Road trip opens Patricks eyes
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Orlando (Fla.) Timber Creek rising sophomore athlete Jacques Patrick has been on the road the past few days checking out colleges around the Southeast. On Wednesday, he arrived in Tallahassee to check out Florida State during the first day of the Jimbo Fisher Football Camp.
"I have been up here all day and it has been great," Patrick said on Wednesday evening. "I have been hanging around the coaches and hanging around the players. It has been a great experience so far.
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"Just being around the coaches I feel at home," Patrick added. "I have talked a lot with (running backs) Coach (Eddie) Gran, (offensive line coach) Coach (Rick) Trickett, and Coach (Jimbo) Fisher. I also spoke with (player development) coach Mario Edwards."
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound athlete, who currently works at running back, talked about his conversation with Florida State running backs coach Eddie Gran.
"We were just talking, chatting it up," Patrick said. "We didn't even really talk about football."
He also had an opportunity to speak with head coach Jimbo Fisher. He says the message from the top Seminole was a simple one.
"He just told me he wants me here (at Florida State)," Patrick said.
During the visit, Patrick and his family were also taken on a tour of the school and facilities.
Prior to visiting Florida State, Patrick also checked out Alabama and Georgia.
"The coaching staff at Alabama impressed me," Patrick said. "They were laid back but yet they work real hard. They know what kind of school they are and they showed me everything. They kind of convinced me to camp, because I didn't want to camp, but they got me to do it.
"I got a chance to talk with Coach (Nick) Saban," Patrick added. "He never smiled when we talked. He was kind of intimidating, but it was a good talk. He is a good guy and a good coach, but he never smiled."
During his visit to Alabama, Patrick picked up his ninth offer. It came directly from Nick Saban and gave Patrick something to smile about.
"It was a blessing," Patrick said. "A lot of guys never have the opportunity to get an offer, so to get one from them is great. I will just take it and embrace it. I am trying not to look too much at my offers yet though."
After seeing Alabama, Patrick made his way to Athens, Georgia to check out the Bulldogs.
"Georgia was great," Patrick said. "The facilities were nice and everything was nice there. We sat down with the coaches for like four hours. I talked a lot with (wide receivers) coach Tony Ball, but there were like four assistants with me all day.
"I didn't get a chance to meet with head coach Mark Richt because he was at the SEC media days. That is why I don't think they offered me, because he wasn't there and he calls the shots," Patrick added. "I think when I talk to him on the phone in the next week or so they may offer."
The message from Georgia to Patrick was to check out their history in the offensive backfield.
"They told me that they have a good track record with running backs and I see that," Patrick said.
Patrick now intends to return home before hitting the road again next week to check out another in-state school.
"I was going to stop at Florida on the way home but it doesn't look like I am going to stop now," Patrick said. "I will be at Florida on the 27th for Friday Night Lights."
At this point in the process, Patrick is hesitant to name a leader.
"Not yet," Patrick said. "I would say before my sophomore season ends I will be able to say one school is standing out."
Patrick said he will likely commit towards the end of his junior year.