Monday Mailbag | April 12th

By Charles Drake | 4/12/10 | Email

1. ND feels really good about Bubba Starling but I have no idea who the main competition would be, could you help me out there?
-wicket

Notre Dame should feel really good about it's chances right now and wherever Starling ends up will be getting him for baseball as well, so that's going to be a huge factor. Golden Tate and Jeff Samardzija playing both sports at Notre Dame really hit home with Starling on his visit up to South Bend and ND football coaches made a point of driving that fact home by having Bubba meet the entire baseball staff.

As for main competition.. Three schools come to mind. Nebraska, Alabama, and Kansas. Bubba is very close with both Head Coach Turner Gill and Offensive Coordinator Chuck Long at KU and they were one of the first schools to show the QB out of Gardner, Kansas some love. Alabama is a school every player right row would love to get an offer from, so you can't count the Tide out if they decide to pursue harder. Nebraska is a place that's not too far away from home and the NU staff has made Starling a priority while pitching the baseball program and academics.

A dark-horse or two will probably offer a bit late and Miami(FL) could still have a say in the Starling sweepstakes, but for now, he looks Irish.



2. Early projections for the following players?

Christian Lemay
Nick Marshall
Ray Drew
Jajuan Story
Max Wittek
Rashad Greene
Hakeem Flowers
Curt Maggitt
Tony Steward
Ishaq Williams
-NoleThruandThru


Christian Lemay
During a Spring Break tour last week he visited what I would consider his top three in Clemson, Georgia, and Auburn. All three schools are pitching the values and ethics that Lemay and his family want in a school.

At this point, I think it's between Georgia and Clemson due to their strict pro-style offenses and the level both schools staffs have connected with the Lemay family in regards to faith, family, and religion. I have Clemson out in front with UGA second and AU third. Florida is a team to watch if they decide to pursue again, but I personally think that ship has sailed.

Early Projection: Clemson

Nick Marshall
The very talented QB from Wilcox County in Georgia is a tough one to call this early simply because he really hasn't gotten into the recruiting process in-depth due to his personal dislike for the recruiting process and his basketball duties.

Georgia Tech, Georgia, and Florida State look like the top three right now and I think it's either FSU or UGA. His cousin, whom he's very close to, Lonnie Outlaw, is a UGA signee, but Outlaw has two years of Junior College before he even thinks about Athens, so not sure how much that plays in. Florida State has had very good success in Southern Georgia and has made Marshall a top priority.

Don't discount the basketball aspect of Marshall's decision either. He's been offered to play both sports at many schools and he's a fantastic guard in high school (averaging 27 PPG).

At the end of the day, it's Florida State needing a QB more than UGA in this cycle and the recent success of the FSU basketball that pulls Marshall south to Tallahassee.

Early Projection: Florida State

Ray Drew
You hear a lot of differing opinions on where Drew is leaning when talking to people close to the recruiting business, and Drew himself isn't tipping his hand. I still think eight schools have a shot here: Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Tennessee.

During this past week he made stops at South Carolina, Clemson, Tennessee, Auburn, and Florida. He got to see all the schools, sat down with coaches, and came away impressed with each on different levels.

To me, the biggest factors leading up to Drew's decision will be the position coach, family environment, and playing time - in that order. Kevin Steele at Clemson and Tracy Rocker at Auburn, in my opinion, have done the best job thus far of cultivating an early relationship with Drew. Family connections also have him looking hard at Clemson. Florida State, once thought to be in the lead, have fallen back a little bit and the duo of Jimbo Fisher/D.J. Eliot have some ground to make up.

The Drew commitment shouldn't come until late in the process; so many teams could maneuver their way to the top of his list, but for now I think it's Clemson.

Early Projection: Clemson

Ja'Juan Story
Story is another prospect that is tough to peg to one specific school because he really hasn't gotten into the recruiting process all out. He's up to 19 offers and Florida State, Ohio State, Maryland, and Texas Tech have piqued his interest just from corresponding with those coaching staffs.

His list could change drastically in the summer and fall after he takes some visits. Ohio State, West Virginia, Rutgers, Maryland, and Georgia Tech will all most likely get visits before the end of the fall. He's visited some in-state schools and been up to Florida State a couple times.

To date, he's a Florida State lean. His family loves Florida State and Ja'Juan himself has nothing but great things to say about Tallahassee and Jimbo Fisher.
Look for Story to hold off on his commitment until sometime in the Fall/Winter after he's taken some officials.

