2012/2013 Recruiting News & Notes
- 2013 RB Brian Jennings from Decatur, Illinois (Macarthur HS) is a workhorse type of runner who has excellent size (5'11 195 lbs) along with the power and speed to compete at the highest level of college football, and coaches around the country are taking a serious interest into what he would be able to offer to their respected teams. No offers as of yet, Jennings is currently being recruited by California, South Carolina, Duke, Michigan State, Florida State, Notre Dame, Penn State, Arizona State, Illinois, Nebraska, Texas, Minnesota, Indiana and Arkansas State. Brian has already started to see the attention from college coaches that he was hoping would always come, and his first offer could be right around the corner. According to Jennings he says that Duke, California, Minnesota and Indiana are the schools currently pursuing him the most and that Duke is recruiting him hard and could turn out to be his first official offer. Brian hasn't been able to take any visits as of yet, but he would like to see all the schools recruiting him before he is ready to make a commitment. He doesn't hold any schools ahead of any other at this time. Brian wants to remain open for a while throughout his process. He wants to make the absolute correct decision for him, and be able to find a place he feels the most comfortable being at. Jennings has big time ability and should be one of the top 2013recruited prospects in the state of Illinois. 2011 Stats: 1,100 yards 9 Td's
- 2013 OT Cameron Fraser (Phenix City, AL/Central HS) is a football player who could be coming into his own leading into his senior season of football, and the potential he possesses is unlimited. Standing at 6'5 280 lbs, Fraser is a former basketball player who only started playing football in the 9th grade and is now going into his last year of high school football with college football programs throwing strong attention his way. Cameron has yet to receive his first offer, but schools like Alabama, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Western Kentucky and South Alabama have all taken an early interest in his talents and could eventually turn out to be his first offer. He holds the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs is high regards and loves what both head coaches have to offer. Cameron says that Alabama and Mississippi State are his early leaders, but he wants to remain open to all schools interested. He wasn't able to take any visits during the football season, but he does have trips to Alabama, Tennessee and South Alabama already set up for next summer. Cameron is very athletic and agile for an offensive tackle, and also an NUC alum that has the frame and potential to turn into an All-American type lineman at the collegiate football level. NUC Status: Atlanta Beat the Heat (OL MVP), Ultimate 100/Atlanta (OL MVP), Top Prospect Camp/Oklahoma (2013 OL MVP)
- 2012 RB Gary Holmes (Loxahatchee, FL/Seminole Ridge HS) is a fast and elusive runner who has had the interest of several high major football programs for a while now, but those schools have been reluctant on extending official offers. Holmes currently has offers from Middle Tennessee State and Western Michigan with interest coming from Indiana, Cincinnati and Ball State. He would like to see more schools send him offers, but he is perfectly fine with the schools he has already and he has plans to see both his offered schools for official visits in January. Gary has visits set for January 22nd with Western Michigan and then the following weekend with Middle Tennessee State. He claims that he would like to make a decision very soon, and that a commitment could come after one of his visits is over. Gary holds both offered schools on equal ground right now and will have an open mind when he is on both official visits. More schools could come in an offer before he ends his process, but he seems satisfied with the two schools he currently has at the top of his list. 2011 Stats: 1,576 yards 25 Td's
- 2013 WR Jaron Dukes from Columbus, Ohio (Marion Franklin HS) is a big (6'5 197 lbs) and physical wide out who has the athleticism and hands to go up in the air for the ball and be able to come down with the pass with defenders draped all over him. Jaron has massive potential for the collegiate football game, and so far he has been able to receive his first offer from Toledo University with bigger schools picking up their recruitments. Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Boston College, Cincinnati, Wisconsin, Indiana, Syracuse, West Virginia and Akron are the schools currently pursuing Dukes, and according to him Ohio State is recruiting him hard and could be his next offer. Jaron is a big fan of the Buckeyes and new Head Coach Urban Meyer and if an offer came from them he would seriously consider a commitment. Michigan State and Cincinnati are two others that seem to be real interested in Dukes and could turn out to be offers as well. Jaron is a high character young man who loves his family and support he receives from the community, so staying close to home to play his college ball is very important to him. He has no plans right now to take any visits. Jaron wants to enjoy his recruitment and keep an open mind to all schools interested in his abilities. 2011 Stats: 36 catches 667 yards 7 Td's
