Offers keep coming for 2014 LB

Although Bamberg-Ehrhardt (S.C.) inside linebacker Kevin Crosby just took part in the first game of his sophomore season, he already has more offers than the typical high school senior.

"I'm up to 15," Crosby told Rivals.com. "My most recent ones are Maryland, North Carolina State and Vanderbilt."

By offering Crosby, those schools joined the likes of programs such as Clemson, Florida, Georgia Tech, Illinois, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and South Carolina, which all previously pulled the trigger.

At 6-feet-2, 225 pounds, Crosby plays both linebacker and tight end for the Red Raiders. In last Friday's 35-7 win over Orangeburg (S.C.) Wilkinson, he spent the bulk of his time at tight end, where he caught three passes and averaged more than 20 yards per reception.

"We ran a pass set [on defense] against O-W, and we only needed two linebackers, so I was mostly on offense," Crosby said. "I think my future, with my genetics, will probably be at linebacker. I don't think I'll get much bigger or taller. But it doesn't matter to me [which position he plays]. I just have fun and play football."

In 2010, Crosby started only three games. The biggest weakness in his game last year had nothing to do with raw ability, his coaches and teammates said. According to them, Crosby simply was thinking too much.

"I think I'm a whole lot better now," Crosby said. "I'm exploding off the ball more. It's instinct. It's like I was born to do it now. It just comes to me and I feel more confident. I've made a lot of progress, even from the spring. That's when I started sprouting. In the summer I got in here and started working even harder."

In recent months, Crosby visited Clemson, Georgia Tech and Tennessee. This fall, he plans to attend games at Clemson and South Carolina. At this point, Crosby claims to have no leaders.

"Once the season started I kind of put all that behind me," Crosby said. "I want to focus on the season."

Keith Niebuhr can be reached at kneebs01@aol.com. You can follow him on Twitter @KeithRIVALS.