Early leader for Love

Clearwater (Fla.) Countryside's Mike Love, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound defender, is being looked at by colleges as both a defensive lineman and a linebacker.

"Some schools have told me they would want me to play a little defensive end and linebacker," Love said. "I just want to play football. I will work hard and do what I have to do just to play football. I will play any position on defense as long as it means I get to play. I will do whatever it takes to help make a program better.

"I am just working hard to get big," Love added. "I know I am going to get bigger. I prefer defensive end, but I will do whatever it takes to help the team out and allow me to play."

Love has already been offered by Alabama-Birmingham, Florida International, Iowa State, Louisville, Massachusetts, and Ohio. Others such as Central Florida, Florida, Florida State, Miami, and South Florida have expressed some level of interest.

Early on the Central Florida prospect has taken just one visit.

"I know a little bit about USF because I took a junior day there," Love said. "The best part about it is that you are a student there, if you are a student-athlete, you get a MacBook laptop, which I thought was pretty cool. Their education has gone up a lot. It is just a good school in general. They are just getting ready for the future."

The Bulls have positioned themselves well with Love early on.

"Right now I would say definitely USF," Love said when asked if he had an early leader. "It is close to home. They have a promising future. When I went to the campus, honestly I fell in love with it. It is nice. They are doing a lot with it. I feel comfortable with the coaches. I like the coaches, I get along with them really well. I've talked to them on the phone a lot. I am liking them a lot. But we will see, I have one more year."

While Skip Holtz' team is in a good position early on, Love intends to hit the road and take in a number of other schools.

"I know I want to take more visits," Love said. "I am trying to go to Miami for one of their spring scrimmages coming up soon. I am trying to go to one of USF's spring practices. I am just trying to see as many schools as I can to get a feel for it and see what it is like."

The Sunshine State prospect doesn't intend to make an early decision.

"I kind of want to wait it out and see who all is going to offer me," Love said. "I am going to keep my options open. I just want to take my time and see other schools, take more visits."

As a junior, Love recorded 15.5 sacks.