It's official: Davonte Neal is not showing up to this press conference.
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2012 NCAA Recruiting: Davonte Neal Withdraws From High School
After missing his own commitment announcement, top Notre Dome recruit Davonte Neal has now suddenly withdrawn from high school.
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- over 1 year ago
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Notre Dame Football Recruiting: Davonte Neal Transferring To A Different High School
Davonte Neal's recruiting saga has taken some strange turns in recent weeks, and now the wide receiver, who is committed to Notre Dame, has announced that he is transferring to a different high school in the final semester of his senior year.
Luke Neal, the four-star recruit's father told IrishIllustrated.com that Neal is transferring to a Phoenix high school and will graduate on time this spring. Luke Neal also indicated that Notre Dame officials already had spoken with Neal's high school guidance counselor.
Related: Notre Dame Recruiting: Davonte Neal Commits To Fighting Irish
The timing is unusual, but none of the parties involved appear to be worried about Neal's academics. In a comment to the South Bend Tribune, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said, "[Neal]'s going to have his academics taken care of, and that's really the most important things for us."
For the latest information on Notre Dame Fighting Irish football recruiting, be sure to check out One Foot Down. SB Nation's recruiting hub will keep you updated on everything else happening in the world of major college football recruiting.
- over 1 year ago
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Notre Dame Recruiting: Davonte Neal Withdraws From High School
The unusual story of top college football recruit Davonte Neal continues to grow. According to The Arizona Republic, Neal has withdrawn from his high school in the midst of his final semester at Scottsdale Chaparral High.
Neal, a highly-valued athlete recruit who played wider receiver and cornerback in high school, generated no little press last Tuesday when he missed a press conference at his former elementary school. The senior was expected to announce his commitment at the press conference, but showed up late and apologized to the children and school afterwards. Neal has since committed to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, but the latest curiosity may impede those plans.
Neal must finish his high school education before being able to attend Notre Dame, so he must either transfer to a different school, acquire a GED or execute some other means in order to become eligible to attend Notre Dame.
For the latest information on Notre Dame Fighting Irish football recruiting, be sure to check out One Foot Down. SB Nation's recruiting hub will keep you updated on everything else going down on the wildest day of college football's off-season.
- over 1 year ago
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Notre Dame Recruiting: Davonte Neal Commits To Fighting Irish
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team just got another young upgrade on Monday afternoon. According Bud Elliot of SB Nation College Recruiting, the Fighting Irish have received a commitment from athlete recruit Davonte Neal.
Neal had been considering both the Fighting Irish and the Arizona Wildcats, but waited to announce his decision until Tuesday afternoon, despite a planned press conference earlier in the day. Neal joins a strong recruitment class that inludes QB Gunner Kiel and RB William Mahone, five and four star prospect respectively.
The Irish finished the 2011 NCAA football season with an 8-5 record and lost to the Florida St. Seminoles in the 2011 Champs Sports Bowl, 18-14.
For the latest information on Notre Dame Fighting Irish football recruiting, be sure to check out One Foot Down. SB Nation's recruiting hub will keep you updated on everything else going down on the wildest day of college football's off-season.
- over 1 year ago
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Notre Dame Recruiting: Davonte Neal Skips Out On Press Conference, Still Undecided Between Arizona and Notre Dame
Four-star wide receiver and football recruit Davonte Neal was expected to announce his decision between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Arizona Wildcats on Tuesday, but he never showed up to his own press conference held at his former elementary school. Everyone waited with baited breath for Neal to show up well beyond the 10 a.m. CST start time, but after nearly an hour it became clear that he wouldn't show.
Notre Dame already received commitments, from five-star quarterback Gunner Keil and four star running back William Mahone, but they could still use a top wide receiver to fill the void left by senior WR Michael Floyd, who is preparing for the 2012 NFL Draft.
For the latest information on Notre Dame Fighting Irish football recruiting, be sure to check out One Foot Down. SB Nation's recruiting hub will keep you updated on everything else going down on the wildest day of college football's off-season.
- over 1 year ago
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Notre Dame Considering Waiver For USC Transfer RB Amir Carlisle To Play In 2012, According To Report
Former USC running back Amir Carlisle announce his transfer to Notre Dame back in January, after he ran for just 118 yards on 19 carries in the 2011 season. The Notre Dame campus is only 95 miles from where Carlisle's father currently works, so the move is at least partially about getting close to family, but ultimately it is about getting on the field and proving what he can do. The transfer from USC to Notre Dame would make Carlisle ineligible to play in 2012 at the moment, but Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune is reporting that Notre Dame is considering whether they should file a petition with the NCAA to allow Carlisle to get on the field in 2012.
