Crane excited for upcoming visits

Dane Crane had an enjoyable trip to USC for its junior day this past weekend and the Rancho Santa Margarita (Calif.) Santa Margarita center plans to return for summer camp.

Some schools like the 6-foot-3, 289-pound prospect mainly at center - like Colorado, which has already offered - and others want to see him at guard as well. Crane said he's open to anything and doesn't want to limit himself to one position.

"It was pretty brief with coach (James) Cregg but we had a meeting with the offensive line and I talked to coach (Ed) Orgeron quite a few times," Crane said. "It was nice meeting some new recruits and I had some buddies there so it was nice seeing them again. It was nice seeing what USC has to offer. It was pretty awesome.

"Some schools like Colorado really like me as a center but other schools, like Tennessee, are saying center or guard. I'm not limiting myself to anything. I want to be adaptable as possible so I'll do whatever I'm asked to do."

Crane is planning a trip to Tennessee later this month and he's looking forward to it. The Volunteers haven't offered yet but Crane has had some good talks with offensive line coach Sam Pittman and he's excited to see Knoxville.

"They want me to come out for a visit and meet them face-to-face," Crane said. "Tennessee has emphasized that before I get an offer I would have to come out there. I've already talked with coach Pittman pretty extensively on the phone. I'm going out at the end of the month for a visit so I'm pretty excited for that.

"I have a connection there through the sports program, I know the baseball coach, he got the film to coach (Derek) Dooley and he got it right to coach Pittman. We had a really good talk and he told me some really good stuff and they want to get me out there for a visit to see what they have there."

So far, Crane has an offer from Colorado and is hearing from USC, Tennessee, San Diego State, Washington State, UCLA, TCU and Washington. He's planning a trip to Tennessee and one to Colorado in April. He might also go to Washington State.

Crane will also be attending USC's camp this summer.

"I think I'm going to the camp in June," Crane said. "They were really emphasizing that. Coach Orgeron and coach Cregg want me to make it to the camp. That's when they really evaluate all their players especially with the shortage in scholarships they have to pick and choose wisely."