Early Projection: Florida State

Max Wittek
The rapidly progressing QB out of Mater Dei in California has offers from all over the country. Nebraska, UCLA, California, South Carolina, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, USC, Notre Dame, and Clemson to name a few.

He seems to be fairly close to a decision. With USC being right down the road and Matt Barkley likely headed to the NFL a year after Wittek steps on campus. An opportunity to compete for the starting spot against Jesse Scroggins as a redshirt freshman or true sophomore all while playing for a staff he calls "a lot of fun.", will be too much to pass up.

Early Projection: Southern California

Rashad Greene
The speedster from STA holds some impressive offers (Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Louisville, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Miami, Etc.).

Favorites through the process should be the three in-state schools and Georgia. Rashad is actually originally from Georgia and him heading out of state to Athens wouldn't be a huge stretch. That said, I think this comes down to Florida and Miami. I think his destination might actually come down to what happens with Kelvin Benjamin. If KB heads to Miami, Greene is most likely UF bound and vice versa.

Early Projection: Florida

Hakeem Flowers
Wide open... Really hard to get a feel for where Flowers is leaning. He has 40+ offers on the table as of now and doesn't appear to have anything close to a top 5. He really likes Alabama and Texas, but I don't see either of those programs taking him at this point.

Florida State, Oregon, Miami, LSU, Oklahoma, and Notre Dame are some schools he talks highly of, but honestly it's like throwing at a dart board and guessing right now. Florida State was his first offer and neither Clemson or South Carolina have offered, so I'll go FSU in a not so confident projection.

Early Projection: Florida State

Curt Maggitt
The All-State pass rusher from Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida appears to be a heavy Florida lean. Alabama, LSU, and Miami are trying their best to turn his head, but with the connections Dwyer has to UF and all the old high school teammates in Gainesville it's going to be tough.

About as close to a lock as you can get this early. All the Dwyer/UF connections and being a rush end in the UF system will be the determining factors at the end of the day.

Early Projection: Florida

Tony Steward
Probably going to be a late announcement (January/February) for Steward, but it's going to take a massive change somewhere for him not to end up in Tallahassee. He loves the city, staff, and tradition at FSU.

Florida, Miami, Clemson, Georgia, and South Carolina will all have their say with Tony before National Signing Day 2011, and those that follow recruiting know nothing is a sure thing, but this is close.

Early Projection: Florida State

Ishaq Williams
The 6'6", 225-pound DE/OLB/TE out of Brooklyn, New York is an interesting prospect. Definitely one of those national recruits that could end up anywhere in America.

Southern Cal, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Penn State, South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Syracuse all have his eye and more schools like Alabama, Florida, Maryland, Rutgers, West Virginia, and Ohio State are all recruiting Williams and have offered.

With very little confidence behind it at this point, I think Southern Cal and Penn State have the early lead.

Early Projection: Penn State




3. What are the schools you feel are shaking up to bring in the top 5 classes this year and who you expect to the headliners of those classes?
-- JoeyJr09


All of these schools will have a chance at a top 5 finish if things fall their way:

Alabama
Auburn
Texas
Ohio State
Florida
Miami
Florida State
Clemson
North Carolina
Georgia
LSU
Southern Cal
Notre Dame
Nebraska
Oklahoma


The seven schools right now as favorites for top five classes would be these:

 
Alabama
- Cyrus Kouandjio
- Brent Calloway
- Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix
- Isaiah Crowell
- Antonio Richardson

Texas
- Desmond Jackson
- Christian Westerman
- Josh Turner
- Malcolm Brown
- Leroy Scott

LSU
- Anthony Johnson
- La'el Collins
- Jermauria Rasco
- Greg Robinson
- Jarvis Landry

Southern Cal
- George Farmer
- Antwaun Woods
- DeAnthony Thomas
- Greg Townsend
- DeAnthony Arnett

Clemson
- Christian Lemay
- Jay Rome
- Mike Bellamy
- Stephone Anthony
- Charone Peake

Florida
- Tim Jernigan
- James Wilder
- Jeoffrey Pagan
- Kiaro Holts
- Norkeithus Otis

Ohio State

- Braxton Miller

- Michael Bennett

- Doran Grant

- Kenny Hayes

- Steve Miller


Thanks to everybody that submitted questions. If you would like to submit a question for next Monday's mailbag do so HERE .