- 2012 OLB Hakeem Chatman (Chicago, IL/Leo Catholic HS) is a fierce competitor on the football field who has a knack for being around the football and always seems to be in the right position to make a play on the ball. His talents have floated way under the radar and he has yet to receive an offer from a Division 1 football program. Hakeem has offers from Southern Illinois, Illinois State, North Dakota, Eastern Illinois, Western Illinois and Arizona Western Junior College, but he is receiving interest from the likes of Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, Ohio, Ball State, Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Morgan State and Arkansas Pine Bluff. Hakeem is perfectly fine with playing football on the Division II level and that's why he has official visits set up with Morgan State and Arkansas Pine Bluff along with Northern Illinois all in January. He is holding out hope that he can receive multiple Division 1 offers before he reaches the point where he has to make a college decision. Hakeem is a confident young man who believes in his abilities and he thinks he has what it takes to play on the highest level of college football. He plans to stay uncommitted all the way until Signing Day and possibly beyond before he signs his name to a college letter of intent. 2011 Stats: 76 tackles 6 sacks 5 forced fumbles
- 2013 RB Brandon Moore from Jeffersonville, Indiana plays for St. Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky and he is an elusive and electrifying tailback who plays with tremendous passion and speed for his size (5'8 170lbs) and his height never hampers him from his desire to win at all costs. Brandon has excellent vision when finding the hole in the offensive line, and he uses his height to his advantage because he is able to sneak through the line untouched while being able to break tackles from bigger defenders. Brandon has yet to see his first college offer arrive, but he is being heavily pursued by several BCS programs. Indiana, Cincinnati, Louisville, West Virginia, Kentucky, Akron, Ball State and Western Kentucky all have interest in Moore's abilities and he believes his first offer could come from either Akron or Western Kentucky. He says those two schools are recruiting him the hardest at this time and he thinks an offer could come from either one very soon. Brandon has always had a dream of playing his college football close to home so his family could see him play as many times as they could. He holds Indiana, Cincinnati and Louisville in high regards and considers them his favorites at this time. Brandon is a football recruit who wouldn't like to drag out his recruitment as long as he could. He wants to make his decision as soon as possible so he doesn't have to mess with the process and he can just sit back and take care of his schoolwork as well as succeeding during his last year of high school football. 2011 Stats: (6 games) 676 yards 8 Td's
- 2012 Ath Treston Decoud from Mandeville, Louisiana (Lakeshore HS) is an athlete who has the size, intelligence and skill level that college coaches look for in a college prospect, but you wouldn't think that when you look at his offer sheet. Standing at 6'2 194lbs, Decoud is a versatile and athletic football player who could contribute on both sides of the ball for a college team, and at this time he only has one official offer from Division III school Chadron State University. He has been patiently waiting for interest to arrive from bigger named programs, and that patience could finally be paying off. Treston has recently received new interest from Nebraska, Louisiana Tech and Louisiana Lafayette with a coach from Nebraska expected to make an in-home visit after the dead period has been lifted in January. He is excited about that visit and he hopes an offer could come from it, and if it did he would commit on the spot. Treston is also hoping that more schools become interested as they are able to evaluate is senior film. He is looking for a shot to play on the D1 football level and he is hoping that a chance could come his way very soon. 2011 Stats: (Offense) 27 catches 534 yards 7 Td's (Defense) 45 tackles 5 Int's (3 returned for Td's) 2 forced fumbles 1 punt returned for TD
Other News & Notes
- 2012 RB KeiVarae Russell (Everett HS, Wa) committed to Notre Dame University on Wednesday over offers from Washington, California, Stanford and USC. KeiVarae is an elite offensive prospect who should be an early contributor for the Irish starting in 2013.
- 2012 DT Jamil Pollard (Westville, NJ/West Depford HS) became the first player to give his commitment to Penn State University on Wednesday after the coaching change and events that transpired a few months ago. Jamil choose the Nittney Lions over offers from Rutgers, Oregon and Florida. Big time pickup for Penn State and the future of their defensive line.
- 2012 OG Cedrick Poutasi (Las Vegas, Nv/Desert Pines HS) gave his commitment Wednesday night to the Utah Utes over offers from Stanford, Oregon and Washington. Cedrick is a strong and powerful offensive lineman who fits the style of play that they play in Salt Lake City, Utah. Great pickup for the Utes.
- 2012 OG Brandon Fainaka (Pleasant Grove HS, Ut) committed to Stanford University on Wednesday night over offers from Utah, California, Washington and Colorado, Brandon is a versatile lineman who could play multiple positions along the offensive line in college for the Cardinal of Stanford.
- 2013 CB/S Cole Luke from Chandler, Arizona (Hamilton HS) received his first official offer on Wednesday from the Purdue Boilermakers. Cole is also receiving interest from Arizona State, Michigan State, Duke, Oregon and Colorado. Cole is a big time talent who should see his offer sheet grow as we head into the spring.
