Hatcher looking hard at five
Delray Beach (Fla.) Atlantic Community safety Karnell Hatcher, one of the top overall prospects in Palm Beach County in the Class of 2008, has multiple scholarship offers. At the moment, five programs stand out to the hard-hitting safety.
"Right now, LSU, Miami, Alabama, Auburn and Florida stand out," Hatcher said.
Advertisement
The 6-foot-2, 189-pounder has offers from all of his favorites except the Gators.
Assistant coach and area recruiter D.J. McCarthy is recruiting Hatcher for LSU.
"He's a nice guy," Hatcher said. "We've got a nice relationship. I call him once a week and have a long conversation."
Hatcher points to the strength of the Tigers program in terms of developing players in the secondary.
"I like LSU because they develop nice defensive backs like the defensive back they have coming out now Laron Landry, I see how they developed him and how he's going to the NFL now."
Hatcher currently doesn't have any plans to head to Baton Rouge for an unofficial, but plans to take an official visit to LSU.
There are several things that stand out to Hatcher about Miami, including the school's proximity.
"It's close to home," he said. "It's only 45 minutes away gives my family and opportunity to come to see me play. Me and (Miami assistant Jeff Stoutman) are trying to set up something so they can show me around."
Stoutman also is Hatcher's Hurricanes recruiter of record.
Hatcher's interest in Alabama was heightened with a recent conversation with the new Crimson Tide head coach.
"I got a chance to talk to coach Nick Saban," he said. "He was telling me about the program and the history and his coaching background, about how he is the head coach but he tries to coach the defensive backs sometimes because that's where his background is."
Lance Thompson is recruiting Hatcher for the Tide.
Though he's not as familiar with their program, there are plenty of things that Hatcher likes about Auburn.
"They are in the SEC," Hatcher said. "I don't know too much about Auburn, but I like their defense."
Florida hasn't offered yet, but certain things stand out about the Gators.
"They are in the SEC, one of the toughest conferences and they are all about winning championships," he said.
Hatcher added that it will be a long time before he makes a decision. He plans to camp at Florida, Florida State and Miami this summer.
Hatcher attended the Miami NIKE Camp on April 1 in Coral Gables, Fla.
"It went well," he said. "It went pretty well other than my thigh was hurting. That Friday, I did a leg workout with some squats because I wasn't planning on going to the camp, but I decided to go."
Georgia, Central Florida, Ole Miss, Wisconsin, UConn and others also have offered Hatcher.