Rivals250 RB recaps Vandy visit

Rivals 250 running back Jordan Wilkins of Cordova, Tennessee St. Benedict gave his weekend visit to Vanderbilt rave reviews.

"I'd say it was probably a 9 [out of 10]," Wilkins said. "I liked it a lot. I had a good time meeting all the coaches and everybody. I feel like I have a close relationship with all of them. We toured the athletic facilities. Then we ate. After that, we went to individual meetings. I was with the running backs coach. Then we went over to the basketball game. When it got tied up [with Kentucky] in the second half, it was crazy."

During the basketball game, Wilkins got some face time with Commodores coach James Franklin.

"He just talked to me about the running backs they have right now, and why they want to get me," Wilkins recalled. "And why I'm such a special asset for them to get."

Can Vanderbilt be a factor for the 6-feet, 205-pound Wilkins, who claims 11 offers?

"Yes sir," he said. "It's up there, I'll tell you that."

Right now, Wilkins claims to have no leader but he admitted five programs stand out.

"Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Ohio State, Alabama and Michigan," he said. "Those are just my favorites right now. I'm not saying that can't change. Arkansas, Michigan and Vanderbilt are probably the three recruiting me the hardest."

Saturday's visit to Vanderbilt was Wilkins' first trip of 2012. More are coming, but Wilkins said, "I'm still trying to plan them."

In 2011, Wilkins rushed for more than 1,700 yards in 10 games.

At one point last summer, he was close to committing to Ole Miss during camp in Oxford.

Keith Niebuhr can be reached at Keithrivals@yahoo.com. You can follow him on Twitter @KeithRIVALS.