SEC schools still big draw for NC prospects
Things have changed in North Carolina this year.
There are two new, high-profile college football coaches in the state and a third is coming off an ACC championship. But one thing hasn’t changed. The state is still a land of plenty for certain SEC programs.
The SEC might as well have a team in the state of North Carolina, because the conference has dominated the state recently. The most recent steal from is Charlotte (N.C.) Independence cornerback Makiri Pugh, who committed to Georgia on Friday.
Pugh continues a pipeline from the state’s most successful program to Athens, Ga., following quarterback Joe Cox and wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, who signed with Georgia in 2005. The Bulldogs also have a commitment from Fayetteville (N.C.) Terry Sanford tight end Dwayne Allen for the class of 2008.
Tennessee already has a commitment from Hickory, N.C., linebacker Austin Johnson this year, and the Vols have done damage in the past. In 2005, Tennessee signed quarterback Jonathan Crompton and athlete Montario Hardesty, both top 10 players in state.
And we can’t forget the Florida. The Gators stole Chris Leak out of state in 2003 and signed the top two players in North Carolina in 2006 when linebacker Brandon Spikes and Carl Johnson came on board.
However, South Carolina probably has been the biggest thorn in the side of North Carolina's four ACC teams. The Gamecocks signed four of the top 11 players in state last year, including the No. 1 player, wide receiver Chris Culliver. South Carolina has signed a top-10 player from North Carolina each year since 2004.
North Carolina’s Butch Davis, N.C. State’s Tom O’Brien and Wake Forest’s Jim Grobe have their work cut out for them.
North Carolina may be the heart of ACC country, but the SEC doesn’t seem to care.
East
Washington (Pa.) Trinity linebacker Andrew Sweat committed to Ohio State last week.
"The greatest thing that appealed to me was the people," Sweat said. "I wanted to pick the place that had the best people. I felt Ohio State had the best people."
Sweat is the first pure linebacker in OSU’s 2008 class. He is the ninth commitment for the Buckeyes this year and will help their recruiting efforts with fellow Keystone State standouts Terrelle Pryor and Shayne Hale. Sweat is in contact with both five-star prospects.
Central Islip (N.Y.) St. Anthony's defensive tackle Scott Vallone is narrowing his choices. The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder plans to take a couple more visits before deciding by the end of the month.
"I'm planning to go to Rutgers on the 10th," he said. "Then, I'm probably going to go to Boston College on the 16th. On those visits, I'm just going to be looking for the comfort level I have at both schools."
Vallone said he's down to six schools: Rutgers, Boston College, Virginia, Maryland, Syracuse and Connecticut.
"I like those schools because they all take football and academics seriously," he said. "I can say there are some schools that stick out amongst the list over the others, but I'd rather not say right now."
Word is that Rutgers and Boston College are the top two in this race, with the Scarlet Knights holding the edge.
Defensive tackle Christopher Palmer of Philadelphia (Pa.) St. John Neumann holds five offers. Three of the schools that have sent out scholarships are currently leading for the 6-foot-3, 300-pounder.
"I've got offers from West Virginia, N.C. State, Minnesota, Maryland and Colorado," he said. "I'd say West Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina State are the top ones for me.
"I like coach Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia. I've got a good relationship with him and my recruiter, Bill Kirelawich.
"I like North Carolina State's campus and my recruiter, Mike Reed from there. I also like my coach from Maryland, Coach (Bryan) Bossard. I went down to their camp, and it seems like a fun place to play.
"The thing with all of those coaches is that they stay in regular contact with me without being too aggressive. I'm thinking about taking official visits to those schools this fall."
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