers in Florida State’s 2014 class.

Pack, who ranks as a four-star prospect, is the tenth commitment for the Seminoles in this class.

OL Paul Adams commits to Missouri

May, 18, 2013
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The Missouri Tigers reached back into Tennessee for their third 2014 pledge from the Volunteer State. According to multiple sources, offensive tackle Paul Adams (Nashville, Tenn./Christ Presbyterian) gave his pledge Friday.

His high school teammate, wide receiver Thomas Richard, picked the Tigers in April. Cornerback Finis Stribling IV (Thompson's Station, Tenn./Independence) committed to Missouri earlier this week.

"Nashville has some of the best talent that I think I've ever seen in my life, so I guess that's where Missouri went," said Adams, who announced on his 18th birthday, to The Tennessean.

Adams, a 6-foot-7, 262-pound prospect, selected Missouri over scholarship offers from Cincinnati, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and South Florida. Other schools, including Georgia Tech, Tennessee and Vanderbilt, expressed interest.

"It's been a very special day for me," he continued. "The other birthday presents have just been money and gas cards. This will shape me out for the rest of my life, so this is by far my best present."

The Tigers have 10 players on board for 2014.
For quarterback Brandon Harris (Bossier City, La./Parkway), the schedule book is starting to fill.

The first day to mark off the calendar is Thursday, when his Parkway team scrimmages Alexandria (La.) Senior High to conclude spring drills. He'll play in front of coaches from several major colleges. At the end of the scrimmage, sometime around 7 p.m, he'll announce which six schools he plans on visiting this summer.

"It's going to be a big day," he said. "I can't wait."


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TYRONE, Ga. – Unless a new offer comes along in the next three months, four-star prospect Chris Williams (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek) could be the next highly rated defensive lineman from the Peach State headed to play for Hugh Freeze.


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TYRONE, Ga. -- ESPN 150 wide receiver Demarre Kitt (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek) is set to announce his commitment June 10 between Clemson, Ohio State and Tennessee. But if today were decision day, could Kitt pull the trigger?

“If I had to choose today I would know where I am going,” Kitt said. “I just feel secure with the coaches and the offense, the education and depth chart all feel right.”

The Buckeyes, Volunteers and Tigers are the frontrunners for the No. 99 prospect in the country, but only one of the top three looks likely to get Kitt back on campus before his decision. Two other programs are hoping to make a last minute push for the 6-foot, 196-pound wideout.


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With three solid pickups in the month of May, Northwestern has been hot with its recruiting. The Wildcats are hoping to add to his class with rising cornerback Verkedric Vaughns (Mesquite, Texas/Poteet).

Hearing Vaughns tell it, however, a decision isn’t even close -- no matter how difficult it is for him to think about recruiting.


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Rushing will receive for Louisville

May, 11, 2013
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According to the Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal, Louisville picked up its 12th pledge Friday with the addition of wide receiver George Rushing (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons) just one day after offering a scholarship to the 6-foot, 182-pound prospect.

Rushing currently holds roughly two dozen scholarship offers, but selected Louisville over Cincinnati, Northern Illinois and Pittsburgh.

"Louisville is a great opportunity, great school, [has] good coaches and is also a dream offer for me," Rushing expressed in a text message. "I would love to contribute to what Louisville is doing."

Appalachian State, Boston College, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Florida International, Florida Atlantic, Idaho, Illinois, Marshall, Massachusetts, Miami (Ohio), Ohio, Old Dominion, Ole Miss, South Alabama, Toledo, Tulane, Utah State and Western Michigan were among his other reported offers.

"We're delighted with George's decision," Cardinal Gibbons coach Mike Morrill added. "It's great to get on a rising power, and Louisville is obviously doing a great job."

Before his junior season, Rushing posted an electronically-timed 5.00-second 40-yard dash, 4.93-second 20-yard shuttle and 29.4-inch vertical on the Nike circuit.

ESPN's scouting report for Rushing, which will be part of the next rankings update, states, "Has many redeeming traits, but speed is limited. ... We like his toughness and penchant for making big catches. ... Quality prospect."
JACKSON, Ala. -- The recruiting process might have started slow for Jackson High School linebacker Gavin Bryant, but it has not slowed down. This spring, he’s added offers from the likes of Florida, Miami, Mississippi State and Ole Miss, giving him close to 15 total, all in the last three months.

Still, there’s one school that stands alone at the top -- the University of Alabama.

Bryant added an offer from the Crimson Tide in February, but the staff wants to see him at camp in June before the offer becomes committable. UA assistant coach Lance Thompson came by recently and told him to be ready to compete.

