Edison DT ready for game, Washington

It is jamboree time in the state of Florida and one of the most intriguing pre-season match-ups will take place tonight when Miami Killian battles Miami Edison. Most people are going into the game expecting big things from Killian running back Bobby Washington. Well, most people except for Edison defensive tackle Richard Clebert. You see, Clebert is hoping to send a special message to Washington and the college coaches.

“My goal is to embarrass people,” Clebert, who is a standout two-way linemen that stands 6-foot and 271 pounds, said. “On paper Bobby Washington is good. But that’s just on paper. We’re going to show him tonight.”

Clebert definitely isn’t lacking in confidence, but he’s also not lacking in talent.

Clebert is one of Florida’s strongest players and for his size he can really move well laterally. He has clocked in at 4.93 seconds in the 40-yard dash, put up 35 reps of 185 pounds and has a 4.5-second time in the shuttle. It’s that combination, along with a nasty hard-nosed playing style, that makes him an attractive college prospect.

“It’s true,” Clebert said when asked if he’s one of Florida’s best. “On offense I pancake them and on defense I beat them up. I think really my future is probably at defensive tackle. Some colleges do like me on offense, but there’s just something about defense. I guess I like being versatile.”

And highly recruited.

Clebert already has scholarship offers from Rutgers and LSU. He has also received May calls from LSU, Rutgers, Mississippi State, Kansas, Florida and Kansas State. LSU and Rutgers told him they like him at center, while the others like him at defensive tackle. Clebert said it doesn’t matter where he plays at because all he wants is a chance to showcase his skills.

“This recruiting stuff is pretty cool,” he said. “I really like talking to the coaches and getting to know them. It’s been a lot of fun so far. I really like Rutgers and LSU now, but I’m not in any kind of rush. I have a lot of places to still see.”

For the record, Clebert is planning on camping at Miami, Rutgers, Ohio State, Iowa, LSU and Florida. He said he is hoping to also be able to attend the same school as talented Edison receiver Jackie Chambers. Chambers also has an offer from Rutgers and is listing Mississippi State, N.C. State and Wyoming as his top teams.

“That’s the plan,” Clebert said. “Jackie and I want to go to the same school.”

But first things first, Clebert said he is counting the seconds until the jamboree with Killian. So are we.