September 17, 2008

Mike Farrell
Recruiting Analyst

Sources said Craig Loston, from Aldine (Texas) Eisenhower, will be visiting Texas this weekend, while DeVonte Holloman, from Rock Hill (S.C.) South Pointe, is taking an official visit to Tennessee for the Vols' game against Florida. Holloman will be visiting Tennessee with teammate Stephon Gilmore, a high school quarterback/cornerback who is being recruited as an athlete by colleges.

Perhaps the worst-kept secret in recruiting is that Loston will de-commit from Clemson. Sources say that Texas won't be the destination, though. The true contenders are LSU and Texas A&M, with the Tigers holding a slight edge. Evidently, even the Clemson coaching staff knows Loston is gone.

Holloman is a different story. According to sources, it would take something special to pull Holloman away from Clemson. While he's going to visit Tennessee and Alabama and would like to visit LSU, he's still leaning strongly toward honoring his commitment. He and Gilmore would like to continue playing in the same secondary together in college, which bodes well for Clemson. Landing Gilmore and keeping Holloman certainly would lessen the blow of losing Loston.

NOT TOO FAR, NOT TOO CLOSE

Five-star offensive tackle Morgan Moses (6-6/347), from Richmond (Va.) Meadowbrook, will take an unofficial visit to Tennessee this weekend, but no official visits have been scheduled. While Moses is interested in Michigan, Ohio State, Florida and LSU, the best bet right now is Tennessee might be the farthest away from home he's willing to go.

While Moses would like his family to be within driving distance of his chosen college, that doesn't mean Virginia and Virginia Tech are the teams to beat. Moses has expressed an interest in leaving the state, so West Virginia, Tennessee and Clemson will be in the mix. If Moses does decide to stay in-state, it is widely assumed the Cavaliers would be the team to beat.

Moses has been to Maryland and Miami ? both now are out of the picture ? as well as Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia and Virginia Tech on unofficial visits. He has expressed interest in visiting LSU, Clemson and Georgia.

Moses might announce his decision at the U.S. Army All- American Bowl in January.

EYES ON IRISH

Notre Dame had one of the biggest visit weekends so far this recruiting year when it played host to Michigan last weekend in a monsoon. The Irish are in good shape for some visitors, not so good for others.

Now that athlete Nyshier Oliver, from Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep, has eliminated Boston College, look for him to choose the Irish in the end unless Wake Forest pulls off a huge surprise. Tennessee also is on Oliver's list, but word has it that the Vols have moved on. Oliver had a good official visit to South Bend.

Tight end Gabe Ikard, from Oklahoma City Bishop McGuinness, had a solid visit, but it looks as if it will come down to Oklahoma and Stanford for Ikard - with the Sooners holding the edge.

Linebacker Glenn Carson, from Manahawkin (N.J.) Southern Regional, is hard to read, but his official visit was short and he didn't have a ton of time to hang with players and coaches. Carson arrived late but made it in time for kickoff, but between the short visit, the rainy weather last weekend and Notre Dame's interest in him as a fullback, sources don't think Notre Dame has a good chance. Penn State and Rutgers appear to be the teams to beat.

The final official visitor, defensive tackle Chris Bonds from Columbia (S.C.) Richland Northeast, enjoyed his visit immensely, and it appears to be between Notre Dame, Tennessee (official visit Oct. 24 when they host Alabama) and Alabama (no official date set) for his services. A former prep teammate, Gary Gray, is at Notre Dame, but sources said Tennessee is the team to beat.

Notre Dame also had more than 20 top 2010 prospects on hand, and early returns were favorable despite the weather.

NARROWING IT DOWN

Manti Te'o, the nation's No. 1 inside linebacker from Honolulu Punahou, has a list of suitors as long as the trip from Hawaii to the mainland. He hasn't tipped his hand publicly about what teams have the edge, but sources have indicated that three teams might quietly be in good shape.

The lucky three? USC, BYU and Notre Dame.

