Culkin lands first BCS offer

Largo (Fla.) Indian Rocks Christian School tight end Sean Culkin has landed three early offers, including one from a BCS-level school.

"Samford and Iowa State have offered me," Culkin said. "Liberty has basically told me for the last two years that I have an offer from them, because my brother played there."

The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder said he has been in regular contact with Iowa State assistant Shane Burnham about the Cyclones.

"He talked about how they have been building their program," Culkin said. "He talked about how they run the spread, which I like a lot. They talked about how they do a lot of passing to the tight end. Their tight end last year was second in the nation in receptions with around 60. So they really make the tight end a big part of their offense in the slot."

With regards to Samford, Culkin has been in communication with tight ends and inside receivers coach Travis Trickett.

"Coach Trickett just came from FSU and their other offensive coordinator (Rhett Lashlee) came from Auburn," Culkin said. "They said I would be in the slot for them a lot, h-back in motion coming off the edge. They would use me in the slot a lot. They like to use their tight ends a lot of ways, which I like. I also like Coach Trickett a lot, he is really cool."

So far, all of the interest in Culkin is to line up as a receiving option at the tight end spot. He said he is trying to prove this summer that he can also be a blocking option at the line of scrimmage.

"I prefer being a receiver but at the same time I intend to bulk up so I can become a better blocker as well," Culkin said. "Some people are wondering if I can block, but I plan to show them at camps that I can. That being said, I definitely want to be a receiving option as well in college. I like to be able to play in the slot and go out wide in some situations."

Culkin has numerous camp visits on his summer agenda.

"I actually visited Northwestern a couple weeks ago and I am planning to camp there," Culkin said. "Florida, they came down during the spring and liked me a lot, they called and told me they want me to camp in front of Coach (Charlie) Weis and everybody. USF wants me to camp. I plan to go up to Wisconsin for a camp. I am going to camp at Florida State. I also plan to attend every single camp I can in Florida."

This past weekend he hit the road to camp with Florida International and Miami.

"I did really great at FIU," Culkin said. "They said they had another camp and they were going to watch more film and then hopefully call me back with some good news."

"Miami, in a tight end drill this guy decked me in the face by accident and I ended up with eight stitches around my eye and didn't get to continue at the camp," Culkin added. "My whole right eye, I can't even see out of it right now. They got to see me run the 40 and do some releases, but I didn't get to really do anything else. What they saw they liked, but I think I am going to come back to camp for another day if I can."

As a junior, Culkin racked up more than 500 receiving yards on 28 receptions including nine touchdowns while playing wide receiver for Indian Rocks Christian School. In addition to football, Culkin also plays basketball for Indian Rocks Christian School as well as the Florida Rams on the summer circuit.