Gabbert talks about spring game visits

Ballwin (Mo.) Parkway West standout Blaine Gabbert is the prize jewel in the state of Missouri this weekend, and the 6-foot-5, 229-pound quarterback made the trip down to Columbia, Mo., this weekend for the Tigers' spring game. The visit was hot off the heels of a trip to Lincoln, Neb., for the Huskers spring game.

So what did he think about his time in Columbia?

"The visit just reinforced things, I had seen just about everything at Mizzou," Gabbert said. "I just wanted to get up there and hang out with the coaches and players."

Gabbert said he spent almost 2 hours hanging out with players after the spring game was over with. He respected the way the Tiger players didn't put the full court press on him and try to get him to commit. He said most of the visit was spent talking with the players and getting to know them even better.

"I hung out with Jeremy Maclin, Chase Daniel, Chase Coffman, Will Franklin and Martin Rucker," he said. "I had a good time. We just talked for about an hour and a half in the coaches offices just me and them, just about whatever. I also talked to the coaches for a while now."

Most believe that Missouri is his leader and while his comments were definitely glowing about his time in Columbia, Gabbert said he's not sure if he's ready to call the Tigers the team to beat.

"I really couldn't tell you if they are my No. 1 or anyone is my number one at this point," he said. "All four teams (Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa and Alabama) are still in the running. I just have to think things out and come to a decision on my own."

After visiting both Lincoln and Columbia the past two weekends the obvious question is how they compared head-to-head with each other.

"They were dead equal," he said. "You can't go wrong with either school. Now, I'm just going to hang out and try and take it easy and hopefully conclude recruiting when I'm comfortable."

Gabbert has also visited Iowa this spring, but he's not been able to make it to Alabama for a visit. He said he's still trying to find a hole in his schedule to make it to Tuscaloosa some time soon.

"I heard they had 92,000 fans at their spring game," he said. "That's insane. They are in my top four still. I just have to find some time when I can get down there because of my schedule."

Gabbert has plans to make it to the Columbia NIKE Training Camp, where he hopefully can solidify a spot in the EA Sports Elite 11. He's already ranked as one of the top quarterbacks in the nation and is a serious candidate for five-star consideration. As a junior he threw for 1,523 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also rushed for an additional 458 yards and eight scores.