As for how the process would work, the student-athlete would have to present a case to the NCAA as to why playing immediately would be beneficial, and waiver is usually denied if it is determined the transfer was motivated by a clash with coaches or a coaching change. Andy Katz of ESPN covered the waiver process for transfers in great detail last year and pulled out this quote from the NCAA Director of Academic Membership Affairs, Brad Hostetter, to shed some light on how the NCAA approaches the issue:
"The one thing from our perspective is that it's not my place or our place to judge what is in the best interest for that student-athlete at that particular time given their set of circumstances. We try to evaluate what the motivation for the transfer is and allow them to state their case why playing immediately is in their best interest and in the family's best interest at that time."
The entire process is still very opaque and, as Katz points out, it leaves the NCAA open to criticism for not being clear or consistent in application of the rules.
For the latest information on Notre Dame Fighting Irish football, be sure to check out One Foot Down. SB Nation's recruiting hub will keep you updated on everything else going down in college football's off-season.
- over 1 year ago
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Notre Dame Football Recruiting: Top Recruit WR Davonte Neal Considering Fighting Irish
According to the Daily Wildcat, top college football recruit Davonte Neal will announce his college decision on Tuesday, Feb. 21. The four star wide receiver recruit is apparently considering the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Arkansas Razorbacks, North Carolina Tar Heels and the Arizona Wildcats.
Neal visited the Notre Dame campus in December of 2011, and he sports a 4.4-seconds 40-yard dash and a 35-inch vertical. In his senior year at high school, Neal rushed for 1317 yards and had 1113 receiving yards.
Notre Dame already has an impressive array of commitments, from five-star quarterback Gunner Keil to four star running back William Mahone. The Fighting Irish's top receiver in 2011 was senior WR Michael Floyd, who is expected to be a top pick in the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft.
For the latest information on Notre Dame Fighting Irish football recruiting, be sure to check out One Foot Down. SB Nation's recruiting hub will keep you updated on everything else going down on the wildest day of college football's off-season.
- over 1 year ago
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Jordan Diamond Recruiting Update: Chicago-Area OT Chooses Auburn Tigers
The SEC once again got richer at the expense of the Big 10 on Friday night after Chicago-based OT Jordan Diamond spurned some Big 10 powers in order to go south and play for the Auburn Tigers. Diamond, who is considered a four-star prospect by the major recruiting services, chose Auburn over the likes of the Michigan Wolverines and Wisconsin Badgers, as well as the Arkansas Razorbacks.
- over 1 year ago
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Northwestern Football Recruiting: D-Linemen Greg Kuhar, Ifeadi Odenigbo Lead Wildcats Recruiting Class
Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald was a great linebacker for the Wildcats during his playing days, so it's no surprise to see him focus his recruiting efforts on the defense. Northwestern has 21 players already verbally committed before National Signing Day on Wednesday, a class led by defensive tackle Greg Kuhar and defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo.
Each defender is a four-star prospect hailing from Ohio. Kuhar, from St. Edward High School, is 6'3 and 265 lbs. Odenigbo attended Centerville High School and is 6'4, 210 lbs. The pair adds some high-upside size to Northwestern's front-four.
From Rivals, here's a complete list of players verbally committed to the Wildcats.
For more on this story, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more news from around the Big 10 Conference, be sure to visit Off Tackle Empire. For more from around college football recruiting, visit SB Nation's recruiting hub.
- over 1 year ago
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Notre Dame Football Recruiting: A List Prospects Verbally Committed To The Irish
Notre Dame scored one of the biggest recruits in the country when it secured a committment from Indiana-bred quarterback Gunner Kiel. Kiel is a five-star recruit, a 6'4, 220 lbs. QB who had previously given verbals to Indiana and LSU. Kiel is one of three Notre Dame recruits to already sign his Letter of Intent. Defensive tackle Sheldon Day, a four-star prospect out of Indianapolis, and defensive back Tee Shepard, a 6'1 corner from Fresno, California, are the other two.
A host of prospects are set to officially join Notre Dame today in what's shaping up to be another solid class for head coach Brian Kelly. Here's a list of four-star recruits that have already given the Irish verbal commitments, via Rivals.
