Rios sees recruitment pick up
Marcus Rios is hearing more from Notre Dame and it seems the Irish coaching staff is showing lots of interest in the Elk Grove (Calif.) Cosumnes Oaks cornerback who plans to visit South Bend later this month.
According to Cosumnes Oaks coach Ryan Gomes, Notre Dame assistant coach Mike Denbrock recently stopped by the school and another coach is expected sometime next week for workouts. Rios, a four-star prospect by Rivals.com, is supposed to visit on Dec. 16.
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"They're pretty high on Marcus," Gomes said of Notre Dame. "It's something he'll need to consider if an offer does come. I didn't send out his senior cut-ups until last week because he already had all the offers and he was committed so we weren't necessarily working on his stuff.
"With him opening back up, we did some cut-ups and sent them out. Notre Dame got them last week and they've evaluating the cut-ups. They flew out coach Denbrock and then the DB coach will be out next week. It all happens fast."
Nebraska is also one of the four favorites for Rios, who had been committed to Boise State, along with UCLA, Arizona State and Notre Dame. The Northern California prospect visited with the Huskers over Thanksgiving weekend and was thoroughly impressed.
"He's still extremely high on Nebraska," Gomes said. "What stands out about them is the culture there and the character of the guys they have, the way their program operates at a high level.
"He doesn't know the tradition of Nebraska and Notre Dame like we do so when he went out there he said, 'Holy cow that's big. There is a lot of tradition and history to that place.' That was kind of funny."
Gomes said Rios will evaluate UCLA and Arizona State as those two Pac-12 programs continue searching for a new coach. Cal is also showing more interest and Gomes said Golden Bears' coach Jeff Tedford stopped by a game late in the season.
There is a decision to make but Gomes said Rios isn't rushing anything and is still evaluating all his options.
"I wouldn't say he's completely ruled anybody out," Gomes said.
Rivals.com rates Rios No. 20 at cornerback and No. 244 in the 2012 class.