Doran Grant talks recruiting

USC and West Virginia offered scholarships to Akron (Ohio) St. Vincent-St. Mary cornerback Doran Grant on Friday. They are the two newest on a long list of offers for the talented defensive back.

"All of it is overwhelming," Grant said. "I was kind of expecting it, but it is still exciting. USC came in yesterday, West Virginia popped up. Recruiting is starting to pick up. Miami (FL) is very interested. I am expecting an offer from them later. This is all just fun for me. It is exciting. I am just talking it all in."

Grant said a few more schools are recruiting him very hard, and could offer down the road.

"I think Alabama, Florida State, and Oregon are close to offering."

Grant pointed out a handful of schools that stick out in his recruitment.

"Probably Ohio State and Michigan State the most so far," Grant said. "But I wouldn't say they are the top two. Michigan, Notre Dame, Georgia, and Georgia Tech also stick out."

Grant visited Michigan State and Ohio State during the same weekend in late January.

"It was pretty cool at Ohio State," Grant said. I have been around the area, have seen the facilities and the weight room. I have seen all of that before. But I enjoyed the practiced and the chance to see a little bit of what it is going to be like to play football at the college level and prepare for a bowl game."

There is plenty of speculation across recruiting circles that Grant is a heavy lean to Ohio State.

"I don't know where that came from honestly, maybe just because I am an Ohio kid," Grant said. "People say that if you go to St. Vincent- St. Mary, and you are a top guy, you are going to Ohio State. Everybody says Lebron [James] (a St. Vincent-St. Mary alum) would have gone to Ohio State if he didn't go straight to the NBA. I don't know if that is for me yet, but I am considering them highly. We'll see."

While Ohio State is certain to be a major factor for Grant, the Spartans made a good impression.

"Coach [Pat] Narduzzi was happy to see me and I was happy to see him. That's my dude. He came to my basektball game earlier that week. When I got there, I was talking to coach [Harlon] Barnett. We went to the defensive coaches room, they showed me the depth chart, and some film against Texas Tech. They explained their coverages. I talked to coach Dantonio. He was square with me about what to look for in a college. They didn't pressure me to commit. They are just really interested."

Grant says he plans to visit Georgia Tech in April, and Cincinnati sometime this Spring. But first, he will pay a visit to Michigan next weekend.

"You can get great academics at most of these schools that are recruitng me. So that is not a big part of my decision. Playing time is one thing I am watching, I am not interested in red-shirting. Relatioships with the coaches is a priority, and the people there. I want to be comfortable."