For the latest information on Notre Dame Fighting Irish football recruiting, be sure to check out One Foot Down. SB Nation's recruiting hub will keep you updated on everything else going down on the wildest day of college football's off-season.
- over 1 year ago
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Illinois Football Recruiting 2012: Illini Hope To Finish Strong On National Signing Day
The challenge for new head coach Tim Beckman, as it is for most in his situation, is to keep as much of the current class intact as possible while also making up ground on the recruiting trail and building on the class where it is still lacking. Beckman and his staff have earned several commitments since taking over the coaching duties, and they may not be finished just yet.
Related: Illinois Football Recruiting: RB Devin Church Switches Commitment From Northern Illinois To Illini
One prospect they would like to add to their 2012 class on national signing day is offensive lineman Johnny Caspers, who was a Stanford commitment at one time. Caspers, a three-star prospect according to Rivals.com, visited Illinois recently and earned a scholarship offer.
As for the prospects currently on board, they are listed below:
| Name | Pos | Location | Ht | Wt | Star Rating | Rivals Rating | Committed | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BJ Bello | DB | New Lenox, IL | 6'2" | 205 | 2 stars | 5.4 | 1/29/12 | ||
| Mike Svetina | LB | Brunswick, OH | 6'2" | 220 | 3 stars | 5.5 | 1/29/12 | ||
| Devin Church | RB | Southfield, MI | 5'8" | 175 | 3 stars | 5.6 | 1/22/12 | ||
| Justin Hardee | ATH | Cleveland, OH | 6'1" | 185 | 2 stars | 5.4 | 1/22/12 | ||
| Jevaris Little | DB | St. Petersburg, FL | 6'1" | 180 | 3 stars | 5.5 | 1/22/12 | ||
| T.J. Neal | LB | McKeesport, PA | 6'1" | 225 | 3 stars | 5.7 | 1/15/12 | ||
| Teko Powell | DT | Miami, FL | 6'2" | 285 | 3 stars | 5.6 | 1/5/12 | ||
| Ryan Frain | K | Indianapolis, IN | 6'1" | 210 | 2 stars | 5.3 | 12/21/11 | ||
| Mason Monheim | LB | Orrville, OH | 6'1" | 215 | 3 stars | 5.5 | 12/19/11 | ||
| Dami Ayoola | RB | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | 5'10" | 201 | 3 stars | 5.7 | 11/24/11 | ||
| Robbie Bain | OL | Bolingbrook, IL | 6'3" | 300 | 3 stars | 5.6 | 11/16/11 | ||
| Vontrell Williams | DT | Chicago, IL | 6'2" | 275 | 3 stars | 5.7 | 9/16/11 | ||
| Taylor Barton | DB | Orlando, FL | 6'1" | 200 | 3 stars | 5.5 | 8/7/11 | ||
| Joey Warburg | OL | Louisville, KY | 6'5" | 255 | 3 stars | 5.5 | 7/24/11 | ||
| Joseph Spencer | OL | Mason, OH | 6'4" | 270 | 3 stars | 5.7 | 7/14/11 | ||
| TaJarvis Fuller | DB | Fort Myers, FL | 6'1" | 185 | 3 stars | 5.6 | 6/15/11 | ||
| Jason Robertson | WR | Mokena, IL | 6'1" | 185 | 2 stars | 5.4 | 5/12/11 | ||
| Elliot Faerber | WR | Shawnee Mission, KS | 6'5" | 208 | 3 stars | 5.5 | 3/16/11 |
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago, and for more in-depth Illinois recruiting coverage, visit Hail to the Orange. Click on the link for more on National Signing Day 2012.
- over 1 year ago
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Ronald Darby Recruiting Update: CB Will Choose Between Notre Dame, Florida State, Clemson And Auburn On Wednesday
Ronald Darby, a 5'11" 176-pound defensive back from Maryland, is all set to announce his college destination on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU. Darby, a former Notre Dame commitment, is expected to choose between the Irish, Florida State, Clemson and Auburn.
Related: Ronald Darby Decommits From Notre Dame, Will Visit Clemson And Florida State
SB Nation's national recruiting analyst, Bud Elliott, says that Florida State's track program could prove a trump card in the quest for the speedster's services:
Darby is perhaps the second fastest recruit in this recruiting cycle. The fastest, of course, is Florida State's Marvin Bracy; an Olympic hopeful. Bracy heavily recrutied Darby during the Under Armour All-America Game, and persuaded him to visit Florida State. Florida State's track program is thought to be a major attraction to Darby. None of his other three finalists have an elite track program.