Te'o is close to finalizing an official visit date with Notre Dame and could be making the trip to South Bend in the next couple of weeks. USC always has been high on his list because of the Trojans' great success with Polynesian players, and it doesn't hurt that the Trojans annually are among the top teams in the country. Most analysts haven't given BYU much of a chance, but BYU definitely is in the hunt. Teo's religious faith is a key factor in his interest in the Cougars.

ETC.

? Greenwood (S.C.) High defensive end Sam Montgomery looks as if he'll take official visits to USC, Miami, LSU, Michigan and Oregon. Still, at this point he's more likely to stay in state (Clemson over South Carolina). Montgomery is waiting until National Signing Day to decide, and anything could happen after he takes his official visits. If you're looking for a sleeper in this race, don't count out North Carolina. UNC defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator John Blake is making Montgomery a priority. Blake is the coach who lured Marvin Austin, Quinton Coples and this year's duo of Donte Moss and Jared McAdoo to Chapel Hill.

? Detroit Cass Tech defensive tackle William Campbell has set an official visit with Michigan for the weekend of Oct. 24, when the Wolverines play host to Michigan State. He's also set a date with Miami for either the weekend of Dec. 5 or Dec. 12, and he'll take officials to LSU and USC, too. Teammate and friend Thomas Gordon, being recruited as an athlete, is torn between Michigan and Michigan State. Gordon reportedly has told Campbell that he'll go where Campbell goes. That sounds like good news for the Wolverines.

? Penn State already has five defensive back commitments, but that hasn't stopped the Nittany Lions from inquiring about two top committed d-backs. Word has it that Penn State is making a push for Boston College commitment Jim Noel, from Everett (Mass.) High, and Rutgers commitment Gerald Hodges, from Paulsboro (N.J.) High. Both seem likely to stick with their commitments, but it's interesting the Nittany Lions still are shopping for defensive backs.

? Speaking of Penn State, athlete Devon Smith, from Waldorf (Md.) Westlake, is expected to commit when he finally makes his official visit to State College. It is supposed to be the weekend of Sept. 26 when Penn State plays host to Illinois. Smith (5-7/140) is tight with current Penn State commitments Derrick Thomas and Stephon Morris, and they played together at one time at Greenbelt (Md.) Eleanor Roosevelt. Thomas was considering de-committing and heading to Maryland, but he has since solidified his commitment to the Nittany Lions.

? There were rumors that Texas wasn't going to be recruiting in-state 2010 standout Lache Seastrunk of Temple (Texas) High. While LSU apparently has become the team to beat, the rumor is false. Texas running backs coach Major Applewhite was at Seastrunk's game last weekend, and the Longhorns are going to make a strong push. Texas wants to take two running backs in the 2010 class ? a home-run hitter and a physical, between-the-tackles back. Seastrunk would be the home-run hitter.

? Five-star running back Trent Richardson of Pensacola (Fla.) Escambia clearly is having a monster season, as evidenced by his 400+-yard, six-touchdown game last weekend. But off the field, things are starting to heat up as well. Richardson is committed to Alabama, and it was a great sign for the Tide that he passed up watching the Florida-Miami game on Sept. 6 to watch 'Bama play Tulane at home. But Florida, LSU and, to a lesser extent, Auburn and Florida State, remain in the mix here. LSU has the best chance of pulling Richardson away, but he is tight with Alabama freshman wide receiver Julio Jones and the Tide's early success is helping.

? Wide receiver Patrick Patterson of Macon (Miss.) Noxubee County is done with Mississippi State following his de-commitment last weekend, and this now looks to be a two-team race between Ole Miss and Alabama. Auburn was in the mix as well, but Patterson was unimpressed with the Tigers in the 3-2 victory over Mississippi State. The Bulldogs' performance led to his de-commitment. Four-star defensive tackle Josh Boyd of Philadelphia (Miss.) High and three-star quarterback Tyler Russell of Meridian (Miss.) High are other Mississippi State commitments rumored to be looking elsewhere.