12/30/2008 football Edit

Army Recruiting Notes: Trojan no more

Mike Farrell

Recruiting Analyst

SAN ANTONIO - Barring a miracle, USC can cross off a five-star recruit from its projected 2009 recruiting class. Sources say there is a 1 in 100 shot that Los Angeles Cathedral wide receiver Randall Carroll remains committed to the Trojans. Carroll, who committed to USC in September 2007, has soured on the Trojans to the point where there is little to no chance he suits up for Pete Carroll and company.

Carroll, the fastest player in the state of California, already taken taken an official visit to Cal and has officials set with UCLA, Arizona State and Tennessee, and is likely to take one to Florida. Carroll will go to UCLA on Jan. 9, to Arizona State on Jan. 23 and to Tennessee on Jan. 30. He wanted to take an official to Florida on Jan. 16 but that hasn't been scheduled yet. If he can't set his visit for Florida that weekend, he likely won't be able to take the trip. He will not visit USC again.

So who is likely to land the 5-foot-11, 175-pound speedster? Right now, Cal is in the lead and wants Carroll to come in and become the next DeSean Jackson. UCLA has the best chance to unseat Cal, followed by Florida, Tennessee and Arizona State.

Carroll remains a commitment to USC on the advice of his mom, but there seems to be little doubt that he will sign with someone else. One of the sticking points is that he hears different things from different USC coaches and his position has not been settled. Randall doesn't care if he plays wide receiver or cornerback in college, but he reportedly is tiring of USC's mixed messages on that point and others.

UNC MOVING ON MOSES

Out of the blue, North Carolina suddenly is a serious player for five-star offensive tackle Morgan Moses, from Richmond (Va.) Meadowbrook. Moses took an unofficial visit to North Carolina a few months back and wasn't blown away, so most felt the Tar Heels were out. But counting out Butch Davis is a mistake.

Moses recently was told by Davis and his staff that he could possibly start right away at UNC, and early playing time has become a big factor in his decision. Moses has now set an official visit with North Carolina for Jan. 9. He still has an official set with Alabama for Jan. 16, although that is tentative because he thinks Alabama wants to redshirt him. But Alabama coaches reached out to the Moses family Monday and now are talking about immediate playing time.

In addition to UNC and Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Virginia and Virginia Tech are in the mix. Virginia seems to have the edge over Virginia Tech when it comes to keeping Moses in state because of the recent hire of assistant Latrell Scott. Scott was recruiting Moses while he was at Tennessee and established a good relationship with Moses and his family. The Vols apparently are out for Moses with the loss of Scott.

Right now, the plan seems to be to visit UNC, Alabama, Ohio State and either Oklahoma or Virginia or Virginia Tech on successive weekends.

WILLIAM CAMPBELL TODAY

The daily drama that is the recruitment of five-star defensive tackle William Campbell from Detroit Cass Tech took a few twists and turns Tuesday. The morning started off with a not-so-solid tip that Campbell might be choosing Florida because the Gators have dropped Pompano Beach (Fla.) Ely cornerback Michael Carter, apparently to make room for someone the staff didn't expect they were getting. But that someone likely isn't going to be Campbell.

One source, Campbell's roommate here in San Antonio, said he thinks LSU will be the team the big man chooses Saturday. Oak Park (Mich.) HIgh running back Edwin Baker isn't playing this week because of a knee injury, but he's Campbell's roommate and said Campbell talks about LSU all the time. Stay tuned.

ETC.

• Philadelphia (Miss.) High defensive tackle Josh Boyd is still a commitment to Mississippi State and had a recent in-home meeting with new coach Dan Mullen, but he will take an official visit to LSU on Jan. 23 and might take Alabama and Florida visits. None of the three schools have offered Boyd at this point, but apparently are close to doing so.

• Monticello (Miss.) Lawrence County running back Kendrick Hardy is down to Ole Miss and Southern Miss, although Mississippi State has recently shown interest. Hardy takes an official visit to Southern Miss on Jan. 9 and could land there, especially if Ole Miss slow-plays him with four running backs already in this class.

• Center/defensive tackle Corey Gaines, from Tallahassee (Fla.) Godby, has a top three of Ole Miss, USF and Arkansas, a source says, and will be taking official visits to all three following the break.

• The aforementioned Carter is down to West Virginia and Minnesota now that Florida has backed off, and he will announce his decision Saturday. Minnesota is rumored to be the favorite, although Carter said both schools are even.

• East St. Louis (Ill.) High wide receiver Kraig Appleton apparently won't be making it down to San Antonio this week, so he won't be announcing his college decision on NBC. Appleton is listed as a solid commitment to Illinois, but sources say he was expected to announce for Wisconsin on Saturday. I'm not sure how this latest turn of events changes his plans as far as a timetable for an announcement.

[rl]