Stokes has options early on

Orlando (Fla.) Lake Highland Prep defensive end Landon Stokes currently holds nine offers, but his only visit of 2012 was to a school that has yet to extend an offer.

"I went to Miami's Junior Day. It was last month (in January)," Stokes said. "I didn't realize that they had such a great academic program down there. So that was a positive. I learned a lot about the class size, which I thought was really good because it is a small environment over there. I also saw that they are coming up, they have a lot of buildings that they are starting to renovate and stuff like that. They are changing a lot of things."

Stokes indicated that he believes Al Golden and his staff want him to camp this summer in hopes of earning an offer from the Hurricanes. He said that the coaching staff indicated they are looking at him as an outside linebacker.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound defensive prospect currently holds offers from Cincinnati, Connecticut, Florida International, Illinois, North Carolina State, Ole Miss, Syracuse, Troy, and Vanderbilt.

At this time, Stokes has no plans with regards to taking other visits. He does know of few places he wants to see.

"I don't have any plans right now, because it is difficult for me to travel to all these places, but I do have a couple of places that I would like to go see," Stokes said. "I definitely want to see Vanderbilt at some time. Louisville is another one I would like to get to. Also Illinois, I have been thinking about them. That is all I can think about right now off the top of my head."

Stokes indicated that Illinois and Vanderbilt are the two programs recruiting him the most aggressively at this time. He said both schools are coming after him with a similar pitch.

"Vanderbilt has told me about what position I would play over there and just how I fit into their defensive scheme," Stokes said. "Illinois just told me the same thing basically, that I would play (outside) linebacker and I fit in really well to their scheme."

With regards to his future position, Stokes prefers his natural position of defensive end but admits he is willing to adjust for the right situation.

"Most of the bigger schools are looking at me as a linebacker but some of the Big East schools are looking at me as a defensive end and outside linebacker," Stokes said. "It doesn't really matter to me. I have been a defensive end the last four years so that is what I am used to. Right now I would probably play defensive end, but it could change depending on where I go. I just feel I have more experience at the defensive end position."

Stokes father, Fred, played defensive end in the NFL from 1987 to 1996. During his NFL career, he played for the Los Angeles Rams, Washington Redskins, St. Louis Rams, and New Orleans Saints.