IMG Academy Football Recruiting Insider
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Each trip to IMG Academy provides a sample to what dozens of college football programs will experience in the coming months.
The Ascenders' alumni at top programs across the country speaks for itself, just watch next month's NFL Draft, so checking in on the next wave is always newsworthy when it comes to recruiting.
SI All-American highlights the intel gathered while on campus for the first time under new coach Bobby Acosta.
2021 DL Tunmise Adeleye - A weekend trip to Florida has the Gators in strong position for the Texas native, who remains on track to commit on August 1. Visits are scheduled for Alabama, Oklahoma, Ohio State and Texas A&M in the coming weeks. Adeleye says he is going to prioritize the programs who recruit him the hardest and location will not be a factor.
2021 OL JC Latham - A verbal commitment in April is still the plan although the massive lineman (Under Armour Orlando video above) admits his recruitment is likely to extend beyond an initial commitment. Ohio State and LSU are likely the two under most consideration at this time while Alabama, Georgia and Florida are positioning themselves to compete with the top pair into the summer months.
2021 RB Lovosea Carroll - The Georgia native and former South Carolina commitment has a fresh, all SEC top five he is working with. Carroll says Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Auburn and Tennessee make up his top group. Ohio State is subbed out as he says playing in the SEC and the semi-local region has become a priority. Florida is leading the pack slightly but several trips -- including official visits to USC April 3, Auburn the following weekend and Tennessee in June -- remain. Playing time is among the priorities in Carroll's impending choice August 6 to honor his mother's birthday.
2021 WR Malik McClain - The Alabama native and towering wide receiver is the prospect folks on campus seem to be buzzing most about. A teammate says he can stretch the field with great speed while a staff member commented on his catch radius. A lanky 6-foot-4 frame makes him hard to miss. Maryland hosted him most recently and it made a strong first impression although McClain is wide open with his timeline and list of programs to consider. Florida State and Alabama, yet to offer as of this writing, are a pair of programs that look poised to move up his list whenever it forms.
2021 OL Greg Crippen - "Relieved," the rising senior offensive lineman said of his current state following an announcement to open his recruitment. The former Notre Dame pledge is going to take a slower approach to finding his collegiate home, in a race appearing to be of the coast to coast variety. USC, Michigan and Alabama are three programs Crippen named as contenders and trips to USC and Michigan could come "in the next two weeks."
2021 DB Kamar Wilcoxson - A longtime Florida Gator commitment, the versatile defensive back is rock solid with the program at this point. He says the communication with UF is beyond recruiting talk by now, though it doesn't mean the door is yet shut for other programs. LSU, Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State could eventually host him for an official visit.
2021 DB OJ Burroughs - The Peach State prospect and IMG record holder for interceptions in a season, Burroughs is working on his versatility in the secondary to maximize his value. He was among those at Florida and reports positive traction despite not yet holding an offer. Recent extensions have come in from Kansas, Buffalo, Tennessee State, Kent State and Coastal Carolina, among others. Burroughs, who wants to soon see Georgia Tech, is looking forward to a big spring with the droves of coaches expected to stop at the school.
2021 OL Ilija Kranjnovic - One of the newer additions to the IMG roster comes all the way from Serbia. At 6-foot-7, near 300 pounds, Kranjnovic looks like a quick study on the field and in the weight room, where we saw him work with great energy and progress Wednesday. As coaches hit the road this spring, he'll be hard to miss.
2022 DL Tyler Booker - The Connecticut native is another very impressed by Florida on the recent trip and he said the program is now a lock for his top group when it is to release down the road.Georgia is another to be expected to make that cut. Penn State should benefit from Booker being back in the northeast for spring break as an unofficial visit is in the works for March 21. There is no rush to make a decision for the rising prospect, who was also offered by Michigan State Wednesday.
2022 QB Chad Mascoe - Seeing Mascoe healthy and squatting over 400 pounds on the same knee that caused him to miss so much of 2019 was a welcomed sight. On the recruiting trail, he's still committed to Florida State despite its coaching change and has spoken to Mike Norvell since his hire. He would like to get back to Tallahassee to learn more of the new plan at FSU while increasing the frequency of communication and could make the trip during spring break. Tennessee, Georgia and Georgia Tech are still involved and each could get a visit later this year.
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