Notebook: Steve Clarkson QB Retreat

CORONADO, Calif. – The Steve Clarkson QB Retreat was held this weekend and many top quarterbacks were in attendance along with other position groups who helped with the drills. Here is some of the latest recruiting news from the event.

Tate Martell recently decommitted from Texas A&M so he’s taking his time with his recruitment as many programs continue to pursue the top-rated dual-threat quarterback.

The Las Vegas Bishop Gorman standout said he wants to revisit Ohio State, UCLA and USC and also get to Colorado in the coming months.

No official visits are locked in yet but California continues to come hard after the four-star recruit and Martell has an excellent relationship with new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Jake Spavital.

“Spav talks to me all the time,” Martell said. “He talks to me like he’s almost like a dad to me. I love talking to him. I’ll talk to him whenever, even just for fun.”

Martell also said West Virginia is coming after him way harder after his decommitment and that he’ll take a closer look at the Mountaineers.

It’s expected the four-star takes a lot of time before making another commitment.

Cameron Rising has a bunch of unofficial visits set up for this summer and more could be coming.

The 2018 four-star quarterback from Newbury Park, Calif., standout is planning to see LSU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU and Houston in the coming months before his junior season starts.

Rising said he likes being in the South and has family in Texas and Oklahoma so going out-of-state for college will not be a factor at all.

The four-star also wants to see Alabama, Michigan and North Carolina soon. There’s a good chance Rising could head to Ann Arbor this fall for a game weekend. Trips to Oregon and California could happen soon, too.

California and Washington have emerged as two of the front-runners for three-star QB Chase Garbers from Newport Beach (Calif.) Corona Del Mar with Vanderbilt and Boise State also seriously in the running.

But Garbers plans to wait until the summer to make any decisions on his recruitment because USC is still showing a bunch of interest and the Trojans coaches said they could offer if he performs well at camp.

According to Garbers, USC compared him to Matt Barkley and said he’s in the same situation as Sam Darnold, who had to work out at summer camp before getting offered. That’s what Garbers plans to do.

Texas A&M and Ole Miss have also been interested.

The top prospects from Los Angeles Augustus Hawkins are expected to hit the road this summer and see a lot of schools.

Jalen Hall, Joseph Lewis, Greg Johnson, Aashari Crosswell and Marcus Johnson are expected to visit Oregon and Washington soon to check out those two Pac-12 schools.

Lewis, a five-star receiver, is planning to see Nebraska this summer as well as the Huskers’ coaching staff continue to come after the top-rated receiver in California. A bunch of the top Hawkins recruits plan to see Arizona and Arizona State in the coming months. Johnson, a four-star athlete, is committed to the Wildcats.

Trips to South Carolina and Tennessee this offseason are also being considered.

T.J. Pledger will be in Ohio this summer for a camp and during that trip he’s going to see Ohio State, definitely a major visit early in his recruitment.

The 2018 four-star running back said he’s definitely interested in visiting with the Buckeyes and could also see Tennessee after a trip this spring to Knoxville didn’t work out.

“That’s a big trip,” Pledger said of Ohio State.

Michigan State is showing new interest in the West Hills (Calif.) Chaminade standout and Michigan recently offered. Pledger said the Wolverines offer is “big” and will look to learn more about them.