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Recruiting pitches: SEC

May, 10, 2013
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Inspired by Florida's "#ComePlayWRFortheJoker" campaign, our recruiting writers looked at other ways schools can sell themselves on the trail. Here's a look at recruiting pitches for the SEC:

Alabama Crimson Tide
What they are selling:
What's not to sell? Alabama is coming off back-to-back national championships, and the Crimson Tide had nine players taken in April's NFL draft, including three in the first round. For the critics who say you won't play early at UA, ask T.J. Yeldon and Amari Cooper how much they contributed as freshmen.

What they are missing: Although they won a national championship, the Tide didn't generate much pass rush last fall, and they had trouble containing freshman sensation Johnny Manziel. Also, they need to rebuild the offensive line, a unit that anchored the offense last year.

Arkansas Razorbacks
What they are selling:
New head coach Bret Bielema runs a completely different offensive system than the previous two Arkansas coaches. The Razorbacks are selling an opportunity for freshmen to come in and earn playing time early in their careers.

What they are missing: The Razorbacks signed only one offensive lineman, Denver Kirkland, who was rated a four-star prospect or higher last year. In this run-heavy system, look for Arkansas to focus on landing talented players along the offensive line.

Auburn Tigers
What they are selling:
It's a new regime for Auburn, but there's a familiar face running the show. New head coach Gus Malzahn knows the program from his days as offensive coordinator. He's already shown the ability to recruit, stealing ESPN 150 linebacker Tre Williams away from the Tide. There's a sense of excitement on The Plains again.

What they are missing: Malzahn filled out his first recruiting class with playmakers, but Auburn needs to build up front on the offensive and defensive lines. No matter what offense you run, if you want to win in the SEC, you need to be able to compete up in the trenches.

Florida Gators
What they are selling:
With no proven wide receivers on the perimeter, Florida is attempting to sell early playing time at the position. A chance to play for one of the best defensive minds in college football in Will Muschamp is another selling point to defensive prospects.

What they are missing: Production on offense. After finishing 114th nationally in passing offense, it will be hard to sell playing time to wide receivers without an explosive passing game in place.

Georgia Bulldogs
What they are selling:
Freshmen, if they're good enough, play early at Georgia. From running backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall to offensive tackle John Theus to defensive end Jordan Jenkins, several freshmen Bulldogs made major contributions on a team that was a few yards away from making the national championship game.

What they are missing: Georgia has brought in four top-12 recruiting classes in the last four years. Depth might become an issue for some recruits, but Georgia has certainly shown a willingness to play younger players.

Kentucky Wildcats
What they are selling:
After finishing 2-10, Kentucky fired coach Joker Phillips. New head coach Mark Stoops is offering a fresh start and a chance to help build Kentucky in to a contender in the SEC East.

What they are missing: Plain and simple -- tradition. Sure, Kentucky is full of basketball tradition, but the success on the hardwood completely overshadows the football program. A record 50,831 fans attended the Wildcats' spring game, so the interest level is certainly headed in the right direction.

LSU Tigers
What they are selling:
An unprecedented 10 underclassmen declared for the NFL draft. LSU is selling the opportunity, not only for early playing time because of the departures, but a chance to make it to the NFL in three years.

What they are missing: Because of all the departures, there are some holes on both sides of the ball. Depth is now an issue at running back and LSU will need to replace Eric Reid, Kevin Minter, defensive ends Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo, defensive tackle Bennie Logan and linebacker Kevin Minter.

Ole Miss Rebels
What they are selling:
Ole Miss landed the No. 5-ranked class in the country, including No. 1 overall player Robert Nkemdiche and No. 1 offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil. Look for Ole Miss to sell recruits on the opportunity to help build something special under head coach Hugh Freeze.

What they are missing: Freeze brought a creative and innovative offense to the SEC, but the defense is still a work in progress. Ole Miss finished 12th in the SEC in pass defense and will need to continue to build depth in order to compete for the SEC West championship.

Mississippi State Bulldogs
What they are selling:
Only 11 of 22 starters return for a team that finished 8-5 last year. The Bulldogs offer recruits a chance to play early and play in the best division in college football.

What they are missing: Mississippi State returns its starting quarterback Tyler Russell, but who will he be throwing to? Last year's four leading receivers, including Chad Bumphis, are gone. Look for the Bulldogs to focus on offensive weapons in this recruiting class.

Missouri Tigers
What they are selling:
The Tigers return 14 of 22 starters on a team that went 5-7 in its first year in the SEC East. Missouri runs a fun and innovative offense that is sure to attract recruits, and there is certainly an opportunity to play early.

What they are missing: The defensive line is probably the most critical area on any defense in the SEC, and the Tigers lost their best lineman in Sheldon Richardson. Mizzou must find a viable replacement for Richardson and linebackers Zaviar Gooden and Will Ebner.

South Carolina Gamecocks
What they are selling:
The Gamecocks have been dominant on defense over the last few years, and a strong line is a big part of their success. South Carolina is selling an opportunity to be the next Jadeveon Clowney and be a part of one of the top defenses in the SEC.

