Kynon's Korner: Marcus Mariota's Possible Heir, LeBron James & the No. 1 Recruit
Class of 2016 quarterback Seth Green was in Eugene, Ore. for the Ducks' impressive 46-27 win over Michigan State at Autzen Stadium. It was Green's second visit to Eugene, as the 4-star attended Oregon's summer football camp. This time he got to see Marcus Mariota at his best as the Heisman Trophy contender threw for 318 yards and two scores on 17-of-28 passing.
Green told me, "Yes. Oregon made me feel very at home. I'm very close with Coach (Erik) Chinander and Coach (Scott) Frost. The win did help them with me. Oregon is my leader."
According to 247Sports Director of Recruiting, Steve Wiltfong, the St. Paul (Minn.) East Ridge signal-caller (subscription required) almost committed on his visit.
When asked if Green can see himself doing the same thing as Mariota, Green responded, "Yes, but I'd like to be better."
Green added he doesn't have any other visits set up at this time. Alabama, Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota are showing heavy interest in the dual-threat passer.
LeBron James Attends Ohio State's Huge Recruiting Weekend
Ohio State hosted a plethora of top-ranked prospects for the ACC-Big Ten prime-time showdown. Top-100 players Josh Sweat, Damien Harris and Jacques Patrick were among the biggest names in attendance. Of course, it didn't hurt to have Akron native LeBron James on the sidelines to show recruits the mega presence of the Buckeyes brand.
Head coach Urban Meyer said James is always welcome, and you can bet recruits took notice. Last year, Travis Rudolph got a chance to meet James on his official visit to The Shoe.
Unfortunately for Ohio State fans, the Buckeyes' loss combined with the Big Ten's reputation for not being able to win big games will give schools from the ACC and SEC more ammo on the recruiting trail.
One name to keep an eye on is Sweat, the No. 1-rated player in the 247Sports Composite. The 6'5", 240-pound weak-side defensive end has the Hokies firmly in his top five, and Virginia Tech's dominant defensive effort in Columbus will help the Hokies' pursuit of the in-state prospect.
Former NFL veteran and LSU defensive lineman Chuck Wiley feels Sweat has barely tapped his potential. Wiley coached Sweat at Nike Football’s The Opening in July. Sweat's style of play has drawn comparisons to Jadeveon Clowney, per Bleacher Report's Tyler Donohue.
Wiley told me directly, “Sweat is physically gifted, but he is coachable, too. He reminds me of former LSU defensive lineman Barkevious Mingo. The Clowney comparisons are there, and I see that. Both are elite pass-rushers. Josh will need to fill out his upper body and increase lower leg drive to help in run support at the next level."
Florida State is also making a big push with Sweat, and it's had success recruiting out of the DMV (D.C., Maryland and Virginia) area in recent years, landing notables Ronald Darby, Alec Eberle, Eddie Goldman and EJ Levenberry, among others.
Wiley added, "Scheme-wise, I feel like he would do well at Florida State. He has the speed and lateral ability to drop into pass coverage. FSU likes those type of defensive ends. I can see Virginia Tech being a major factor, too. When he was at The Opening, he mentioned the chance to stay close to home so his family could see him play. Watch out for Georgia, too. Defensive end Lorenzo Carter signed there a year ago. Sweat and Carter have similar body types. The two of them coming off the edge could be scary in the SEC."
Perhaps most importantly, Virginia Tech's location could be a factor with the hard-hitting defender. His mom didn't accompany him to Columbus, Ohio. I wouldn't count out Ohio State yet in the race for Sweat, especially with the selling power of James and reach of Ohio State's athletic department, but Virginia Tech certainly helped their chances over the weekend.
4-Star RB Soso Jamabo Takes Family to South Bend
Plano (Texas) West running back Soso Jamabo was in South Bend with his parents for Notre Dame's 31-0 rout of Michigan. Recruiting insiders feel Jamabo could be committed by the time he returns home from his official visit. I caught up with Jamabo's trainer, David Underwood, to vet those rumors and get the latest on his recruitment.
"Soso was at Notre Dame this weekend with his parents. He likes the Irish, but I don't think he has a leader at this point," Underwood told Bleacher Report. "I know Arizona State is talking to him. UCLA is trying to get him for a visit. I think UCLA is next (visit) for him. He wants to go out west during the season. Baylor and Oregon are up there, too."
