Eight in mix for 4-star DB Ali
Rivals250 defensive back Kareem Ali has decided to narrow down his list. The Sicklerville (N.J.) Timber Creek stand out said his top eight schools, in no order are Michigan State, Temple, Rutgers, Maryland, Louisville, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and West Virginia.
Ali explained why each school is still in contention.
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Michigan State: "I like everything they're doing. Coach Dantonio really changed that program around," said the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Ali. "They went the Rose Bowl and won the Big Ten Championship. Darqueze Deenard is coming out. The staff is always showing me love and telling how interested in me they are."
Temple: "They were my first offer and my parents went there," he said. "The defensive backs coach, Fran Brown, is family. Coach Rhule is a great guy and I love what he is doing. I watched coach Elijah Robinson play when I was younger and he plays a big role in this for me. The program is coming up."
Rutgers: "That's the instate school for me," Ali said. "Coach Flood and coach Wilson are always in the loop. I have a good relationship with coach Wilson. Rutgers is always showing me love. I want to see how they do in the Big Ten this year and that's going to play a major role in what I do. I was lifting with Myles Nash today and he was telling me all about it up there."
Maryland: "Coach Edsall and coach Stewart are the two main guys there," he said. "Coach Stewart has NFL experience and he wants Maryland to be 'DBU'. I respect that and I like hearing that. Coach Edsall coached my dad and a few of my mentors. He turned around UConn's program and is trying to make Maryland a powerhouse in the Big Ten."
Louisville: "My uncle went there and he still lives out there," said Ali. "Coach Petrino is back to get them back to being a top 10 team. Terrell Buckley is the defensive backs coach and he's a great guy. I can't wait to visit this spring. It was one of my dream schools because I got to watch my uncle play.
North Carolina: "I have a couple of teammates there," he said. "The Tar Heels are recruiting me on both sides of the ball so I like that. Coach Littrell is always talking to me about playing on offense and defense for them. My teammates always tell me they love it down there. I'm also going to visit there this spring. Chris Clark has been in my ear."
Pittsburgh: "I visited Pitt before," Ali said. "They offered me pretty early. My teammate Adonis Jennings is out there and is always in my ear about it. Coach Chryst is a great guy. The coaches are always in contact with me, always writing letters. My coach is always telling me that they are calling and saying how much they want and need me and I like that. They're in the ACC and that's big time."
West Virginia: "West Virginia speaks for itself," he said. "It's Big 12 football. I like what they're doing out there. Daikiel Shorts is a good friend of mine and he is always telling me about West Virginia. I talked with coach Mitchell a lot. I like how much they reach out to my coach and how badly they want to come in.
Ali is going to have a busy spring.
"I want to visit Pittsburgh, West Virginia, North Carolina, Louisville and Michigan State," said Ali. "I don't have any dates for these yet."
There were two schools that almost made Ali's top eight.
"I was high on Penn State but with the whole new staff coming in threw me off," he said. "I've always loved Penn State I really don't know this new staff. Coach Franklin is a good guy but it wasn't a fit for me.
"Syracuse was definitely close also," Ali said. "It wasn't a fit for me either. Coach Shaffer is turning that program around but I didn't really feel the love. Coach Shaffer offered me personally and he is a good guy."