2016 WR turning heads

The recruiting process is accelerating and high school freshmen are getting more and more scholarship offers. Scott Bracey is one of those freshmen getting the attention that is usually reserved for upperclassmen. The wide receiver from Richmond (Va.) Benedictine already has 13 offers and he added another one last night from Ohio State.

"It's crazy," said the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Bracey. "It really started in the past month. I've gotten a lot of offers in the past month, probably around seven. I never would have thought this would have happened so early.

"The one that caught me the most off guard is Ohio State because I wasn't in touch with them before this," he said. "The South Carolina offer also surprised me but I knew beforehand that they were interested in me. It just shocked me that they offered. That's a great school with great coaches. The head coach is a legend in college football. Those two offers really stood out to me."

Bracey elaborated on his knowledge of the Buckeyes.

"I actually grew up liking Ohio State," he said. "I liked them since Troy Smith was there. They've won the national championship seven times. They've had the only two-time Heisman winner. I think they have 34 Big Ten championships. This last year they went 12-0 but couldn't go to bowl game. Coach Meyer is a great coach and has won a lot of national championships and bowl games at Florida. I had a lot of favorite teams growing up. I was more a fan of players. I liked Terrelle Pryor when he was at Ohio State. I liked Percy Harvin when he was at Florida. I liked Alshon Jeffery when he was at South Carolina and I also liked Justin Blackmon. I followed the players more than the schools."

Coach Smith seemed to make a good impression on Bracey.

"Coach Smith offered me on the phone," he said. "We really talked about when I might get a chance to come up and visit. I play quarterback also for Benedictine. I guess my coach told him that I was a better quarterback then receiver and that shocked Coach Smith. We talked about what I should play at the next level and I told him that I just want to play."

A number of schools have flocked to Benedictine but Bracey has developed a strong relationship with one school in particular.

"Virginia Tech has been at the school numerous times and I've talked to Coach Shane Beamer and Coach Bud Foster," Bracey said. "Coach Shane Beamer told me he saw me play in the eighth grade. I wouldn't say I favor Virginia Tech but I have a good relationship with them. Out of the schools that have offered, I have the best relationship with them."

With the way things are progressing for Bracey, a new offer could come any day now. Bracey says he has no idea which one will be next.

"A lot of schools have been coming by Benedictine but I'm not sure which one will be the next to offer," he said. "Some of these offers just shock me. Auburn came by yesterday. I have a stack of business cards from West Virginia, Oregon, Alabama, Michigan State, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Maryland and Stanford."

Bracey racked up almost 600 yards on 30 receptions last season.