VA lineman ready for more visits

Bealeton (Va.) Liberty offensive tackle Alex Stadler is up to 25 offers total this recruiting season, adding four more in the past few weeks.

The huge 6-foot-6, 300-pounder added offers from Connecticut, Boston College, Clemson and Oklahoma.

"I'm not really familiar with Boston College's school, but I know they are going into the ACC. I'm eager to see what they have as I go on a northern swing later this month," he said. "That's the same sort of thing with Connecticut, but they've probably shown the most interest out of any school. They've made two visits to my school and multiple phone calls and this is from a school that is over five hours away. It speaks volumes for them and that impresses me a lot, that a school that far away thinks that much of me. I have to go up there and see what they have.

"Clemson was the last offer to round out the ACC. The coaches told me that they offered and that they liked my film. I don't really know too much about them, I know their program is getting better though."

The biggest of the offers easily was Oklahoma.

"Their coach called me and told me that they had offered and they seemed really excited, I had a conversation with them and it was pretty good. They pretty much told me they were really interested in me and that there aren't a lot of players in Oklahoma so they have to look elsewhere. They told me that I'm on their priority list and that's pretty cool."

The tackle prospect was particularly impressed with a few schools during the evaluation period.

"Connecticut's head coach came in and I thought that was pretty big," he said. "Michigan also came in twice and they stuck out to me too. I also had a really good conversation with coach Woods from Alabama and he expressed a lot of interest in me and they really made me want to go there. He treated me really well and I got to know him and he used to coach at Virginia for a couple years, so he knows the area."

Stadler claims that he has narrowed his list of schools to 15, but he did not want to release who his favorites are until he takes more visits. He will release it sometime in July. Although he did confirm that schools listed for him including Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Notre Dame, North Carolina State, Oklahoma, Virginia and Virginia Tech were still in the running for his services.

Back in mid-April, the tackle went on a swing through the Southeast. He visited Georgia, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Florida, Florida State and Miami.

"Alabama, Georgia and Florida State stood out the most during that trip," he said. "Alabama was incredible and they have the best campus. Georgia has great living conditions and Florida State's stadium and campus were very impressive."

This week the prospect plans to head to Duke and Northwestern. Then in late June Stadler is planning a tour through the north and Midwest.

"I'm planning on stopping by Connecticut, Boston College, Michigan, Notre Dame, Indiana and Northwestern," he said. "I'll be looking at the environment on the trips. I want to see how well I fit into the offense and get a feel for the living conditions. I just want to feel comfortable because I'm going to have four years of my life there and I need to be comfortable wherever I end up."

On the tour, Stadler is expecting to take in summer camps at Northwestern and Michigan.

Stadler was named all-district as a junior.