Big surprise out here. The best HS player that I saw last year was a LB from Bishop Amat HS named Cornell. It was simply assumed that he would go either to USC or UCLA. He verballed to Mississippi! Chalk up one for Ed Orgeron. I've never heard of any Bishop Amat players leaving the Pac10/Notre Dame for any SEC school. This was a real coup... Toby Gearhardt, the greatest all-time running back in California HS history has verballed to Stanford... The schools out here that did the best in recruiting (IMHO) were: 1. USC 2. UCLA 3. Cal Arizona, Stanford and Oregon also did quite well... There are still one or two locals holding out until signing day, hoping to get into one of their favorites. One of these is local kid Devon Ross (CB)... .................JO'Co
The number of 5* players that USC could end up with is amazing. The teams ahead of USC in the rankings (Fla,Texas,Georgia,ND) all have 10 more recruits onboard right now, if USC finishes strong they could end up # 1 almost certain to be in the top 3. Reloading in So. Central.
:roll: Local kid Devon Ross is a good example of what's going on. He's a shutdown cornerback that any team in the country would die for. He shut down everything thrown near him in the Army All-Star game and he's not a secret. Everyone tried to recruit him and there was a huge scandal that caused a ton of ill feelings when he transferred from Los Osos HS to Rancho Cucamonga HS over the previous summer. I talked to the coaches at just about every school back then when I was substitute teaching and the whole valley was angry about this... So where is this kid going? The last I heard, he was waiting for USC to give him the word. He's standing in line, hoping that they have room for him. They may not even offer. They're still going after Darian Hagen's kid and some other big-time Dbacks who are even more highly touted. We really need to beat these guys. Somebody needs to derail this juggernaut to slow it down, because the Devon Ross example shows that the best in SoCal are standing and waiting while the Univ of South Central cherrypicks the nation. I think it will take at least three losses to slow this thing down... :x .....................IMHO..........JO'Co
The probable reason for his verbal to Orgeron is academic. I have Cornell listed with a 2.2 GPA and a 820 SAT. Scout.com now shows him now at 830 with a retake scheduled - LAST January. There's no way he gets into ND with those numbers and I suspect even USC/PAC10 has some limits. According to the NCAA site Cornell needs an 940 SAT with a 2.2 GPA or he has to raise his GPA to a 2.475 with 830 SAT to become eligible.
He at least must have a passing math grade in an SEC acceptable class..(see Larry Grant...ex-UF commit). I hear Grant is looking at Ohio State now that the SEC has once again denied Florida a five-star JC linebacker like the kid that went to Oklahoma 3-4 years ago.
re: Cornell The Pac10 actually has very high academic standards, with one exception: Arizona State. I'm amazed that Cornell went all the way to Mississippi when he could have stayed out here. There must be something else that we don't know. Maybe he has relatives living in Mississippi. ..............JO'Co
Another interesting article...this one about the waffling that goes on with some top recruits: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/stewart_mandel/01/24/inside.recruiting/index.html
I do wish there was an early signing period for college football. While all it might accomplish is kids holding off on giving a "verbal" commitment till after the early signing period is past, I still think it would be helpfull to both recruit and staff. Terry
Devon Ross Commits <r><QUOTE author="ThePhantom"><s> </e></QUOTE> Devon Ross has made his choice...<br/> <br/> <IMG src="http://pages.prodigy.net/rmcook/_uimages/DevonRossCommits.jpg"><s></e></IMG><br/> <br/> Rick</r>
:twisted: Excellente mi amigo! Devon Ross has the big JO'Co seal of approval. I've seen him play and I've talked to a lot of HS coaches who had to coach against him and he's the real deal... .............JO'Co
Darian Hagan picked CAL over USC. Pete's class is not closing all that well, he lost Sam Young to ND, Devin Ross to 'Zona, and Darian Hagan to CAL. And Possibly could lose Hazleton to Penn State, even though he's verbaled to USC. Terry :wink:
Jimmy Clausen update By Jimmy Hyams Date: Jan 27, 2006 Tennessee has four prospects making official visits this weekend, but it’s a half-dozen unofficial visitors that could have a greater impact on the Vols’ football future. Jimmy Clausen, who projects to be the nation’s top quarterback prospect next year, flew into Knoxville Friday morning along with several of his talented teammates. Clausen’s renewed interest in Tennessee can be summed up in two words: David Cutcliffe. If Cutcliffe weren’t on UT’s staff, Clausen wouldn’t be in town. Clausen has aspirations of playing in the NFL. Cutcliffe has helped developed two No. 1 overall picks in the NFL draft and a No. 3 overall pick. The Clausens didn’t feel oldest son Casey Clausen, a UT quarterback from 2000-03, developed as he should have. After a terrific sophomore season, Casey was projected by some to possibly be an eventual first-round pick. Instead, Casey suffered a broken collarbone, didn’t put up big numbers his last two seasons, seemed to regress fundamentally, didn’t get invited to the Senior Bowl and didn’t get drafted. The latter three points remain a sore spot for the Clausens. Yet, Jim Clausen says he’s grateful for the opportunity the Vols gave Casey and second son Rick, an LSU transfer who bailed the Vols out toward the end of the 2004 season, earned MVP honors at the Cotton Bowl and pulled out a near-miraculous victory at LSU early last season. ``We love the University of Tennessee,’’ Jim Clausen said. ``Don’t think for one second that we don’t have a special place in our heart for Tennessee.’’ But that doesn’t guarantee Jimmy Clausen will become a Vol. Far from it. As dad says: ``Tennessee has a lot to make up.’’ Why? Not because Rick wasn’t the full-time starter in 2005, but because of the way Casey’s career ended. Instead of being on an NFL roster, Casey is a graduate assistant at Mississippi State. Jim Clausen said Notre Dame and Southern Cal are the two leaders for Jimmy. Jimmy has been to Notre Dame five times in four months, dad said. ``David needs to get to know Jimmy,’’ Jim Clausen said. ``I asked what would be different for Jimmy compared to Casey, and David said, `Me.’ David’s had two No. 1 picks and a No. 3 pick and he knows how to develop quarterbacks.’’ Jim Clausen said the family is very fond of John Chavis, UT’s defensive coordinator. ``Chief said, `We’ll make up a lot of ground this weekend,’’’ Jim Clausen said. Jim Clausen said Jimmy and South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier developed a ``chemistry’’ during one of Jimmy’s unofficial visits to Columbia, S.C. The father described Notre Dame’s Charlie Weis as ``precise, concise,’’ and he ``makes no promises.’’ Pete Carroll is more outgoing and has built a power that includes several players the Clausens played with and against in high school. Jim Clausen pointed out that a Southern Cal quarterback, Matt Cassell, threw 11 career passes as a backup to Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart, yet was a seventh-round draft pick, while Casey is No. 2 on most passing lists at Tennessee (behind Peyton Manning) but wasn’t drafted. Jimmy Clausen likely will make his decision before the summer ends because he plans to be a mid-term enrollee. Given the Clausen’s relationship with Tennessee, it might be harder for Jimmy to say no to the Vols as opposed to yes to USC or Notre Dame. But it does appear that Tennessee is back in the chase for Jimmy Clausen. ``Jimmy will make the decision for Jimmy,’’ dad said. Joining Jimmy Clausen on the unofficial visit are running back Mark Tyler (son of former NFL player Wendell Tyler), linebacker Casey Mathews (son of former NFL linebacker Clay Mathews), safety Marshall Jones and three other Division 1-A prospects. Jim Clausen said Tyler really likes Tennesee.