Recruiting in Palm Beach

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Universities scrambling to recruit Palm Beach locals

Stacy Hicklin | HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

January 22, 2008

  With only 15 days remaining until National Signing Day for college football, the race to fill recruiting classes is moving at full speed.

Athletes have only two more weekends to take official visits before they can officially sign a national letter-of-intent on Feb. 6.

While many of the nation's top prospects have verbally committed to schools, coaching changes have created some confusion about whether recruits will continue to honor their commitments.

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Lake Worth quarterback Star Jackson, who verbally committed to Alabama in September, found himself caught in one of those storms.

Last week, Major Applewhite left Alabama to take a coaching job at Texas, his alma mater. Applewhite was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Alabama and was also the coach who recruited Jackson.

Applewhite's departure led to rumors about Jackson changing his commitment and restarting talks again with West Virginia.

"There is nothing going on with West Virginia," Lake Worth coach Errick Lowe said. "Star is still committed to Alabama. You can count West Virginia out."

Jackson, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's large school Player of the Year, had an in-home visit from the Mountaineers this past Thursday, but the trip did not sway him away from the Tide.

While West Virginia doesn't appear to be getting Jackson, it may have the inside track to another Palm Beach County standout in Pahokee linebacker Jatavious Miller. The defensive captain of the nationally ranked Blue Devils went on an official visit to Morgantown this weekend, along with wide receiver Martavious Odoms.

Odoms is heading to Miami this weekend and will take a trip to see Michigan on Feb. 1. South Florida remains one of his top choices as well.

Two other key Blue Devils, quarterback Anthony Sheppard and wide receiver Antavious Wilson, went on official visits to Memphis this past weekend. Sheppard will be on an official visit to Western Kentucky this weekend. Alcorn State also is recruiting Wilson.

Lake Worth wide receiver Brad Pierre and running back/linebacker Rosevelt Watson took official visits to Fordham, but haven't made decisions yet. Duke has recently shown interest in Watson.

Boca Raton defensive back Antonio Fenelus, a first-team All-County selection, has narrowed his choices to Wisconsin and FAU. Fenelus visited FAU on Jan. 11 and Madison this past weekend. After a home visit with the Badgers' coaching staff this week, he plans to make his selection.

The recruiting interest around several Dwyer players, including Kevin Hamlin, David Pittman, Chris Cameron, Roosevelt Maggitt, Daniel Riddle and Bruce Stone, remains high.