Darby is a 4-star recruit as rated by Rivals.com, and the No. 68 prospect in the class of 2012.
For recruiting updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Notre Dame football recruiting, visit One Foot Down. And for more comprehensive national signing day coverage, be sure to check out SB Nation's recruiting hub.
- over 1 year ago
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Nelson Agholor Recruiting Announcement Time, TV Schedule And More
One of the top recruits of the 2012 recruiting class may be coming to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Nelson Agholor, a four-star prospect out of Tampa Florida, may be playing wide receiver for the Irish in 2012. After a highly anticipated recruiting period, Agholor is believed to be deciding between Notre Dame, Florida, Florida State, Oklahoma and USC.
The 6"2', 180 lbs wide receiver was recently rated as the No. 19 recruit in the nation and the No. 3 overall wide receiver available in the signing class. Agholor ran one of the top 40-yard dash times of the 2012 class, running a 4.59.
With National Signing Day on Wednesday, the Irish faithful will wait with baited breath at their chance of adding a top offensive threat to a team that ranked 35th in total offense in 2011. Tune it to watch the announcement live:
Time: 11:05 AM CST
TV: ESPNU
For updates on recruiting, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more on the biggest recruiting stories of the year, keep track of SB Nation's college football recruiting section.
- over 1 year ago
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2012 National Signing Day Announcement Times Schedule
The big day for college football programs around the country is Wednesday, Feb. 1: national signing day. Many of the nation's top undeclared prospects will not only make a decision on Wednesday, but do so on television. ESPNU will air many of those commitments; here is their signing day TV schedule (all times eastern):
DE Mario Edwards (No. 1 ranked prospect in ESPNU 150): 9:05 a.m.
OLB Josh Harvey-Clemons (No. 17): 9:15 a.m.
CB Tracy Howard (No. 18): 9:35 a.m.
DT Eddie Goldman (No. 10): 10:05 a.m.
WR Dorial Green-Beckham (No. 3): 10:15 a.m.
OLB Kwon Alexander (No. 29): 11:05 a.m.
S Trae Elston (No. 10 safety): 11:05 a.m.
WR Nelson Agholor (No. 47): 12:05 p.m.
WR Thomas Johnson (No. 33): 12:20 p.m.
OT Andrus Peat (No. 9): 1:35 p.m.
OT Avery Young (No. 61): 2 p.m.
CB Ronald Darby (No. 38) 2:30 p.m.
Notre Dame is one of the finalists for Darby, who was once committed to the Irish. Notre Dame fans also will want to keep an eye on Ken Ekanem's announcement, which will air at this link at about 9:00 a.m. ET. Ekanem, a four-star prospect as rated by Rivals.com, is choosing between the Irish and Virginia Tech.
For recruiting updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Notre Dame football recruiting, visit One Foot Down. And for more comprehensive national signing day coverage, be sure to check out SB Nation's recruiting hub.
- over 1 year ago
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Jordan Diamond To Announce College Destination Feb. 3
Simeon High School offensive lineman Jordan Diamond is one of the more highly sought-after prospects in the country, and now that he has finished up with official visits, it's just about decision time.
Related: National Signing Day 2012: Jordan Diamond Visits Arkansas, Could Decide Soon
According to ESPN Chicago, Diamond will announce his college choice on Feb. 3 -- two days after national signing day -- along with one of his teammates.
The 6-6, 290-pound Diamond will choose between Arkansas, Auburn, Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin, according to Culbreath. Diamond is the 10th-ranked offensive tackle in the country.
"He's been visiting each one of the schools, trying to find the best place for him," [Simeon High coach] Culbreath said.
Diamond is expected to choose between Michigan, Auburn, Arkansas and Wisconsin.
For updates on recruiting, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more on the biggest recruiting stories of the year, keep track of SB Nation's college football recruiting section.
- over 1 year ago
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National Signing Day 2012: Jordan Diamond Visits Arkansas, Could Decide Soon
The top football recruit coming out of the Chicago, Illinois -- offensive tackle Jordan Diamond -- may be leaning towards signing with the Arkansas Razorbacks college football teams.
According to a recent HawgSports.com interview, Diamond's visit to the university last Friday went rather well:
"I got a very strong and positive vibe about the whole campus itself, and [the recruits] really liked it," [fellow recruit Cordale Boyd] said. "Especially Jordan, he said he really liked it. And DGB, he liked it too. We have a good chance of nabbing both of them I would think. I hope they come on and Call the Hogs."