When I asked if he thinks Jamabo will commit early to Notre Dame? Underwood replied, "I don't think so. I know he wants to take his time with the process. It's not just about football. It's a life decision. He is comfortable heading out of state, so that won't be a problem. I could see him making a choice down the road. It could be on signing day or whenever he finds the right fit. His style of running would be great for the Irish or any other program."
Underwood played running back at Michigan from 2001-2004. He has been helping Jamabo with the recruiting process since his sophomore year.
Decision Time for 4-Star Drew Richmond
On Tuesday, Sept. 9, Memphis (Tenn.) University School offensive lineman Drew Richmond will make his college decision. Richmond's finalists include Alabama, Ole Miss, Ohio State and Tennessee. The mammoth tackle posted this message on Aug. 11:
Ole Miss received an unofficial visit from Richmond just five days after the tweet mentioned above, which is a great sign for head coach Hugh Freeze. The Rebels recruit the Memphis area hard, but the Vols are working to keep him in-state.
I reached out to 247Sports director of recruiting, Barton Simmons, to get his take on the situation.
"Ole Miss is making a huge push for him right now. I think it was crucial for them to get him on campus with his parents in August," said Simmons. "He is a kid that's close to his family, and Ole Miss is right down the road. Also, with the way they've been playing, you have to like Ole Miss' chances heading into Tuesday."
Even with the planned announcement, Simmons noted that Richmond will likely take other visits. The Vols have done a sensational job recruiting under head coach Butch Jones. If they miss on the in-state prospect, it could be considered a blow for the time being, but expect them to keep pressing.
Simmons added, "It's hard because as effective as Butch Jones has been recruiting, Memphis is still six hours away from Knoxville. It would be a huge win for Ole Miss. They had a great recruiting cycle the year they got Robert Nkemdiche, but they still need the kind of response regularly to be able to land a kid with Alabama and Ohio State among a list of favorites. This has the opportunity to be a real statement get for Ole Miss."
Stay tuned, as Richmond will make his verbal commitment on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. CT.
Peach State 'Backer Roquan Smith Talks 'Dawgs
Four-star linebacker Roquan Smith took an unofficial visit to Athens on Aug. 30 for Georgia's 45-21 win over Clemson. Last Friday, the 'Dawgs returned the favor as UGA assistant coach John Lilly watched Smith lead his team to a win over Veterans (Ga.).
"Coach Lilly is a cool guy. It was big having him at my game not only for me, but giving my teammates a chance to get looked at," Smith told Bleacher Report. "That was big for me."
Smith said he definitely enjoyed his trip to the Classic City because of the way he was treated by fans and the staff.
"The best part about the visit was just atmosphere. They made me feel at home and like I was a priority for their program," said Smith.
When asked if Georgia is recruiting him the hardest? Smith replied, "Yes they are. Trent (Thompson) wants me in Athens with him too."
The No. 4 outside 'backer in the 247Sports Composite said he will make an announcement after the season.
5-star DL Daron Payne Takes Unofficial Visit to Alabama
Birmingham (Ala.) Shades Valley defensive tackle Daron Payne has been busy over the last couple of weekends. Payne was at Auburn for the Tigers' home opener on Aug. 30. This Saturday, the 5-star run-stuffer went down the road to Tuscaloosa for the Tide's contest against Florida Atlantic.
"It was a nice visit. I got a chance to talk to Coach (Nick) Saban. He was cool, not that intimidating," joked Payne to Bleacher Report. "My parents grew up Alabama fans and they try to get me to go there, but I try not to listen to it. I have a great relationship with Coach (Mario) Cristobal. He treats me like a son."
Payne enjoyed his trip to The Plains as well. He said the game was much closer, so he got a better chance to see what the defense was all about. The Yellowhammer State standout is planning to make his college announcement at the Under Armour All-America game in January.
He told me, "I grew up an Auburn fan as a kid. However, I'm going to make my decision based on the depth chart and where I feel at home."
Mississippi State is also in the mix for Payne. His teammate, Keith Mixon, is committed to the Bulldogs. Payne said Hail State has done a great job recruiting him and they are one of his finalists along with Alabama and Auburn.
Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand.
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