Calling Baton Rouge

For the third time, Rivals.com will play host to a Junior Day event in Louisiana. The fourth Rivals.com Junior Day will be held Saturday at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Many of the top prospects in Louisiana are expected to be on hand as more than 60 players have already reserved a spot for the introduction to the recruiting process, including Elton, La., stud defensive tackle Al Woods.

Woods, a member of the pre-evaluation period Rivals100, might be the top overall prospect in the Pelican State and at 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds, he's already picked up offers from LSU, Clemson, Nebraska and Southern Cal.

"You should see him on tape," one SEC assistant coach said. "He's one of the most aggressive and impressive defensive tackles in the entire country. He flat gets after it."

For Woods, the information he learns at the Junior Day will definitely be helpful as he prepares to go through the recruiting process.

Instead of just finding out how fast you are, the two to three-hour program presented by Rivals.com will allow recruits to get important questions about the recruiting process answered from coaches, speakers, parents of former recruits and players that have just completed the recruiting process.

The following are some of the key topics that will be discussed:

-What do certain types of letters mean from schools?

-How do you handle telephone calls from schools?

-What are the rules for calls?

-What's an official visit?

-What's an unofficial visit?

-How important summer camps are.

-Being successful in the classroom.

-Making the right decision.

-What is a commitment?

The keynote speaker that Rivals.com has entrusted to help conducted the events across the nation is Joe Hornback of Des Moines (Iowa) Roosevelt. Coach Hornback was a three-year letter winner from the University of Kansas and has established himself as one of the best in the state of Iowa and previous to that in Missouri at Grandview High School.

He has coached numerous Division I players, including two players that signed with Big 12 Conference schools in the Class of 2002. He is also a veteran of the Rivals.com Junior Days and has been the main speaker at the events the previous three years. He also was recently quoted by CBS Sports as one of the nation's foremost experts in helping kids understand the recruiting process.

Along with Woods it looks like many other top 25 players from Louisiana are expected to be at the event.

Reserve (La.) East St. John coach Larry Dauterive will bring five of his Division I prospects, including receiver Ricky Dixon (6-3, 210). Some scouts are mentioning Dixon's name in the same breath as Woods when it comes to talking about the top player in the state.

Lafayette (La.) Acadiana linebacker Jacob Cutrera has the size of an defensive end (6-4, 225) but at this point he's one of the state's top linebackers and likely a top 20 player for 2006. Terrance Gay, the brother of former LSU defensive back Randall Gay, called and reserved a spot earlier today. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound running back/defensive back is also another top 25 player in the state.

Destrehan, La., standouts Chaz Washington and Jai Eugene are also expected to be in attendance. Washington is a pre-evaluation period Rivals100 member. Linebacker Darius Smith of Metairie (La.) East Jefferson has also said he's coming. He's one of four major Division I prospects on his team this season.

Jarrod Shaw of Lafayette (La.) Northside also is expected there Saturday. Shaw, who is 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds, is one of the best defensive tackles in the state. Tommy Connors, a hard-hitting and physical safety from Marrero (La.) Shaw, is also coming. He is expected to be a top 25 prospect in the state this season.

Along with the stars from Louisiana, players from Mississippi, Texas and Arkansas have also told Rivals.com that they will be at the event on Saturday.