The Journey of 2014 DE Michael Wright

[HOUSTON] - Look ahead at the class of 2015, and you will find a sizable group of athletes that have already earned their first division one scholarship.  Since we reached the digital age, the recruiting process has started earlier and earlier with each passing year.  That can be seen as beneficial to some and harmful to others.   In the case of defensive end Michael Wright, who grew from six-foot-four, 190-pounds at the end of his junior season to six-foot-five, 220 pounds entering his senior season, the recruiting process needed to slow down to keep up with his development.

GAINRecruiting.com shares the journey of Michael Wright in his own words culminating his signed letter of intent to join the New Mexico State Aggies.

THE BEGINNING

"I started playing football in the 7th grade and I started by playing defensive tackle.  Really, in my first two years playing middle school football, I wasn't really that good.   I didn't play very physical."

LIGHT TURNS ON

"Going into my freshman year of high school, the light started to turn on for me.   I knew I wanted to play football at the next level, and I knew I needed to help my mom out by securing a scholarship.  During my freshman season, I only played on our freshman team, but I started to love to hit people.   Then, as I entered my sophomore year, I really began to grow taller and became faster at the same time.   It all started to click and I was playing really good football on the junior varsity team. It prepared me well for my first varsity experience as a junior.   Entering my junior season, I was six-foot-four, 190-pounds, and I ended up rotating at the defensive end position with a senior who recorded 13 sacks that year.  I finished with 4 sacks and 9 tackles for loss."

TRANSFORMATION TO A D1 PROSPECT

"I worked really hard in the off-season right after my junior season concluded.   During the spring, I made it out to the NIKE Combine, National Underclassmen Combine, and a Prep Football Combine where I tested really well but I was still a bit undersized at under 200-pounds.   It made me focus more on my calorie intake and I began averaging around 25,000 calories per week.   Even when I got to summer camps at Baylor and Abilene-Christian, I was still a little more lean than I wanted to be, but by the time we reported to fall camp I had put on over 20 pounds and grew an inch to be at six-foot-five, 220-pounds.   We started our season off with a bang going 4-0 but then hit some adversity and lost our last six consecutive games.   I ended my senior season with 43 tackles (11 for loss), nine sacks, six pass deflections, and three forced fumbles."

RECRUITMENT

"Abilene Christian said they were impressed with my junior season.  At their camp, they told me I had a tremendous speed rush and arm length.  They wanted to see me get bigger and stronger while maintaining my explosiveness."

"Because I didn't have many schools coming after me, I didn't get my senior film out until after the season.   The first school to respond to my film was San Diego State about two and a half weeks after my senior season ended.   New Mexico State reached out shortly thereafter.   Both schools took their time to gather information on me.  San Diego was the first to extend an official visit invitation for the weekend of January 17th and then during the week leading up to the visit I received my first scholarship offer from New Mexico State.   San Diego State followed up shortly after with an offer."

"I loved the city of San Diego and thought San Diego State was a great university but in the end after I visited New Mexico State it just felt right."

"Prairie View A&M, Houston, Arkansas State, and Alcorn State all expressed interest in me after they saw my senior film.  Miami(OH) called me late in January and discussed an official visit but it never progressed."

NEW MEXICO STATE

"Coach (Shawn) Johnson recruited me for New Mexico State, and he pursued really hard.   Coach Johnson relates great with his players, and he is a hilarious guy.  Their defensive line Coach (Kerry) Locklin told me how excited he was to work with me and develop me into a great defensive end.  He's coached in the NFL and believes I have that type of ceiling with my talent, and said he plans to help me fulfill my aspirations.  Overall, I fell in love with the coaching staff at New Mexico State and feel very good about the team they are building towards a couple years from now."

CLOSING

"Signing Day was a great experience; a day I have always dreamed of.  I want to let the New Mexico State fans know I am playing for them and excited to join the school.  I look forward to being a part of many wins and bringing championships home in the future.  I plan to major in communications with a focus in television broadcasting."

