October 20, 2009

Jeremy Crabtree
Recruiting Editor

Issac Dixon, a three-star outside linebacker from Opa Locka, Fla., is a great example. The 6-foot, 195-pounder turned down scholarship offers from Kansas State, Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, USF and Syracuse. While USF is much closer to home, he committed over the weekend to Oregon.

The distance from Opa Locka to Eugene?

More than 3,400 miles.

Encino (Calif.) Crespi three-star tight end Pierce Richardson also is heading to the other side of the country to play his college football. After an official visit to Iowa State this past weekend, Richardson, a 6-4, 230-pounder who ranks as the No. 31 tight end in the nation, committed to the Cyclones.

Richardson had offers from programs in the WAC and Mountain West, all of which are much closer to Los Angeles, but he said he felt at home in Ames, Iowa. His new home in Ames is almost 1,800 miles away from his current home in California.

"The offense is pretty identical to what we run in high school," Richardson said about his decision to commit to Iowa State. "They have more plays, of course, it's more complex, but it's pretty much the same. Sometimes I am a wing, sometimes I am a tight end and sometimes I am a receiver in my high school offense, and that's what Iowa State does with its tight ends. I like how they are using the tight end. It's a really good fit for me.

"I don't care how far it is away from home. It's going to be my new home now."

ARMY STRONG

The U.S. Army All-American Bowl will play its 10th anniversary game on Jan. 9 in San Antonio. So far the roster of announced players is one of the strongest groups of national prospects assembled, with all of the nation's top five players and eight of the top 10 playing in the game.

Over the past few days the Army roster was bolstered by the addition of the nation's No. 1 defensive tackle, Sharrif Floyd of Philadelphia George Washington, four-star Eugene (Ore.) South Eugene defensive end Gabe King, Eugene (Ore.) Sheldon four-star tight end Curtis White, Evanston (Ill.) Loyola Academy defensive end Chance Carter and Warner Robins, Ga., four-star defensive tackle Jeffrey Whitaker.

For King, the past few months have been a wild ride. He recently moved to South Eugene from North Carolina and will now represent the West squad instead of the East.

"Man, I'm just happy to have found a place to play," King said. "It is my senior year and my time to shine, so the opportunity for me to play is truly a blessing. This is something I have always wanted and even though I am out for a few weeks, I will be back to prove I belong.

"It truly is an honor. Like I said earlier, just to be able to play has been a blessing and being selected to play in this game with so many other elite players means a lot to me. A lot of people have questioned the way things have turned out, so when I get back I am going to show everyone what I am made of."

UKO ON HOLD FOR NOW

Chino (Calif.) Don Lugo four-star defensive tackle George Uko has said he's been teetering on making a commitment for the past few weeks, but he said on Tuesday he now plans to wait before announcing.

Uko said a decision likely will now come in January when he plays in an all-star game."

"I'll probably make my decision at the Under Armor All-American game," Uko said. "I kind of had an idea where I am leaning and probably going to. I just have to wait it out now and give some other schools a shot. The decision to wait doesn't affect this school and me at all."

For a while Uko has been leaning toward USC, but Oregon, Cal and Tennessee are also in the hunt.

GOOD RESULTS FOR NOTRE DAME

Even though the Irish lost to USC over the weekend, the talk from the slew of heralded recruits who visited South Bend, Ind., both officially and unofficially has been quite positive.

Tai-ler Jones of Gainesville, Ga., is the perfect example.

Jones, who had been previously committed to Stanford, switched his pledge to the Irish. Jones, the nation's No. 16 receiver and No. 121 player overall, said the decision was a tough one. His father, Andre Jones, described the flip to the Irish as "bittersweet."

"It's awkward to be honest with you," Jones' father said. "I told Tai-ler that you have to live with this for 80 years so choose wisely, and I think the comfort level was a little more engaged than it was at Stanford and that is what it came down to."

Other big-time prospects like Joshua Shaw, Jordon James and Corey Cooper all talked glowingly about their time with the Irish. Even though he's not talked openly about the visit yet, all signs point toward the nation's No. 1 player, Seantrel Henderson, also having a good time on his visit.

ETC.

Penn State is the new No. 2 team in the Rivals.com team rankings after landing a commitment over the weekend from Burke (Va.) Lake Braddock three-star offensive linemen Khamrone Kolb. The 6-6, 300-pound tackle also had offers from UConn, Illinois, Maryland, N.C. State, North Carolina, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin. Texas remains the nation's top class ahead of Penn State, LSU, Oklahoma and Alabama.

Miami picked up a solid pledge this past weekend from Norfolk (Va.) Lake Taylor linebacker Travis Williams. The four-star linebacker who ranks as the No. 197 player overall in the nation, said he actively courted the 'Canes despite having offers and attention from other schools. He had his coach send the 'Canes his tape and from there a relationship blossomed.

Along with the commitment from Richardson, Iowa State also scored an impressive recruit in three-star safety Adrian Bennett of Houston Klein Forest on Monday. Minnesota, New Mexico and Louisiana-Monroe have also offered.