ACC Blitz: Big switch down the stretch
Do the Clemson Tigers have a shot at landing five-star safety Keenan Allen? They could have a chance after the Alabama commit checked out the campus this weekend. Check out the breakdown of recruiting in the ACC as National Signing Day nears in a special edition of the ACC Blitz.
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href=#gatech>Georgia Tech | Maryland
The biggest news out of Clemson this weekend was the visit of five-star athlete Keenan Allen. Allen, an Alabama commitment, visited the Tigers with his half brother Zach Maynard, a quarterback who is transferring from Buffalo. Sources say the visit went very well and that Clemson has a good chance of stealing Allen away from the Tide. ... Auburn commitment D.J. Howard visited Clemson this weekend and the visit gave him some things to think about. He will make his final decision between the two this week. ... Defensive tackle Tavaris Barnes decided to stick with Clemson despite a strong push from Florida State.
The commitment of three-star defensive end Dezmond Johnson last week means Duke has almost run out of scholarships. The Blue Devils are holding a spot open for Kareem Martin, who has narrowed his list to North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Duke and will decide Monday. Expect the Blue Devils to continue to work on Darius Lipford, once committed to Duke but now a future Tar Heel, as well as Tra Thomas, who is currently committed to Clemson. Tunde Fariyike was scheduled to be in Durham on an official visit this past weekend.
FSU is the clear leader for New Jersey offensive lineman Dan Foose, who visited this past weekend. Foose said he is down to the 'Noles, UCF, Illinois, Louisville and Virginia, and he wants to decide later this week. ... Defensive line target Bjoern Werner will apparently wait until Signing Day to announce his college choice. Oregon is thought to have a slight edge over FSU and Cal. ... Good news for FSU that Christian Green's brother, Brandon Green, has committed to Florida A&M. Christian has long said he'd like to go to college near his brother, and this certainly helps FSU's chances. Green will take an official visit to FSU this weekend.
Georgia Tech landed two key commitments this weekend, one expected and the other a pleasant surprise. Alabama running back Deon Hill was expected to commit on his visit, while Washington, D.C., linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu was down to Illinois, Syracuse and the Jackets but ended the process on his visit to Atlanta. ... Four-star defensive end T.J. Stripling, a Georgia commitment, took a partial visit to Georgia Tech this weekend but left early. Stripling was never truly interesting in flipping from Georgia but was on hand with teammate Sharrod Golightly, who didn't get an offer despite his official visit.
Maryland is battling Rutgers down to the wire for four-star in-state wide receiver Brandon Coleman, and this looks too close to call. Rutgers' recent hiring of a wideouts coach helps as the Scarlet Knights have been Coleman's leader for awhile, but Maryland is making a strong push. ... The Terps hosted Florida defensive tackle Roney Lozano this weekend and are trying to steal him away from Cincinnati. ... Four-star offensive lineman Arie Kouandjio took a visit to Maryland this weekend, but the Terps are a long shot here with Alabama, Cal and USC the leaders.
Tennessee commitment Marcques Dixon wants to take an official visit to Miami this weekend and make a decision between the Vols and 'Canes after that. Dixon said he is likely to remain a Tennessee commit. ... The Hurricanes are expecting double-digit official visitors this weekend, the last official visit weekend before Signing Day. ... In a surprise move, Miami took New York linebacker James Gaines despite having a bit of a numbers crunch with 26 commits now. Gaines was a Buffalo commitment. He had 22 tackles against Ohio power St. Ignatius earlier this year, which put him on the radar.
UNC coaches feel good about their chances of swaying Giovanni Bernard away from Notre Dame. UNC's need at running back and a very good official visit this past weekend by Bernard has the confidence level high in Chapel Hill. Bernard said he will make his decision on Signing Day. UNC has to get either Bernard or Rutgers running back commitment Casey Turner on LOI Day or there will be a big hole at the position. ... ATH Reggie Wilkins took a visit to UNC this weekend, and is now back with the Tar Heels. Wilkins originally committed to UNC, then committed to N.C. State and made his final decision between the two. Family wanted him in Chapel Hill.
Fans were excited when word leaked out that five-star athlete Keenan Allen and his half brother Zach Maynard were visiting Raleigh early this week. However, sources say that the N.C. State visit has been canceled and the Pack are out of it. The decision of four-star running back Mustafa Greene carries even more weight now that three-star athlete Reggie Wilkins switched his commitment back to the Tar Heels after a visit to UNC over the weekend. Wilkens was thought to be more comfortable with the Pack but family seemed to want him in Chapel Hill. Greene is thought to be a slight lean to N.C. State.
Mike London's hiring at Virginia left the Cavaliers playing from behind a bit in terms of closing out their 2010 recruiting class, which was always going to be a small group. But quarterback was a focal point from the outset, and UVa was able to land commitments from signal-callers Michael Strauss, who enrolled early, and Georgia sleeper Miles Gooch since London's hiring. Beyond the need under center, Virginia has been looking for line help. While it appears the Cavaliers will miss out on Dan Foose, they are in good shape for in-state product Stephen Lawe.
The Hokies are pretty much done for 2010, waiting on a decision from defensive end Kareem Martin on Monday afternoon. He is down to North Carolina, Duke and Virginia Tech. In addition, Tech is in the picture with James Louis from Delray Beach (Fla.) Atlantic. But he appears to be a long shot, having committed to Ohio State and considering Florida. There is an outside chance that Louis could visit Blacksburg this upcoming weekend, however.
Running back is a key area of need for Wake Forest in this class, and the Deacons' staff is looking at two prospects for late offers. Texas back David Glasco would likely jump on an offer if one comes, and the talented Texan was on campus this past weekend. The other possibility is Florida's Jawan Jamison, who plays at the Bolles School in Jacksonville and has offers from Clemson and Rutgers. Jamison doesn't appear to be the top choice for either the Tigers or Scarlet Knights, so an offer from Wake would be interesting. The Demon Deacons have a good recent tradition of recruiting his school. It appears that one of the backs currently in Wake's 2010 class, Nick Knott, might not end up signing.
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