Tonight we migrate South to the Sunshine State and catch up with Matt Elam, then head West to Texas and update Jeremy Johnson and finally backtrack closer to home, for an early look at a Virginia star in the making for the 2011 recruiting class.
Dwyer High School (Fla.) is rolling through the class-4A Florida state playoffs behind the sensational play of superstar athlete Matt Elam, who is regarded by all recruiting services as one of the top prospects in the 2010 class. As Elam’s storied prep career nears an end, so too will his recruitment, which has been highlighted by college football’s royalty programs coming in heavy pursuit because of Elam’s on-field playmaking ability and skyrocketing potential.
The versatile 6-foot, 205-pound Elam, who ESPN Scouts Inc ranked as the No. 2 overall athlete in the 2010 recruiting class, plays running back, receiver, linebacker and safety for Dwyer. Elam plans on graduating high school after the current semester ends in December, then enrolling in college for the spring semester.
Elam is still committed to the Florida Gators, but has had a very busy fall taking official visits to West Virginia, Tennessee, Florida State and Georgia. He said he is scheduled to visit Florida on Dec. 12.
In preparation for admission to the college of his choice, Elam has started filling out the necessary paperwork. “I’ve already been doing that,” he told EERSports.com. And to which of the aforementioned schools has Elam sent in forms? “All of them,” he said.
Considering his verbal pledge to the Gators, one that has never been revoked but is certainly of the ‘soft’ variation, it is still plausible that Elam will play for Florida coach Urban Meyer in Gainesville, next season. But when asked of what his current status is with Florida, Elam remained mum and offered up, “I can’t tell.”
Elam has not decided which school he will sign with if he does end up decommitting from Florida. However, he added that his ultimate selection of a school will take place “at the end of December.”
Dwyer (10-1) beat Hollywood Hills, 53-0, last Friday, advancing to the regional semifinal, which will be this Friday, against Stranahan (9-2). In the blowout over Hollywood Hills, Elam recorded an eye-opening 234 rush yards and four touchdowns, from just 11 carries. He said he also chipped in four tackles.
Johnson Leaving Texas a Legend
Though Silsbee High School (Texas) quarterback Jeremy Johnson recently saw his high school career end, he certainly will not leave town without people remembering his name. He broke so many school records, seven to be exact, that he couldn’t even recall all of the accolades during a telephone interview.
“Passing yards record, total offense record, pass completion record, total touchdown record,” Johnson reeled off.
Johnson has been committed to WVU since last April, when he announced his decision following an unofficial visit to Morgantown.
“I loved it. I never went out of the state before,” Johnson said. “Knowing I have the chance to be on my own, to be around good coaches, to be around a good college town -- it’s overwhelming.”
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound quarterback was targeted by many schools, and he said Kentucky, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Illinois and TCU all have continued to recruit him after he pledged for the Mountaineers.
He said he plans on taking his first and last official visit of the fall on Dec. 17, which will be a return trip to WVU.
Silsbee finished the season with a 7-4 record. Johnson said he racked up 2,246 pass yards and 19 touchdowns, but also threw 12 interceptions. He said he rushed for 850 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Of joining the Mountaineers next year, Johnson said, “I think I fit in well. We run the same plays really. They are a fast-paced team.”
Beatty on the Trail for Grant
Curtis Grant, an inside linebacker for Hermitage High School, in Richmond, Va., is still wrapping up his junior season, but is already making waves on the recruiting trail. WVU, among many others, has already taken notice and offered the ESPNU 150 Watch List member a scholarship.
“I talked to [assistant] coach [Chris] Beatty,” Grant said. “He’s a cool guy. I met him my ninth grade year when I was up there at 7-on-7 camp.”
Grant said Virginia Tech, Boston College, Maryland, UNC, WVU, Miami (Fla.) East Carolina, Richmond and Duke have all sent him written offers, so far.
When Grant, 6-foot-2, 218 pounds, attended camp at WVU, he said, “I saw the weight room. They got a big facility up there.”
And what Grant likes about the Mountaineers is, “They play together. In the last couple of games I saw them play, they play hard and physical,” he said.
Before taking his five NCAA allotted official visits, Grant said he wants to unofficially visit “the Florida, Georgia, South Carolina area probably and a few out West,” adding that he anticipates more offers to come materialize, in the mean time. He has not yet determined any schools that he will officially visit next fall.
“I’m open for right now. I got a long time,” said Grant. “I got a long journey.”
Hermitage (10-1) will play Thomas Dale High School this weekend.