What they are missing: Hard to believe, but head coach Steve Spurrier needs help at wide receiver. The Gamecocks signed only one wide receiver in their 2013 class. They have young bodies, but not much depth or production from the returning group.

Tennessee Volunteers
What they are selling:
A fresh start under new head coach Butch Jones. Since 2011, Tennessee has finished with the No. 13, 21 and 29 recruiting classes in the country. There plenty of holes to fill, and any incoming freshman will have plenty of opportunities to earn a starting spot.

What they are missing: Tennessee lost wide receivers Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson to the NFL draft and must replace their production on the outside. The Volunteers are also thin in the secondary and will look to recruiting to plug some key holes on defense.

Texas A&M Aggies
What they are selling:
There is a lot to sell a recruit on at Texas A&M right now. An explosive offense which led the SEC in total offense by more than 100 yards a game, Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel and a team that went into Tuscaloosa and handed Alabama its only loss last season.

What they are missing: There are still some holes to fill on defense. The Aggies finished with the No. 8-ranked defense in the SEC and the No. 10-ranked pass defense in the league. They also need to replace talented defensive end Damontre Moore, who is now in the NFL.

Vanderbilt Commodores
What they are selling:
Head coach James Franklin has taken Vanderbilt to a bowl in two consecutive years, and the Commodores are bringing in a solid recruiting class. Selling recruits on an opportunity to play at Vanderbilt during one of the best eras in the school's football history is enticing to high school recruits.

What they are missing: Vanderbilt is not yet on par with other SEC schools as far as facilities. The Commodores, though, are certainly headed in the right direction. A new indoor practice facility is being constructed, and stadium renovations are in the planning stages.
ACWORTH, GA – The evaluation period is intended for assistant coaches to hit the road to check out potential future additions for their program. While sometimes the stops can be more about being seen than actual evaluation, that was not the case for safety Cameron Albright (Acworth, Ga./North Cobb) on Thursday.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound defensive back looked over his shoulder during warmups to see University of Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and secondary coach Scott Lakatos. The two assistants eyed Albright’s every move for over an hour.


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MOBILE, Ala. -- Murphy High School was hit by a tornado on Christmas Day, forcing students to attend class in trailers outside of a local middle school, but that hasn’t stopped college coaches from coming to see 2014 defensive end Taylor Stallworth.

On Wednesday, Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Ted Roof made a stop at the new location and offered the 6-foot-3, 270-pound prospect.


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MOBILE, Ala. -- The new Auburn coaching staff has put an emphasis on the state of Alabama in recruiting, and the trend continued Wednesday when the Tigers landed a commitment from St. Paul’s Episcopal linebacker Tré Williams, ranked No. 74 in the ESPN 150.

"It's been a really great process," he said. "Ever since day one, I was really nervous about my first offer, and when they started building up, Coach [Steve] Mask told me to stay humble. I have and I will always be."

Williams credited his relationship with Auburn assistant coach Dameyune Craig, his recruiting coordinator, as one of the main reasons why he chose the Tigers.

"I've known Coach Craig since my freshman year," Williams said. "He gave me my first offer back at Florida State, and ever since then, we've built that relationship. When he went to Auburn, it made it even better. I already liked Auburn at the time."

Since earning the first offer from Florida State, Williams had accumulated close to 20 scholarship offers, but he admitted it came down to in-state rivals Alabama and Auburn. He also had Florida and Ole Miss in his final group.

At Auburn, the 6-foot-2, 217-pound prospect projects best as an inside linebacker, but Mask, his head coach at St. Paul's, believes Williams can succeed no matter what position he plays.

"He's pretty special," Mask said. "The thing that separates him from anybody I've ever coached, I don't think I've ever seen a kid who loves to play football more than him. He loves to practice football. He loves to talk about football. He loves to play football. He loves the game."

Williams will join high school teammate Josh Casher at Auburn next season. Casher, who committed to the Tigers in March, is the top center prospect in the nation according to ESPN.

With the addition of Williams, Auburn now has five commitments for 2014, four from the state of Alabama. Prattville, Ala., running back Kamryn Pettway was the first to commit to new AU coach Gus Malzahn and his staff.
The accolades are growing by the day for defensive tackle Garrald McDowell (Covington, La./Covington).

Becoming an Under Armour All-American, being invited to The Opening and getting ranked No. 105 in the ESPN 150 is not a bad way to start a spring.

Oklahoma has taken notice as the Sooners are the latest of many top schools to enter the race to land McDowell, who is 6-foot-3 and 257 pounds. With offers from Alabama and Florida and USC, among several others, it’s going to be a busy few months coming up for McDowell.


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Cornelius Sturghill quickly has become a nationally known prospect.


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