Bauer still committed but looking around

St. Louis (Mo.) DeSmet offensive tackle Andy Bauer has not even started his junior year of high school yet but the 6-foot-5, 292-pound prospect has found himself a hot commodity.

After making a very early commitment to the in-state Missouri Tigers in April, Bauer feels he did not take the time he should have. While he still remains committed he is entertaining other suitors as well.

"I really like Missouri but I think I sort of just rushed into a commitment a little bit," Bauer said. "I'm still committed to them but I've talked to them and told them I'm going to still keep looking at other schools and they're okay with that.

"I'm still committed to Missouri but other schools are continuing to recruit me and I'm still listening to them and seeing what they have to offer."

Bauer watched Rivals100 wide receiver teammate Durron Neal go through the process a year ago before signing with Oklahoma so he was not caught completely off-guard when offers started pouring in from the likes of Alabama, LSU, Notre Dame and Ohio State over the past few months.

"I had seen the way things happened with Durron and it all happened so fast," the rising junior said. "I knew that once everyone started to focus on the class of 2014 I would hopefully be one of those guys that was on the top of the boards for the top programs."

Bauer has had a chance to take in two college campuses this offseason and came away impressed with both places.

"I visited Alabama," he said. "It went really well. Coach (Jeff) Stoutland is my recruiter and he and I have a very good relationship. I got to spend some time with coach (Nick) Saban as well as the strength coach, coach (Scott) Cochran. I was there for a day-and-a-half or two days and it was a great experience.

"I also went to Nebraska's Big Red Weekend and that was also a good experience. I got to spend time up there and meet coach (Bo) Pelini. I got to look at the facilities and meet other recruits and it was cool."

Bauer is also very interested in another SEC program.

"I haven't been to LSU yet but it's a school I want to visit," he said. "Coach (Greg) Studrawa is my recruiter and he and I have a really good relationship. I also like talking to coach (Les) Miles.

"(Class of 2013 LSU offensive tackle commit) Ethan Pocic and I know each other. I know he's gone through the process and picked up pretty much every offer and picked LSU. That's a school I'm definitely going to visit."

Though he specifically mentioned Alabama, LSU and Nebraska in addition to Missouri, Bauer says he is still completely open to every school.

"I'm still interested in all the schools that have offered me," he said. "I haven't cut anything down at all. If a school is going to recruit me I am going to seriously look at them."

As far as when he will either solidify his pledge to the Tigers or make a decision to commit elsewhere, the talented lineman says he does not have a timetable at all.

"I honestly don't know when it will happen," Bauer said.