Marks exploring his options
ARLINGTON, Texas - Los Angeles (Calif.) Venice wide receiver Gabriel Marks was the most impressive pass-catcher on the first day of practice for the Offense-Defense Bowl. The 6-foot, 175-pound senior is showing why he is a four-star prospect and ranked as the No. 119 overall player in the country.
On the recruiting front Marks had committed to SMU a few months back, surprising many people by choosing the Conference USA program. However, his recruiter Adrian Klemm recently left SMU for UCLA and Marks decided to de-commit from the Mustangs.
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"There were lots of coaching changes everywhere," Marks said. "The way all the coaches were switching around just made me think about what was best for me and my situation. I just made the decision to step back and look at all of my options again.
"SMU is still in my recruitment but I'm looking at other schools too."
Though Klemm is now at UCLA, Marks says he is not likely to follow his recruiter to the Bruins.
"I've heard from him a little bit," he said, "but the coaching staff over there said they are looking for a bigger guy at the receiver spot. They haven't offered me or anything and I don't think they're going to."
Marks is now looking at programs from various parts of the country. He has set up a trio of official visits next month.
"I'm going to Washington State on Jan. 13, Kentucky on the 20 and then Vanderbilt, I think, on the 27," he said. I went to SMU a couple of weeks ago."
With a new head coach Marks admits that a Pac-12 program has piqued his interest.
"I like Washington State," he said. "They just got Mike Leach and I like that offense. I also like Kentucky and a couple other schools too."