With February and the 2012 National Signing day just around the corner, Diamond is likely to announce a commitment rather soon. The 6'6", 289 lbs. lineman is rated as a 4- or 5-star lineman prospect and considered one of the nations top recruits.
Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more updates on Jordan Diamond and the 2012 National Signing Day. For more updates and analysis on the Arkansas Razorbacks, head over to Arkansas Expats.
- over 1 year ago
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Illinois Football Recruiting: RB Devin Church Switches Commitment From Northern Illinois To Illini
Class of 2012 running back prospect Devin Church reconsidered his commitment to Northern Illinois and decided to switch his allegiance to Illinois, citing the desire to play "at a bigger stage."
"When I committed to Northern Illinois, I fell in love with it," Church said on Monday. "Then, I started thinking I could play at a bigger stage. I always knew I could. I’ll get that opportunity now, and it’s on me.
Church is rated a three-star prospect by Rivals.com and a two-star prospect by ESPN. He held offers from Boston College, Toledo and Bowling Green in addition to Illinois and NIU.
Church ran for 1,923 yards and 23 touchdowns in high school last season, helping his team to a state championship.
For more on the FIghting Illini, head over to Hail to the Orange. For updates on recruiting, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more on the biggest recruiting stories of the year, keep track of SB Nation's college football recruiting section.
- over 1 year ago
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Gunner Keil Enrolls At Notre Dame, Leaves LSU
According to the Chicago Tribune, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have enrolled freshman quarterback and top quarterback prospect Gunner Kiel.
Kiel had initially committed to the Indiana Hoosiers but decommitted in late 2011. He then switched to the LSU Tigers where he planned to enroll early, but has instead returned to his home state, Indiana, enrolling early with the Fighting Irish.
Related: LSU Recruiting Scouting Report: How Good Is Gunner Kiel?
Gunner Kiel joins fellow top recruit Elijah Shumate as members of an increasingly impressive 2012 class of recruits. According to Rivals.com, Kiel rates as a five-star quarterback who features pro-style skills (drop back and pass). Shumate rates as a four-star safety/linebacker prospect.
For updates on recruiting, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more on the biggest recruiting stories of the year, keep track of SB Nation's college football recruiting section. For more on Notre Dame, check out the Fighting Irish blog One Foot Down.
- over 1 year ago
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Jordan Diamond Takes An Official Visit To Michigan
As if college coaches around the country didn't already know, Simeon offensive tackle Jordan Diamond earned another accolade this week to prove he's one of the top high school football prospects in America. Diamond was named to the 53-member Parade All-American team on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the high school senior took his official visit to Ann Arbor.
Michigan is a trendy pick to win the services of the 6'6 tackle, if only because Diamond's former high school teammate Chris Bryant is already slated to become a Wolverine in the fall. The trip to Michigan is the third official visit for Diamond, to previously took trips to Ohio State (12/09) and Auburn (12/16). Diamond has visits scheduled to Wisconsin (1/27) and Arkansas (1/20) in the coming weekends.
ESPN reports that Jeff Hecklinski, a wide receiver coach on Brady Hoke's staff, was the head recruiter for Diamond's trip. Yahoo! likens the Simeon product to one one-time NFL first round draft pick Jeff Otah.
- over 1 year ago
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Jordan Diamond, College Football Recruiting: Offensive Lineman Selected To Parade All-America Team
Highly sought after offensive line prospect Jordan Diamond has been named to the 2012 Parade All-America Team:
Simeon's Jordan Diamond was one of 53 players selected to the 2012 Parade All-America Team. The team has been selected each season since 1963, and included several future Heisman Trophy winners and NFL stars.
Diamond, a four star prospect as rated by Rivals.com, is choosing between Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arkansas and Auburn for college. He is scheduled to visit Arkansas on Jan. 20 and Wisconsin on Jan. 27 before making a decision. He already has taken visits to Ohio State and Auburn.
He has received scholarship offers from at least 21 BCS programs.
For updates on recruiting, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more on the biggest recruiting stories of the year, keep track of SB Nation's college football recruiting section.
- over 1 year ago
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College Football Recruiting 2012: Ifeadi Odenigbo Commits To Northwestern
The University of Northwestern secured one of its most impressive recruits on Saturday when defensive end/linebacker Ifeadi Odenigbo committed to playing for the Wildcats. Odenigbo, who is 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds, played football at Centersville High School in Ohio.
