[NU Sports] Central Florida top 100

[MHRJGScott at aol.com]

its here  somewhere, but here is more info
 
OrlandoSentinel.com
A look inside the decisions to commit early by 10 Central Floridians
By Joe Williams 
Sentinel Staff Writer 
 
 
 

Northwestern University may be in Evanston, Ill. -- near the nation's 
Second  City, Chicago -- but when it comes to major-college football programs, no 
school  has recruited Central Florida's Class of 2010 better so far.

But what  made Olympia teammates Trevor Siemian and Rashad Lawrence, and 
DeLand's  Shontrelle Johnson give oral commitments to the Wildcats? Or why did 
Kissimmee  Osceola's B.J. Butler and Marc Deas decide to play their college 
ball for Mark  Richt at Georgia?

For Apopka defensive back Lo Wood, who has committed to  Notre Dame, his 
choice was simple.

"I wanted to have a better opportunity  to play early, to get adjusted to 
the system," Wood said. "Now that I am  committed, my plan is to graduate 
early [in December] from Apopka and start at  Notre Dame in January."

We take a look at 10 area early commitments --  they won't become official 
until National Signing Day on Feb. 3, 2010 -- and  what went into their 
decisions.

Joe Williams' Varsity blog can be read  at OrlandoSentinel.com/varsityblog 
or VarsityGridiron.com, and he can be reached  at 
jwilliams at orlandosentinel.com.

Bobby Borcky

HIGH  SCHOOL: Lake Highland

COMMITTED: Colorado  State

OVERVIEW: The son of Highlanders Coach Tim Borcky is a  versatile 
quarterback with good size (6-3/200), capable of using his legs to buy  extra time. 
He was Class 2A all-state honorable mention last year. The Rams  recruited 
him as an athlete and are going to give Borcky a shot at playing  quarterback, 
wide receiver or cornerback.

DECIDING FACTOR: Borcky,  who gave an oral commitment to the Rams in 
January, spent much of his childhood  snowboarding in Colorado. He loves the 
winter weather, putting Colorado State at  the top of his priority list.

HE SAID IT: "As long as they give me  a chance to play, I don't care where 
they put me."

B.J.  Butler

HIGH SCHOOL: Kissimmee Osceola

COMMITTED:  Georgia

OVERVIEW: Butler (6-2/230) has played seven positions  during his high 
school career. He is ranked 30th in the nation at the outside  linebacker spot 
by Rivals.com and is 53rd on Bill Buchalter's Florida Top  100.

DECIDING FACTOR: When Butler went on his official visit a  couple of months 
ago, he was impressed with the similarities there appeared to  be between 
the coaching staffs at Georgia and Osceola.

HE SAID IT:  "To get ready for college, I will be working on my technique 
this year. I need  to use my hands more to create separation [from blockers]."

Marc  Deas

HIGH SCHOOL: Osceola

COMMITTED:  Georgia

OVERVIEW: Deas (6-0/185), an inside linebacker for the  Kowboys, will be 
moved to strong safety at Georgia. He ranks 47th on Bill  Buchalter's Florida 
Top 100 list.

DECIDING FACTOR: He felt  comfortable with the people he will be surrounded 
by at Georgia -- the people in  the town, his future teammates, the 
coaches. "People were a big factor in my  decision. I just think it is important to 
know your surroundings," he  said.

HE SAID IT: "I have never actually played it [strong safety]  before. It 
will be a big transition for me, but I don't think it I will have  much of a 
problem making the adjustment."

Marlin Lane Jr.

HIGH  SCHOOL: Mainland

COMMITTED: Clemson

OVERVIEW:  Lane (5-11/205), a running back, is the first Central Floridianr 
from the 2011  Class to make an oral commitment. Lane committed to the 
Tigers in June while  attending Clemson Coach Dabo Swinney's camp. Lane is 
coming off a sophomore  season that included 758 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns 
and 132 yards receiving  on seven catches and one TD.

DECIDING FACTOR: Although Lane is  only going into his junior season, he 
figured there was no reason in waiting to  announce his commitment. Clemson 
has been the favorite on Lane's list since he  was in eighth grade because of 
its running back tradition, and he always said he  would go there if he got 
an offer.

HE SAID IT: "I am really  looking forward to going there. What I feel I can 
bring to Clemson is a good  work ethic. I am a hard worker."

Rashad Lawrence

HIGH  SCHOOL: Olympia

COMMITTED:  Northwestern

OVERVIEW: Lawrence (6-2/195), a wide receiver, is  ranked No. 82 on Bill 
Buchalter's Florida Top 100 and No. 58 by Rivals.com.  Lawrence caught more 
than 60 passes last season from Olympia QB Trevor Siemian,  also headed to 
Northwestern.

