College football commitments from around the country
April 2, 2012 by MaxPreps, AZPreps365
Now that the high school basketball season is over, that can mean only one thing: Football recruiting season again moves to the forefront.
Here are some recent recruiting tidbits from around the country:
* Arizona players generated some notable interest, according to the Arizona Republic. The newspaper reported that Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) cornerback Cole Luke has been offered a scholarship by Michigan, while Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.) receiver Jake Roh recently visited UCLA. Roh reportedly already has offers from Arizona, Duke and Oregon State.
* Schools are getting an early start on Christian Kirk of Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.). The freshman wide receiver already has offers from UCLA and Arizona State, according to the East Valley Tribune. Kirk was selected to the MaxPreps Freshman All-American Team after catching 34 passes for 589 yards and six TDs last season.
* Gerald Turner, a 6-foot, 250-pound lineman from Goose Creek (S.C.), has committed to play at South Carolina. The Post and Courier reported the state's Division II-AAAA Defensive Player of the Year also received interest from Clemson, Georgia and North Carolina.
* Another lineman drawing significant attention is Ebenezer Ogundeko (6-4, 220). According to the New York Post, the Jefferson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) defensive end has received 13 scholarship offers from BCS programs after notching 79 tackles and 11 sacks last season. The paper reported he committed to Connecticut in late February but has since reopened his recruitment after drawing additional offers from Arizona State, Boise State, Florida, Maryland, Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers, Stanford, Texas A&M, Syracuse and Vanderbilt.
* Ezekiel Elliott, considered perhaps the top prospect in St. Louis, committed to Ohio State, making the announcement on his Facebook and Twitter pages. According to StLtoday.com, the 6-foot, 200-pound running back from Burroughs (St. Louis) chose the Buckeyes from among 20 offers, which included Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Penn State, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Elliott rushed for 1,802 yards and 34 TDs, while also making 23 receptions for an additional 401 yards and six TDs last season.
* The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported the Norcross (Ga.) cornerback Shon Akins committed to California after receiving a surprise offer from the Pac-12 school.
"From what I've heard, my dad was putting film out there on me," Akins told the newspaper. "The Cal coaches happened to go over my film and they offered me. They were my first offer. I don't know how they found my film. My dad said he didn't send it directly to them … so I don't know how they got it. But they did. They offered, and I'm glad they did."
* Curtis Cothran, a defensive lineman from Council Rock North (Newtown, Pa.), has decided to stay in-state and play for Penn State, according to StateCollege.com. Cothran reportedly also had offers from Maryland and Rutgers.
Here are some recent recruiting tidbits from around the country:
* Arizona players generated some notable interest, according to the Arizona Republic. The newspaper reported that Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) cornerback Cole Luke has been offered a scholarship by Michigan, while Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.) receiver Jake Roh recently visited UCLA. Roh reportedly already has offers from Arizona, Duke and Oregon State.
* Schools are getting an early start on Christian Kirk of Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.). The freshman wide receiver already has offers from UCLA and Arizona State, according to the East Valley Tribune. Kirk was selected to the MaxPreps Freshman All-American Team after catching 34 passes for 589 yards and six TDs last season.
* Gerald Turner, a 6-foot, 250-pound lineman from Goose Creek (S.C.), has committed to play at South Carolina. The Post and Courier reported the state's Division II-AAAA Defensive Player of the Year also received interest from Clemson, Georgia and North Carolina.
* Another lineman drawing significant attention is Ebenezer Ogundeko (6-4, 220). According to the New York Post, the Jefferson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) defensive end has received 13 scholarship offers from BCS programs after notching 79 tackles and 11 sacks last season. The paper reported he committed to Connecticut in late February but has since reopened his recruitment after drawing additional offers from Arizona State, Boise State, Florida, Maryland, Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers, Stanford, Texas A&M, Syracuse and Vanderbilt.
* Ezekiel Elliott, considered perhaps the top prospect in St. Louis, committed to Ohio State, making the announcement on his Facebook and Twitter pages. According to StLtoday.com, the 6-foot, 200-pound running back from Burroughs (St. Louis) chose the Buckeyes from among 20 offers, which included Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Penn State, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Elliott rushed for 1,802 yards and 34 TDs, while also making 23 receptions for an additional 401 yards and six TDs last season.
* The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported the Norcross (Ga.) cornerback Shon Akins committed to California after receiving a surprise offer from the Pac-12 school.
"From what I've heard, my dad was putting film out there on me," Akins told the newspaper. "The Cal coaches happened to go over my film and they offered me. They were my first offer. I don't know how they found my film. My dad said he didn't send it directly to them … so I don't know how they got it. But they did. They offered, and I'm glad they did."
* Curtis Cothran, a defensive lineman from Council Rock North (Newtown, Pa.), has decided to stay in-state and play for Penn State, according to StateCollege.com. Cothran reportedly also had offers from Maryland and Rutgers.
