With three local high school football players already committed to sign scholarships in February — before July 1 — making an early decision appears to be even more trendy than it has been in past years.
Last summer, only two area players had committed prior to the start of the 2010 season, which was twice as many as had done so the year before.
But Battle Ground Academy quarterback C.J. Beathard (Ole Miss), Brentwood Academy offensive lineman Graham Shuler (Stanford) and Montgomery Bell Academy offensive lineman Blake Bars (Michigan) may have company before the beginning of the 2011 campaign, if not before the end of this week.
McGavock defensive end Caleb Azubike confirmed earlier this week that he has narrowed his choices down to Boston College, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt, while Ensworth receiver/defensive back Cory Batey is looking at the Commodores and Kentucky. Both may commit as soon as Friday, and the two could form a package deal.
“We don’t know if we’re going to the same school yet, but we’re trying to commit the same day,” said Azubike, a London-born Nigerian who has only played football since his sophomore season. “There’s not a big difference in the three schools, and I’ve just felt like I should know it by then.”
Brentwood Academy defensive lineman Woody Baron said he’ll likely stay close to home and play for Vanderbilt, or follow his uncle — former Nashville Kats star James Baron — and play at Virginia Tech.
“I’d like to make a decision before the season starts, but I’m not sure,” said the younger Baron, a Division II-AA Mr. Football Lineman finalist as a junior. “Virginia Tech would have a little of an advantage, but not a lot. I think I’d enjoy the opportunity to play at home. That would be one of the pros of playing at Vanderbilt. And I’m pretty close with my ‘boys’.”
Vanderbilt has signed a Brentwood Academy product in each of the last two recruiting classes — defensive back Derek King will be an incoming freshman this fall, while defensive lineman Thad McHaney redshirted this past season.
“They’ve got a brand-new coaching staff,” Baron said. “I’d like to see what they’re going to do.”
Brentwood offensive lineman Lucas Patrick and Pearl-Cohn receiver Nick Hill were the lone 2010 preseason commitments, both settling on Duke before their season openers. Ensworth tight end Sam Cooper also knew he was heading to the Atlantic Coast Conference before beginning the 2009 season, committing to Clemson ahead of his senior year.
According to Barton Simmons, a Nashville-based national recruiting analyst for 247sports, the increase in local commitments may be directly linked to an increase in local talent.
“For whatever reason, that may be a little out of the ordinary locally, but it may be because locally there haven’t been as many kids (in past years) that have gotten the national attention as the guys in this class,” Simmons said. “Generally speaking, early commitments are becoming a lot more of the norm, particularly for the national-type programs.”
