Sleeper DL with five offers

Joseph Champaign is a defensive end prospect from the Peach State to keep a close eye on this recruiting season. Champaign, 6-1 and 240 pounds, is an undersized defensive lineman that can play on either side for Loganville (Ga.) Grayson High School.

"I play both weak side and strong side defensive end," Champaign said. "Most teams like me as defensive end because I can play strong or weak. I have a great passion for the game, I play with a great motor, and play with a big heart. I have always been that guy. I am undersized so I play every snap fast."

At this time Champaign has five scholarship offers from Stanford, Syracuse, BYU, Air Force and Georgia Southerm.

"Stanford was the first to offer. That was pretty exciting. I was very pumped up about it. It's BCS football and an Ivy League education. You can't get any better than that. Those are the two main things. I also have had the opportunity to talk with coach (Jim) Harbaugh. I really like him.

"I have talked with coach (Steve) Kaufusi a few times from BYU. He's a good guy and he has been down here. They have a different way of living. It looks like I would like the area up there. My position coach played there (Lenny Gregory – DL coach Loganville).

"I have talked with one of the coaches at Air Force. It's a really good school with nice facilities and a good staff.

"I have been down to Georgia Southern a few times. They have a tradition for winning, a nice campus with good coaches.

"Syracuse has offered. They are a good school and I need to learn more about them."

In addition to those five there are a few other schools that are showing a lot of interest in Champaign.

"I have received a couple of hand written letters from Harvard. West Virginia is coming down this spring. I have talked with both of those schools. Indiana is looking at me pretty hard as well.

"I really don't have any favorites at this time. I am playing it by ear and weighing all my options. I want to see what happens with all of the schools. I want to make a decision by the end of summer or at the beginning of the season.

"The main thing I am looking at is education. That is No. 1 with me. I want to pick a school where I have that home type of feeling."

Champaign carries a 3.97 grade point average. Last season as a junior he recorded 46 tackles and 14 sacks.