2012 quarterback lands SEC verbal

One of the biggest arms in the state of Tennessee for the class of 2012 is possessed by Chad Voytik of Cleveland (Tenn.) High School. Voytik has been making the camp rounds this summer putting that arm to work and proving that he is a name to watch for the next recruiting cycle. Last week, at least one of those camp stops paid off when Voytik landed his first verbal offer.

Mississippi State had been one of the schools showing the most interest in Voytik and early last week, following a strong performance at Dan Mullen's prospect camp, Voytik got some good news.

"I got offered by Mississippi State," Voytik said. "I was there Sunday of last week so it was a little bit over a week ago. I was there for two days and four sessions. I talked to Coach Mullen and he told me that if I could commit as early as possible then that would be ideal but he'd like for me to play for Mississippi State under him."

Though the offer wasn't a complete surprise, Voytik was thrilled about the news, and thrilled that it came from Mississippi State.

"I was excited," he said. "Of course I was really excited but Mississippi State is a program you can tell is on the rise. I like Coach Mullen a lot and you can tell that he's doing an awesome job coaching. You can tell they're heading in the right direction just by the athletes they have in camp. They're not messing around, they're serious and ready to work."

The camp in Starkville is one of several stops Voytik made on a recent trip through the southeast.

"I started off at Alabama and got to talk to Coach Saban and Coach [McElwain] and stayed down there for two days. Then I went down to Georgia and met Coach Bobo and Coach Richt, then went down to Mississippi State and then we ended with Tennessee on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week."

Among all of the stops, Mississippi State's offer was predictably the highlight of the trip but he had other factors that stood out.

"Of course my offer, that's going to be the highlight of that few weeks of touring the campues," he said. "I liked Alabama's campus, it was really nice. It stood out to me how much Coach Mullen has so much confidence in me early and that means a lot to me and I really respect that."

At 6-foot-0, Voytik doesn't have the prototypical quarterback size but he certainly has the ability. He will continue to showcase that at the Top Gun Camp in Virginia on July 21 and at the Vanderbilt camp later this summer. Beyond that, Voytik is working with his team for another goal.

"I'm just trying to keep working hard and hopefully earning a state championship."