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Memphis area busy with football recruiting
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It's been a busy time for football recruiting in the Memphis area.
When it comes to their recent college commitments, both Olive Branch High School lineman Aubrey Phillips and Briarcrest Christian quarterback Chris Campbell elected to go with the schools that recruited them first.
Phillips, a 6-foot-6, 320-pound offensive tackle who played at Washington the last three seasons, pledged his services to Tennessee during a prospect camp last month in Knoxville.
Phillips said the Vols were the first to contact him near the end of his sophomore season and the first team to offer him a scholarship.
He said he also had offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Duke, Florida State, North Carolina, Penn State, Southern Miss and Memphis.
"I just like the atmosphere and the coaches," Phillips said of Tennessee. "Everyone's friendly, and I have a couple friends up there already in (former Christian Brothers linebacker) Chris Walker and (former Olive Branch linebacker) Marlon Walls.
"I plan on graduating (from Olive Branch) in December. They told me if I graduate in December, I can get up (to Knoxville) for spring practice, and then play as a freshman."
Campbell, a 6-3, 180-pound quarterback who passed for 1,111 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior last season, committed this month to Southern Miss over Arkansas State, Marshall and Middle Tennessee.
"They were my very first offer and they've been on me for a very long time," Campbell said of the Golden Eagles. "I've really liked Southern Miss from the first time I talked to them and the first time I went down there, visiting for the spring game. It just felt great down there. I loved everything about it."
Campbell's Briarcrest teammate, senior offensive tackle Austin Long (6-5, 268), committed to Georgia in April.
Long, who also had offers from the likes of Alabama, Florida, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Ole Miss and Tennessee, is ranked the No. 9 offensive tackle prospect nationally by Rivals.com.
The state's top prospect, Harding Academy wide receiver Marlon Brown (6-5, 205), visited UCLA last Tuesday.
Brown, the No. 2 wide receiver prospect in the nation according to Rivals.com, participated last Wednesday and Thursday in a prospect camp at USC and is expected to narrow his college list later this week.
Other Memphis area prospects drawing major college attention include Whitehaven defensive back Gene Robinson, Whitehaven linebacker Derrick Webb, Kingsbury running back Gabriel Hunter and Melrose linebacker Greg King.
Robinson (5-10, 165), whom Rivals.com ranks the No. 42 cornerback prospect nationally, has offers from Alabama, Colorado, Memphis, Middle Tennessee, Ole Miss, North Carolina, Southern Miss and Vanderbilt.
Webb (6-0, 214), the No. 53 outside linebacker prospect in the nation according to Rivals.com, is considering offers from Middle Tennessee, Ole Miss and Southern Miss.
Hunter (5-11, 180), who last season broke former Hillcrest standout Corey Walker's Shelby-Metro record for rushing yards in a season with 2,679 rushing yards in 12 games, has offers from Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Memphis, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.
King (6-3, 200) is entertaining offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Louisville, Marshall, Memphis, Miami (Fla.), North Carolina, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Texas Tech following a junior season in which he registered 70 tackles and 10 sacks.
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Posted by marc_ash on July 2, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lots of talent in the state of TN. Hopefully the coaching staff gets on this hard. These young men need to stay in their home state.
Posted by mrobinette on July 2, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Lots of talent in the state of TN. Hopefully the coaching staff gets on this hard. These young men need to stay in their home state."
Amen brother! We let way to many get away. I think it is important to get talent but a home state boy will always seem to play harder.
Posted by Volchaz on July 2, 2008 at 11:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess there are benefits to offering first nowadays. (see UK basketball) Lol.....
Posted by vol4gzus on July 2, 2008 at 11:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How is Wildcats kindergarten program going? Concerned prospects won't get their daily nap if having to pound the cement playground bball court for sir Gillespies early recruit program. On topic, we need to be in the picture on instate players that can meet a need now or in the immediate future. GO VOLS!!! How many days Ashley?
Posted by sjt18 on July 2, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
marc, I agree that it looks like a better year in Tn and part of perhaps a better trend. However, many would be crying foul if UT had already offered and gotten commits from some of the instate players. They're unlikely to ever rate better than 3* and would likely push UT out of the top 25 in recruiting again.
Posted by dgarland1 on July 2, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is Eric Gordon not mentioneds.
Posted by utchris2003 on July 2, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Looks like most of the KNS staff must be on a little vacation...I have seen at least three articles this week that were plucked from the commercial appeal...some of them which are several days or more old. Good job at the ctrl v and ctrl v Kaplan!
Posted by awhill00 on July 2, 2008 at 4:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What about Courtney Easterwood at CBHS?
Posted by RichRollin on July 2, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Eric Gordon is from Nashville. We could use Easterwood though, along with Marlon Brown!!
Posted by dvols on July 2, 2008 at 9:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
marlon, no need to go to cali to catch for a cali quarterback! we gotcha covered dog. put on da orange!
Posted by RichRollin on July 2, 2008 at 9:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dvols, good point. He and Josh Nunes were supposed to have spoken. Nunes to Brown already sounds good, HUH guys!!!! GOVOLS!!
Posted by PaulTheVol on July 3, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm originally from Memphis and Tennessee really has no distinct advantage there. Off the top of my head I can think of seven SEC schools that are closer to Memphis than UT in addition to several schools from the Big 10 and Big 12. This isn't to say we shouldn't recruit Memphis but if we really want to get an advantage there we need to play a game there every year, not just now and then. However, given the economic realities of today that would be very difficult to achieve.
Posted by RichRollin on July 3, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Paul the vol, your correct. When I go to Cleveland Ohio for family reunions it's only about 30-40 minutes farther than Memphis. I live in K-town now and it's along way to the M. It's still in the state, therefore we need to pull some of these kids outta there. Life is different for kids growing up in Memphis than it is here. People I know from Memphis say that K-town is to slow, or that it does not have enough diversity. Before anyone turns this into a racewar, I did not mean any offense in my last line, just what I've been told.
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