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Ainge gets UT offer

One of fastest rising quarterback prospects on the west coast this season is Erik Ainge (6-6, 200, 4.6) from Hillsboro (Ore.) Glencoe. He has currently been upgraded from a three-star quarterback prospect to four-star and based on what Ainge has done so far the bump is warranted.
In his first five games, Ainge had already thrown for 1,700 yards and 12 touchdowns. His performance has caught the eye of the Tennessee Volunteers and the Vols have Ainge high on their list of recruits.
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As a matter of fact, the Vols have offered Ainge a scholie.
“Tennessee told me that they are going to recruit two quarterbacks like they did with Peyton Manning and Casey Clausen,” Ainge said. “Whoever wins the job like Peyton and Clausen did will be a four year starter. Tennessee has told me I’m their number one quarterback recruit. I will probably visit Tennessee.”
Playing at Neyland can be pretty tempting for anyone but when you are told you are the number one quarterback recruit well that makes the temptation even sweeter.
Even though playing in front of over 100,000 screaming people dressed in orange might be too much for most to resist. Ainge is keeping his options open.
And why not?
Ainge has heard from every Pac10 team since September 1st and besides Tennessee his most recent other offer came from the in-state Oregon Ducks.
Ainge already had offers on the table from Oregon State, ASU and Arizona. The prevailing wisdom is there will be more offers on Ainge’s table before this one is finished.
“I haven’t decided where I’m going to visit,” Ainge said. “I do know that I will start my visits after the season is over.”
“I’m going to visit schools that have shown a deep interest in me or have offered,” Ainge said. “Oregon, Oregon State and Arizona State could get visits. They are Pac10 schools and the Pac10 is the best conference for quarterbacks.”
“If UCLA, Cal and Washington were to offer me a scholarship things could change.”
Ainge’s athletic bloodlines go back two generations. His grandfather Don Ainge received a full ride to Oregon for both football and basketball. His father Doug Ainge received a full scholie to BYU for his basketball skills.
Of course everyone knows who is uncle is. His uncle for the uninitiated is Danny Ainge. Danny Ainge was College Player of the Year in basketball when he attended BYU. He also had a very successful 14-year career in the NBA and played three full seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Rivals.com rates Ainge as 13 drop-back quarterback in the nation, Rivals.com rated Ainge as the state of Oregon’s number two prospect at any position and he landed as at number 37 on Rivals.com’s Super West 60.
Ainge was already a much sought after quarterback, his senior season performance thus far has increased his value among D-I schools.
The very talented Ainge is also a stellar basketball player and he could end up playing hoops on the D-I level too.
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