Ranked as the No. 50 recruit in the entire nation by ESPN, Odenigbo is one of the most impressive players ever recruited by Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald. Considered the fourth-best defensive end prospect in the nation and the top prospect from Ohio, Odenigbo hopes that his presence can improve the school's recruiting efforts. As Odenigbo told Scott Powers of ESPN Chicago:
By me committing there, I hope I can attract more big-time recruits. That's the plan because it only takes one guy.
Northwestern traditionally hasn't been a major player for most elite football recruits given the school's substantial academic expectations and lacklaster on-field performance historically, but the program has made strides in recent years. Odenigbo is the second player rated on ESPN's 150 top recruiting prospects list to commit to Northwestern in the past two years.
For updates on recruiting, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more on the biggest recruiting stories of the year, keep track of SB Nation's college football recruiting section. For more on the Wildcats, check out Sippin' On Purple, SB Nation's Northwestern Wildcats blog.
- over 1 year ago
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Notre Dame Recruiting Update: Elijah Shumate Commits To Fighting Irish
Elijah Shumate committed to Notre Dame at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl
- over 1 year ago
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College Football Recruiting 2012: Teko Powell Commits To Illinois
Defensive tackle Teko Powell, one of the top prospects in the Class of 2012, committed to play football at Illinois on Thursday. Powell was originally recruited by former Fighting Illini head coach Ron Zook, but he maintained his interest in the school after meeting with new head coach Tim Beckman recently.
Even though their last coach had recruited me, I still liked them. I made a connection with their coaches and D-linemen. I like that I can come in and be a part of the rotation as a freshman, so that was kind of a good to me.
The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Powell was heavily recruited throughout the country. After playing his high school football in Miami, Florida, he received major interest from that area. Beyond Illinois, he received offers from Florida, Florida State, LSU, Wisconsin and Louisville, among others.
For updates on recruiting, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more on the biggest recruiting stories of the year, keep track of SB Nation's college football recruiting section.
- over 1 year ago
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Jordan Diamond, College Football Recruiting: Arkansas And Wisconsin Have January Visits Scheduled With Star OL
Jordan Diamond, an offensive tackle prospect from Simeon High School rated as the sixth best prospect in the state of Illinois by Rivals.com, has already made official visits with the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Auburn Tigers, but is now preparing for two January visits with the Wisconsin Badgers and the Arkansas Razorbacks. The visit with Arkansas is scheduled for January 20th, while the trip to Madison, WI is slated for exactly one week later.
Diamond has been very guarded about revealing his preference up to this point, stressing the importance of making all of his official visits before arriving at a decision, so every next visit may be his most important one. National Signing Day is set for Feb. 1, 2012, so there is a very real possibility Diamond could finish up his visit with Wisconsin less than one week before signing day without knowing where he will ultimately wind up. It should be fun to track how the visits develop over the next month.
For updates on recruiting, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more on the biggest recruiting stories of the year, keep track of SB Nation's college football recruiting section.
- over 1 year ago
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Jordan Diamond, College Football Recruiting: Offensive Lineman Has Made 2 Official Visits, Does Not Have A Leader
Offensive tackle prospect Jordan Diamond has made official visits to Ohio State and Auburn, and he also plans to visit Michigan, Arkansas and Wisconsin ahead of national signing day 2012. When asked which school he might be favoring at this point, Diamond did not tip his hand:
"Everybody is even," Diamond said. "I'm just planning it out and taking all my officials. I don't really want to rate a school; that's not my style. Everybody is even until I make a decision."
The Simeon High School product is rated as the sixth best prospect in the state of Illinois by Rivals.com. With his final visit set for Jan. 27, it should be a while before Diamond makes his college choice. Signing day is Feb. 1, 2012.
For updates on recruiting, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more on the biggest recruiting stories of the year, keep track of SB Nation's college football recruiting section.
- over 1 year ago
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College Football Recruiting: Jordan Diamond Visits Ohio State
Top offensive tackle prospect Jordan Diamond took an official visit to Ohio State this weekend.
Diamond was ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 7 overall player in Illinois as well as the No. 28 tackle in the entire country. Here's SB Nation's Bud Elliot on the type of prospect picked up by Gene Chizik and his staff:
For more on this story, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more news from around the Big 10 Conference, be sure to visit Off Tackle Empire. For more from around college football recruiting, visit SB Nation's recruiting hub.