Peach State DT has offers, favorites
Four-star
Georgia defensive lineman
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Cliff Dunham has received his first two of what is expected to be many
scholarship offers heading into his senior season at Pacelli High School.
"Maryland and Indiana have offered," he said. "I think there may be a couple of
others, but I'm not completely sure right now. Maryland is showing the most
interest."
Dunham (6-3, 270, 4.8) said his top six consists of Florida State,
Maryland, Alabama, Boston College, Indiana and Mississippi State.
He recently
camped at Florida State, calling it a "great experience."
"I learned a lot
down there about playing the defensive line... stuff I never knew before,"
Dunham said. "Their coaches were great. They showed me a lot about how to line
up right and come off the ball, a bunch of stuff about technique that will help
me this season."
The Seminoles are his favorite team.
"Florida State is just
great all-around, everything," he said. "The coaching staff is the main thing.
Bobby Bowden is the best coach since Bear Bryant in my opinion. I like how he
works with his players and their work ethic and commitment to win."
Maryland
may be a close second due to its early scholarship offer.
"I like them a lot,"
he said. "They're kind of like Florida State where I was talking about work
ethic and desire. That showed last year when they won the ACC. Their coaches
tell me that's where they're working to stay now, champions. Also, their
defensive line coach came to our school and told me he thought I could be one of
the best defensive linemen in Maryland history. That comment impressed me."
A
family connection has him keeping a close eye on Alabama.
"My uncle, Tyrone,
is always talking about how great Alabama is and all their tradition," Dunham
said. "My cousin, Robbie Jones, played there and for the New York Giants
(1984-87), so I've kept up with them. I really like the football atmosphere
there."
Mississippi State is making a strong push in recent weeks.
"They've
been coming on pretty hard for me," he said. "I'm not sure if they've offered
yet, but I know they seem to want me. It's a good school and a nice program.
They've had some good defensive linemen there."
As a junior at Pacelli, Jones
recorded 70 tackles and eight sacks. He's one of the state's most physically
gifted players, benching 430 pounds and squatting 530 while running a 4.8 forty.