Alabama brothers getting looks

Hoover (Ala.) prospects Brandon Clear and Byron Clear, both recent additions to the Hoover program, are making the most out of their new surroundings and picking up increased attention from a number of college programs.

The brothers, whose father is in the military, played at Slidell (La.) Northshore outside of New Orleans before leaving for Jamestown (Va.) High where they played out their junior seasons. They enrolled at Hoover during the summer.

"It's going great," Brandon, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound wide receiver, said. "Everybody has welcomed us and we're just working hard to pick up the system."

Byron, who played his first year of organized football as a 10th grader, also is busy adjusting.

"I haven't been playing football very long," he said. "I had my head start in basketball and track. I bring versatility wherever I go, though, because I am able to learn things very quick. The thing is for me, though, that I have to work 20 or 30 times harder than everyone else because I haven't been playing for very long.

"I love Hoover so far. The coaches are really great. I'm trying to learn about 20 plays on defense and get them down. I need to work on the running plays."

Byron can play a number of defensive positions.

"I can play linebacker, defensive end, wherever they put me," he said.

On the recruiting front, Brandon has scholarship offers from Syracuse, Stanford, Duke and Army. He has also been in touch with the staffs at Auburn and Alabama.

"I really don't have a tie to any school," he said. "I'm not tied to any school, so I am completely wide-open."

Academics are a big part of his decision, though.

"You're not guaranteed tomorrow in the sport of football," he said. "So I want to make sure I have something to fall back on."

Stanford and Army have offered Byron a scholarship as well. He believes interest will pick up as Hoover's season rolls on.

"I was injured basically half of the year last year (at Jamestown) and when I came back, I came back as a tight end," he said. "I didn't have as much good footage as I would have liked."

Starting Thursday, the Clear brothers will get the chance to test themselves against some of the best competition from around the country as Hoover plays host to the Southeastern Select 7on7 Tournament. The tournament will feature several teams with top prospects.

Brandon Clear is the No. 15 overall prospect in the Rivals.com Alabama Top 25.