New schools after Marks

Gabriel Marks is one of the better wide receivers in Southern California for the 2012 class and the Los Angeles Venice standout already has one offer from SMU with lots more interest coming in.

Marks, a shifty and elusive 6-foot, 175-pound prospect who earned the wide receiver MVP award at the Los Angeles NIKE Camp last spring, said Colorado, Cal, UCLA and Oregon State have been talking to him. The Buffaloes and Golden Bears have been the most active.

"I like Colorado because their offense is up-and-coming and they're getting a lot of good players," Marks said. "They're going to be a really good team. With Cal, they just know how to make good players. It's a great school, a great networking school and if you go to Cal you'll be set.

"I'm thinking about extending out of Los Angeles, I kind of want to. At this point whoever wants me I'm interested in but I'd prefer to stay more West Coast so I could stay close to my family and stuff."

Marks is also highly interested in SMU especially after watching the Mustangs play on television this past season. Coach June Jones has a high-powered offense that suits Marks' game well so the Los Angeles standout wants to learn more about that program moving forward.

"I kind of fell in love with SMU last year when I saw one of their games," Marks said. "They throw the ball so much and it's good with the run and shoot. I really like that school. That's a good offer."

For Marks, all the attention is great.

Some have questioned his size in the past but after his performance at the Los Angeles NIKE Camp and his junior season, more colleges are getting involved. He said Cal and Colorado have been more aggressively recruiting him than UCLA, Oregon State and others but he's just excited to get any attention at all.

"It's real exciting," Marks said. "I'm not used to this because I haven't been in this situation before in my life so it's a good experience, the whole recruiting process. I'm just looking forward to getting more interest from all these schools."