DECIDING FACTOR: Lawrence, who has a  3.46 grade-point average, was looking 
for a combination between a good academic  school and a good football 
program, and he said he found that balance at  Northwestern. "Once I had a chance 
to go to Chicago and meet the coaches and saw  the facilities, I realized 
no other school could offer me the same opportunity,"  Lawrence said.

HE SAID IT: "I didn't base my decision of the fact  that Trevor was going 
there but having Trevor committing there was just like  icing on the cake for 
me."

Andrew Rice

HIGH SCHOOL: Lake  Mary

COMMITTED: UCF

OVERVIEW: What has been a busy  start to the recruiting season for the 
Knights includes Rice's commitment. Rice  (6-2/280), an offensive lineman, 
committed earlier this month and is part of  nine players who already have 
committed to UCF.

DECIDING FACTOR:  There were strong family ties to the school -- his mother 
went to UCF -- and it  is close to home so friends and family can watch him 
play.

HE SAID  IT: "In the back of my mind, I always wanted to go to UCF. I loved 
the  school, and they gave me my first offer, but I did have to consider my 
other  options."

Trevor Siemian

HIGH SCHOOL:  Olympia

COMMITTED: Northwestern

OVERVIEW: Siemian  (6-3/190) is ranked 28th nationally among pro-style 
quarterbacks by Rivals.com  and 48th on Bill Buchalter's Florida Top 100.

DECIDING FACTOR:  While he was looking at schools, Siemian was trying to 
find a balance between a  good academic school and a good football program. He 
was impressed with the  coaching staff and how they treated him.

HE SAID IT: "I have been  told that I am a pro-style quarterback, but 
although I may not be the fastest  guy, I can run a little bit. The offense that 
they run is pretty identical to  the offense we run in high school."

Cornelius Whitehead

HIGH  SCHOOL: Mount Dora (transferred from Mount Dora  Bible)

COMMITTED: UCF

OVERVIEW: The wide  receiver/free safety became the first football player 
from Mount Dora Bible to  commit to a major-college program. Whitehead 
committed in March before  transferring this summer. Whitehead (6-1/175), who is 
expected to play receiver  for the Knights, is listed on the ESPN Top 150 
watch list.

DECIDING  FACTOR: Whitehead said from the first time he went to UCF on 
Junior Day, he  got the impression the Knights were very interested. That 
impression was  substantiated by the handwritten recruiting letters he received, 
which he said  were different from the typed mailings from other schools, 
including Florida and  FSU.

HE SAID IT: "The plan is to graduate from Mount Dora in  December and then 
go to UCF. I definitely want to make an easy transition in  school and then 
have a chance to compete for a [position] on the football team  in the 
spring. It will be easier to come in during the spring and adjust to  school."

Amari Williams

HIGH SCHOOL: Daytona Beach  Mainland

COMMITTED: Louisiana-Lafayette

OVERVIEW: A  tight end for the Buccaneers, Williams (6-1/240) was the first 
commitment for  the Ragin' Cajuns, picking them over Iowa State, Middle 
Tennessee and Toledo. He  has shown himself to be a good blocker, but also 
showed an ability to catch  passes with 12 receptions for 155 yards and 2 TDs 
last  season.

DECIDING FACTOR: Williams said the feeling he got when he  spoke to the 
coaches from Louisiana Lafayette was important and they made him  feel 
comfortable during the conversation. The coaches also talked about the  possibility 
of him playing as a freshman.

HE SAID IT: "I run a 4.7  [seconds over 40 yards], but I feel like I need 
to get faster. I have a trainer  that I am working out with and doing some 
foot drills and some speed  drills."

Lo Wood

HIGH SCHOOL:  Apopka

COMMITTED: Notre Dame

OVERVIEW: The  cornerback is ranked No. 32 by Rivals.com, No. 44 by 
Scout.com and No. 45 on  Bill Buchalter's Florida Top 100. Wood (5-11/170) picked 
the Irish over  Michigan, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Auburn and Florida. Selling 
point: his quick  feet, 4.5-second speed and four years of varsity 
experience at  corner.

DECIDING FACTOR: Wood said Notre Dame fit what he was  looking for, a 
relatively small enrollment (Notre Dame has about 9,000 students)  but he also 
wanted to go to a school with good academics and a big-time football  program.

HE SAID IT: "It really blew my mind when [Notre Dame  Coach] Charlie Weis 
called me on the phone to offer me a scholarship. He said he  wanted to 
personally offer me a scholarship."
Copyright © 2009, _Orlando Sentinel_ (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/)  
**************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy 
steps! 
(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222846709x1201493018/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=115&bcd
=JulystepsfooterNO115)