ESPN Recruiting Nation Football

ZACHARY, La. -- Brandon Harris didn't just attend the NUC Five Star Baton Rouge camp, he claimed it.

The 2014 quarterback smiled and chatted up seemingly everybody there. He looked like a leader on the field. He'd focus on the task at hand, make good throws but not take it too seriously.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

For ESPN Watch List athlete Christian McCaffrey (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Valor Christian), there’s literally no such thing as an off day. Spring break is included.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Former Michigan offensive lineman commit Denzel Ward (Bradenton, Fla./IMG Academies) was one of the standout linemen at Saturday's Orlando NFTC.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

Chicago De La Salle running back Mikale Wilbon was careful not to name a leader, but he said one team sticks out as having the best résumé among his double-digit offers.

“Everybody is the same but as far as résumés and what schools have to offer, probably Vanderbilt is the best because it's ranked in the Top 25 in education, football and recruiting and that’s the only school,” Wilbon said of his 11 offers. “Vanderbilt is looking good right now, but they’re not leading, though.”

Arizona, Arizona State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi State and Purdue are Wilbon’s other offers.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

Like so many prospects have begun to do, Jarrett LaRubbio (Liberty Township, Ohio/Lakota East) wants to make a decision before his senior season. A major factor in his commitment will be how each head coach runs his practices, so LaRubbio is spending much of the next few weeks on the road.

“I want to get a lot of [visits] done so I can watch spring practice,” LaRubbio said. “I like watching and I think it’s a big part.”

The offensive guard has 16 offers, but his most recent spring practice visit went to Ohio State, which has not offered the 6-foot-5, 260-pound LaRubbio yet. It was his first time visiting the in-state Buckeyes.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

LOS ANGELES -- When thinking of West Coast running backs in the Class of 2013, the conversation usually starts and ends with Joe Mixon (Oakley, Calif./Freedom). While Mixon has the offers and the reputation to back it up, another elite back in the Golden State is gaining momentum on the recruiting trail.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

Defensive tackle Michael Sawyers (Nashville, Tenn./Ensworth) doesn't know much about the latest SEC school to offer him a scholarship, but he's willing to learn.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

One of the hottest recruits in the country has received two dozen offers since he released his junior film. And going west has a certain appeal to defensive back Mattrell McGraw (River Ridge, La./John Curtis).

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Junior offensive guard Damien Mama (Bellflower, Calif./St. John Bosco) was in the middle of speed training when his head coach informed him that Alabama had called and wanted him to call back. That got the 6-foot-5, 340-pound prospect pretty excited.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

After riding a young but talented defense to a CIF title last season, Long Beach (Calif.) Poly didn't need any additional help on that side of the ball heading into this season. But it looks like that's exactly what the Jackrabbits will get, in the form of cornerback Demetric Woodard Jr., who transferred in February from Anaheim (Calif.) Servite.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

ESPN Watch List offensive tackle Ty Barrett (Dallas/Skyline) still remembers his first offer coming from West Virginia. He’s now up to 13 offers -- including three on Wednesday evening, with two of the three coming in a 20-minute span -- and he’s preparing for a big junior day this weekend.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

Many high school prospects are evaluated for months or even years before a college program extends a scholarship offer. Highlights from sophomore seasons are compared to those of junior seasons to see progression and potential. Players who make a name for themselves as juniors are visited as seniors to gauge their possible impact at the next level. And then there are prospects like Joe Mixon (Oakley, Calif./Freedom) for whom the entire process takes three or maybe four days.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

ESPN Watch List defensive end Peyton Newell (Hiawatha, Kan./Hiawatha) estimates that he has picked up seven new offers over the last two weeks. His offer list stretches from UCLA to South Carolina and from Texas to Michigan State. Twenty-seven schools so far have extended verbal offers to the 6-foot-3, 270-pound junior, including the Georgia Bulldogs who offered on Wednesday.

“Yesterday I got offers from Georgia and Michigan State on the same day,” Newell said. “So it has been definitely crazy. I think I have gotten an offer from every conference. It is overwhelming and exciting. And I am very blessed to be in the situation that I am in with being able to have my choice on where to go. So I am really excited for next year.”

The Bulldogs’ coaching staff may be the latest offer but Newell has been on Georgia’s radar for a while.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

It has been a whirlwind two weeks for George Adeosun (Alpharetta, Ga./Alpharetta), with the 6-foot-5, 300 pound offensive lineman picking up offers from Virginia, Purdue, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, Arizona and Georgia Tech after his film went out at the coaches’ convention over the winter break.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider