1. Florida traveled to Alabama’s back yard to get a tight end commitment for 2014.   Tuscaloosa tight end Cyontai Lewis committed to the Gators Thursday night and called coach Will Muschamp to give him the news.  ”He was pumped up,” Lewis said. “He said he was going to make a commitment to me to not recruit any more tight ends as long as I commit to him that I’m going there.”

2. Six uncommitted prospects in the state of Alabama headed to Auburn for “Big Cat Weekend.”

3. Raleigh, North Carolina tight end Avery Edwards became familiar with Jim Chaney at a Tennessee camp last year.  Now that Chaney is the offensive coordinator at Arkansas, Edwards has interest in the Razorbacks.  Arkansas is one of 10 scholarship offers Edwards has received, but the only one from an SEC school.

4. The Miami Herald has named Arkansas incoming freshman running back Alex Collins the Broward County Male Athlete of the Year.

5. Elizabethton, Kentucky’s Mat Elam is considered one of  the top defensive tackles in the country.  He’s reportedly deciding between Alabama, Kentucky and Louisville.

6. New Jersey athlete Jabrill Peppers will make his collegiate selection Sunday.  LSU is reportedly one of six finalists.

1. The SEC has ten teams in ESPN’s top 25 recruiting classes for 2014.  Latest to join the ranks?  Kentucky.

2. How is LSU’s 2014 quarterback class shaping up?

3. Defensive end Shameik Blackshear is considered the top prospect in the state of South Carolina  for 2015.  He’s committed to the Gamecocks.  According to his coach, “He grew up a Gamecock fan.”

4. One of Alabama’s top quarterback targets will attend a camp in Tuscaloosa in June. Tide interested in two Georgia quarterbacks - Gainesville’s Deshaun Watson (committed to Clemson) and Pierce County’s Tyler Harris.

5. Georgia makes Arkansas defensive lineman Josh Frazier’s top five list.

6. Some Arkansas recruiting notes – why offensive line coach Sam Pittman is in Wisconsin today.

Receiver prospect Cordell Broadus has a snared himself a new scholarship offer to go along with previous offers from California, Duke, Oregon State, Southern Cal, UCLA, Washington and Tennessee.  LSU is the latest school to put an offer on the table.

So why is this story on our homepage and not just on the recruiting page?

Because you might have heard of Broadus’ father — Snoop Lion.  Though you might know him better by his pre-Rastafarian name — Snoop Dogg.  And Snoop Dogg’s ties to LSU and its coach might help the Tigers’ chances in the race for Broadus.

The rap star is a massive sports fan and has backed a number of colleges over the years with Southern Cal’s and LSU’s jerseys being among his favorites to wear in public.  At one time he also had a house in Baton Rouge.  And in 2008, he popped up with Les Miles at a Rotary Club meeting, prompting Miles to say: “I defend his music and am much more a fan of the person.”

Snoop Dogg, er Lion said he showed up at the event (pictured below) “to give my love and support to Coach Miles.”

At the moment, Broadus seems to be more wowed by Southern Cal’s offer, having grown up a Trojan fan.

Still, Miles’ friendship (?) with the junior-to-be’s father can’t hurt LSU’s chances.

After Tyrann Mathieu’s alleged admission that he failed double-digit drug tests for weed while in Baton Rouge, we’ll let you insert your own joke about the Tigers now chasing the son of a tried and true Rastafarian.

In the words of Broadus’ father: bow wow wow yippee yo yippie yay.

1. The nation’s top JUCO prospect has changed his mind.  After committing to LSU, wide receiver D’Haquille Williams has had a change of heart. “I decommited from LSU so I can explore all my options. I plan on doing so during the summer and fall.” Williams had 67 receptions at Mississippi Gulf Coast last year.

2. Les Miles reaction? “If a guy wants to decommit and say ‘I’m interested in looking around,’ this is plenty early. We have a scholarship, we’re looking for very good players, we’ll continue to recruit.”

3. Scott Rabalais: “There is every expectation that Williams will make his football version of an Australian walkabout and eventually sign with LSU.”

4. Here’s how LSU’s 2014 linebacking class is shaping up.

5. Why is Tennessee stockpiling wide receivers in its 2014 class?  Here are some theories.

6. For the second time in a week, Florida lost a member of its 2014 class. Fort Myers Dunbar receiver Ryeshene Bronson was the Gators first commitment for 2014 but now says he wants to visit other schools.  A source says it was a mutual decision. Why the Gators need defense in the 2014 class.

7. Palm Bay (Fla.) Bayside defensive tackle Travonte Valentine  lists Alabama, Tennessee and Miami in his top three. He plans to visit both Alabama and Tennessee this summer. One of the top defensive tackles in the country, he has previously been committed to both Florida and Louisville.

8. Ten players from Alabama made the Rivals250 list.

9. How did Auburn coach Gus Malzahn get Georgia running back Peyton Barbour to sign with the Tigers in February?  By greeting him in the hotel lobby at 3:00 a.m.

10. Dallas, TX offensive lineman Jovan Pruitt says he plans to visit Arkansas on June 1. Pruitt has more than 10 offers, including one from Alabama.

Last week, it was announced that incoming freshman Jay Harris would not be joining Michigan State’s football program as planned.  It was first said that he intended to instead pursue a career in rap music.  And then it was reported that Michigan State  yanked his scholarship after seeing his new rap video — which features explicit lyrics and opened with video of Harris lighting up a joint.

Now the attention is being turned to top prospect Sony Michel from Plantation, Florida.  Ranked as the #2 running back in the nation by Rivals, Michel has already committed to Georgia but he, too, is an aspiring rapper.  So any chance he’ll put rap above football?  Not if what he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is true:

“Football is my first love, and then music is right after it.  I will finish out football before I think about that (a music career)…

Actually, I have a good friend who is a producer.  (My friend) makes beats.  I let him listen to my stuff.  He makes beats for professional artists.  He is actually trying to help me understand the business more before I jump into it.  I’m just learning right now before I get into it.”

Even better news for Bulldog fans?  No controversies over the raps he’s already posted on YouTube.com under the name 2Stackz.

1. Columbia, South Carolina defensive end Christian Miller has decommitted from Florida.  ”After a lot of hard thinking and discussions with my parents, I have respectfully decided to open my recruitment back up,” he posted on his Facebook page. He had previously mentioned Alabama, Florida State and Georgia as schools pursing him.  Florida now has eight commitments in its 2014 class.

2. Bossier City, Louisiana quarterback Robert Harris has a top seven - LSU, Alabama, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Auburn, Ole Miss and Baylor. He unveiled his list last night at his spring game.   LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and area recruiter and tight ends coach Steve Ensminger were on hand to watch him to perform. Harris says he’ll make a decision on July 18.

3. Opelika, Alabama tight end Jakell Mitchell has picked an offer from the Crimson Tide. He has also offers from  Auburn, LSU, Florida, Florida State, among others. Mitchel’s teammate, Stephen Roberts, committed to Alabama in April.

4. Alabama coach Nick Saban was asked about recruiting in Georgia Thursday night.  ”It’s (Atlanta) the city in the South, and it’s three hours from Tuscaloosa. It’s important for us to do a good job here. There’s a lot of great (high school) programs and a lot of good players, so we’ve had a lot of good players from here. I think there’s five starters on our team from this area.”

5. Georgia has a rooting interest in the fate of five-star linebacking prospect Matthew Thomas.  He signed with Florida State in February but now says he wants to play at either Georgia or Southern Cal.

6. Florence, Alabama quarterback Kendrick Doss has offers from Auburn, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Georgia Tech.  Considered a duel threat quarterback, here’s how Doss’s high school coach described him:  ”Kendrick’s the type kid, like Cam Newton and a lot of other guys, that can develop into a pro-style quarterback. He’s big enough to stand in the pocket. He’s tall enough to see over offensive lines. I think this kid could very easily adapt to a pro-style offense.”

7. District of Columbia metro area linebacker/safety Kobie Walker committed to Kentucky earlier this week.  He’s hoping to open a regional pipeline to the Bluegrass state.  “You don’t see a lot of players come from the DMV and go to Kentucky, so hopefully this will start a new trend.  Walker had narrowed his list to Kentucky, Miami and West Virginia before choosing UK.

Quarterback Deshaun Watson‘s recruitment has stayed the same since he committed to Clemson more than 15 months ago.

He continues to say he’s solid to the Tigers while more and more schools keep recruiting him.

The latest school is Alabama. The Crimson Tide offered Watson a scholarship last week, joining a list that includes Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida State, Ohio State, Oregon and Southern California.

Watson, who’s ranked the nation’s No. 1 quarterback by Rivals.com, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he’s used to all the attention from other schools.

“I can’t tell them to stop coming by here,” he said. “They can still come by and check out another player on my team but still watch me. You know, I can’t ever tell a school not to recruit me because it’s an honor and a privilege for them to throw me a full ride offer and (tell) me to come play at the school and get a free education.”

Watson, who attends Gainesville (Ga.) High School, has entertained the idea of visiting other schools. He told ESPN RecruitingNation last month that he would take all five official visits this fall but has since softened on the idea. Instead, he told the AJC he has a list of “fallback schools” in case the status of his commitment to Clemson changes.

“For me, it would be Auburn, Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, USC and Oregon,” Watson said.

Georgia is intriguing. The home-state school has shown strong interest in Watson, who’s the only quarterback in the 2014 class to receive a scholarship offer from the Bulldogs.

“They have let it be known that I am their guy for 2014 and the only quarterback they plan to go after,” Watson told ESPN. “Mike Bobo and Mark Richt said they want a local guy to take over their offense and lead them to a national championship.”

Georgia will be looking for a new starting quarterback in 2014 after senior Aaron Murray departs. Alabama will be as well with AJ McCarron entering his senior year in Tuscaloosa.

Auburn has a group of quarterbacks set to return in 2014 but no one has set himself apart from the others. That opportunity for early playing time, which Clemson can also offer as Tajh Boyd enters his final year in college, will be the sales pitch from several schools recruiting Watson.

He can expect to hear more from those schools between now and the day he finally steps on a college campus. As Gainesville coach Bruce Miller told the AJC, “every school” is interested in Watson. And he doesn’t seem bothered by the attention.

“That’s going to keep on happening,” Watson said.

Leslie eligible for LSU

Wide receiver Quantavius Leslie received good news this week when he learned he will be eligible to play at LSU this fall, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Read the rest of this entry »

SEC Football

1. Missouri now has nine commitments in its class of 2014 after Blue Valley West, Kansas offensive tackle Michael Fairchild and Nasvhille, TN cornerback  Finis Stribling verbally committed on Monday. Fairchild’s father played college ball at Kansas and professionally for the New England Patriots.  Stribling’s coach was impressed  by Missouri’s efforts at recruting in the Volunteer State. “I have noticed a more concerted recruiting effort inside the state lines. They’ve done probably the best of anybody in terms of getting information out and mailing it to kids.”

2. Alabama line coach Mario Cristobal is a big fan of big lineman.  California JUCO lineman Dominick Jackson is the latest in a string of offers to 300+ pound lineman.  He lists Alabama alongside UCLA as his two favorites.  ”I am a West Coast guy, but my dream has always been to play in the SEC.”

3. Auburn coach Gus Malzhan on the Tigers recruiting philosophy: ”It’s all going to start in Alabama, Georgia and Florida, but we’ll nationally recruit, and our guys are doing that.”

4. How is Auburn’s Dameyune Craig making an impact in the Mobile area? ”I don’t know what he does outside of football, but it can’t be much because he’s always recruiting.”

5. Auburn’s top five wide receiver recruiting targets for 2014.

6. 2013 LSU signee  Quantavius Leslie has reportedly gained his academic eligibility and will enroll in June, The JUCO wide receiver played at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Miss.

7. Former Penn State quarterback Steven Bench made an official visit to South Florida this week.  He’ll visit North Carolina State this weekend and Mississippi State next week.

SEC Basketball

8. No Andrew Wiggins for Kentucky, but the Cats recruiting class still considered the best in the country. 247 analyst Jerry Meyer: “It’s still kind of ridiculous, with six guys in the top 15,”

9. Memphis, Tennessee point guard Chris Chiozza is Florida’s first commitment in the class of 2014. ESPN recruiting analysti Dave Telep: “He’s a fearless player. Defensively, he’s a pest. He latches on to you. Offensively, he’s improved to where he’s a reliable scorer.” Chiozza chose Florida over Ohio State, Memphis, Ole Miss, Murray State and Butler.

1. Star basketball prospect Andrew Wiggins will announce his decision on Tuesday. Update: He chooses Kansas over Kentucky, Florida State and North Carolina.

2. Which team has the most to gain by landing Wiggins? Jeff Borzello examines.

3. Clemson quarterback commitment Deshaun Watson discusses his recent offer from Alabama.

4. Two Florida signees have already enrolled in classes to get an early start on summer workouts.

5. Florida continues to receive attention for its creative social media efforts in recruiting.

6. Tight end Jeb Blazevich discussed why he committed to Georgia’s 2014 class.

7. Kentucky scored a big recruiting win with the commitment from quarterback Drew Barker.

8. Clemson is battling several SEC schools and others for wide receiver Trey Quinn from Lake Charles, La.

How about an Andrew Wiggins highlight video?

Defensive end Justin Thornton says he’s going to play for Auburn. Thornton made the announcement just moments ago.  His decision had come down to three SEC schools – Auburn, LSU and Texas A&M. The Alabama lineman, who plays at Vigor High School, is rated a four-star prospect and is considered one of the top 10 defensive ends in the country.  It’s another feather in the cap for Gus Malzahn’s program – which has made a focus of recruiting kids from the Mobile area. He’s Auburn’s sixth commitment in the class of 2014,  which includes Thornton’s teammate -Deshaun Davis.