Offers piling up for Cabinda

Linebacker Jason Cabinda of Flemington (N.J.) Hunterdon Central started off his recruiting process by reeling in a number of FCS offers. However, recently Cabinda's recruiting process has hit a new level as several BCS programs have offered.

Cabinda's first offers came from programs like Fordham, Lafayette, Colgate and Bucknell. Since then he has added offers from Connecticut, Boston College, Syracuse, Temple, UMass and most recently Navy.

"I didn't expect recruiting to be the way it is now. I never knew it would blow up the way it did," said Cabinda. "The hard work that I put in the weight room and on the field and in the classroom has really paid off. Big schools have come in to see me multiple times, such as Syracuse, Temple, UConn, Maryland, Boston College, Wisconsin, Northwestern and more. 1-AA schools have all come in as well, such as Lehigh, Lafayette, Colgate, Monmouth, Bryant, Richmond and so on. So it's been a great time, but now I'm faced with about 13 or 14 offers that are on the table that I am really gonna have to choose from."

Up next for Cabinda is a series of visits.

"I plan on going to Temple, Syracuse, Lehigh, Boston College, UMass, hopefully UConn again, and possibly Yale and Lafayette," he said. "Then camps will be at Maryland, UConn and Penn State. I also hope to visit Navy as well."

Since two of the three camps he will be attending are at schools that have yet to offer, Cabinda will have a few goals in mind. He also knows what he will be looking for during visits.

"I plan to prove that I can run with guys and I can handle myself with the best," said Cabinda, who is 6-foot-1 and 221 pounds. "In terms of just visits I am just looking to get a feel of the academic side of things and also the campus and facilities that the schools have to offer me."

While some of the smaller schools are recruiting Cabinda at running back, his BCS offers have come at linebacker. Does he have a preference?

"Nope, absolutely not," he said. "I plan on playing where coaches believe I will be able to use my abilities to help the team best. I've always been an unselfish player and I am a guy that believes in team first."

Finally, Cabinda discussed a possible decision timeframe.

"The decision will be a hard one for sure and I am in no rush at all, but I would like to have a decision done hopefully sometime in the summer between July and August."