recruit

Social media reacts to No. 1 2022 recruit Travis Hunter’s shocking commitment to Jackson State football, Deion Sanders

By Elsie A. Dotson 5 months ago

Travis Hunter is the No. 1 recruit in the United States in the 2022 class, per the 247Sports Composite.

And he has committed to Jackson State football.

Hunter decommitted from Florida State and committed to Jackson State on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period. It is the most shocking news story of early National Signing Day and in recent college football recruiting history.

It is an unprecedented move for a blue-chip recruit, much less the top recruit in the country, to make a move to an FCS school out of high school. That Hunter signed with Jackson State, an HBCU, makes it that much more meaningful.

HISTORY: Travis Hunter, nation’s No. 1 prospect, flips from FSU to Jackson State, Deion Sanders

SHOCK THE COUNTRY: ‘We’re going to shock the country’: Deion Sanders teases big surprise in 2022 recruiting class

Travis Hunter snags a touchdown pass during a 7-on-7 game on Saturday.

Travis Hunter snags a touchdown pass during

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Arch Manning and life as the nation’s top quarterback recruit in a family of quarterback royalty

By Elsie A. Dotson 7 months ago

NEW ORLEANS — When Texas coach Steve Sarkisian connected with one of the country’s most famous high school football players on FaceTime one afternoon in July, he couldn’t hear the prospect because of a pinging noise in the background.

“Are you at an arcade?” Sarkisian asked. “Where are you?”

“Coach, it’s kind of embarrassing,” the quarterback said. “I’m babysitting. I’m at an arcade, but they’ve got enough coins to keep them busy for the next 30 minutes.”

That’s right, Arch Manning, the No. 2 high school player in the Class of 2023 and part of the third generation of football’s most famous family, babysits two days a week during the summer and occasionally on the weekend. He doesn’t play video games and isn’t active on social media.

“He has such a good level of humility,” said Nelson Stewart, Manning’s coach at Isidore Newman School. “He doesn’t like attention and

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No. 1 High School Recruit Jalen Duren Announces Commitment

By Elsie A. Dotson 10 months ago
An aerial shot of Memphis' basketball court.

An aerial shot of Memphis’ basketball court.

Jalen Duren, a five-star center, announced his commitment on Friday night. It turns out he’s taking his talents to Memphis to join Penny Hardaway‘s program.

Duren was originally slated to be part of the 2022 recruiting class, but he has decided to reclassify so he can play at Memphis this upcoming season.

Miami, Kentucky, the G-League and the NBL in Australia were all considered finalists for Duren. It was Memphis’ ability to develop young talent, however, that made Duren commit to the Tigers.

It also doesn’t hurt that Hardaway was a fantastic NBA player who can relate to talented recruits like Duren.

“The developmental aspect attracted me to Memphis,” Duren said, via ESPN. “I feel their plan for me both on and off the court fit me best — to help me as an all-around player on the court and

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College basketball recruiting: Jalen Duren commits to Memphis as top recruit reclassifies into 2021 class

By Elsie A. Dotson 10 months ago
jalen-duren.jpg
Jon Lopez / Nike

Memphis and Penny Hardaway landed yet another blue-chip talent on Friday night as Jalen Duren, a five-star center from Montverde Academy ranked in the 247Sports Composite as the No. 1 prospect in the 2022 class, picked the Tigers in a commitment ceremony while simultaneously announcing he is reclassifying into the 2021 class. Duren chose Memphis over a final list of suitors that included Kentucky, Miami and the professional route with the G League. 

Duren’s commitment marks the second time in the last four recruiting cycles that Memphis has secured a commitment from a top-two overall recruit in the country under Hardaway. The Tigers also reeled in Memphis native James Wiseman, the No. 1 recruit in the 2019 class, who played in only three games with the Tigers because of eligibility issues. Wiseman was the foundation of Memphis’ top-rated recruiting class in 2019.

It’s possible Duren

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