The Journey of 2014 TE Drew Paulsen

[TAMPA] - One of the best kept secrets in the Tampa Bay area following the 2013 season, Tampa Jesuit tight end Drew Paulsen arrived late on the recruiting scene.  With only a month remaining until Signing Day, the only problem that existed for Paulsen was the lack of exposure his senior film had received.   Paulsen was Jesuit's top receiving threat in 2013 with 15 receptions (out of 16 passes thrown to him) for 280 yards and five touchdowns.  He was also the team's best blocking receiver, and in limited snaps, managed to record five sacks and 30 tackles from his defensive end position.   All the while, he carried a 3.2 GPA and scored a 1710 (1150 two-part) on the SAT. Once his senior film made the circuit, there was no shortage of college coaches hustling to recruit Paulsen to their football program.

GAINRecruiting.com shares the journey of Drew Paulsen in his own words culminating his signed letter of intent to join the Lehigh University Mountain Hawks.



THE BEGINNING

"I started playing football as part of the Tampa Bay Youth Football League in the 5th grade.  I played quarterback and running back on offense, and I led the team in interceptions on defense.  I quit playing football in 8th and 9th grade to focus on baseball.   During that time, my little league team won the Cal Ripken World Series."

TRANSITION BACK TO FOOTBALL

"After my freshman year, going into my sophomore year, I was cut from the baseball team.  I grew a couple inches from my freshman year so I told my dad I would try football again.  My first year back as a sophomore I started JV playing both ways, and I was called up to varsity at the end of the season.  That allowed me to get a jump start going into my junior season playing defensive end, but by the second game, they switched me over to tight end and I started there ever since."

"I was six-foot-two, 240-pounds as a junior so I was used primarily in blocking.   I recorded only two receptions for 40 yards, but lead the offense in pancakes.  Following my junior season, I focused on cutting my weight to 225 and I grew an inch to six-foot-three."

DEVELOPMENT AS A RECEIVER

"Heading into my senior season, we named a new head coach and ran more of a spread offense.   Coach (Vinny) Testaverde was our Offensive Coordinator and he did a great job featuring me as a receiver.  My out routes were normally two yard speed routes and I received the majority of my receiving yards running seam routes.  I have soft hands and if the ball is in play, I will come down with it even if it is in traffic."

RECRUITING

"After my junior season, Georgia Tech sent me letters as a defensive end prospect.   Heading into the spring evaluation period, I had between 20 and 30 schools stop by Tampa Jesuit to make an introduction during our spring practices.  Through my senior season, I only heard consistently from Bucknell and Lafayette and random schools would drop a note every once in a while.   Bucknell had extended me an official visit invitation, but later canceled.   Really, a month before Signing Day I did not know at all where I would be going to college."

"After getting my senior film out to schools, I received inquiries from Georgetown, Colgate, Florida International, and Buffalo.   Then, I started receiving more serious inquiries from Valparaiso, Robert Morris, and Lehigh; all three of whom worked hard to get me to go on an official visit.   I chose Lehigh as the one official visit I took, and the rest is history."

LEHIGH

"Lehigh was the strongest combination of athletics and academics.   When I visited, I loved the campus up north.  My dad is from up north so I am use to visiting the northeast.   I enjoy snow.  The campus had a small community feel; everything was within walking distance; and if I major in business all my classes are located centrally in the business building."

"I liked how straight forward the coaches were with me.  The coaches actually knew their players and had a personal relationship with each of them, and communicated well with them.  The entire coaching staff was very welcoming."

"I have as much as an opportunity to earn playing time as anyone else.  It's up to how hard I work and progress.  I don't think the plan is for me to redshirt."

CLOSING

"I think I'm entering Lehigh a good athlete, but they will transform to the next level.  I don't believe I have reached my potential.   I believe there is a stronger brotherhood you find at Lehigh than I found at most schools.  I'm working with the goal of playing in the NFL, but I am comfortable walking away with a degree from Lehigh."

The Journey of 2014 OLB/DE Sam Blue

[RALEIGH] - Ask an area coach is who is the best player they faced all season, and the popular pick is Sam Blue.  Named to the 2013 American Family Insurance All-USA North Carolina All-State Team, Blue wrecked havoc all over the field as a senior breaking a North Carolina state record with 19 sacks.  He also managed to record 118 solo tackles, 52 tackles for loss, nine forced fumbles, six strips, five fumble recoveries, two defensive touchdowns, and one interception.   All the while, Blue earned a 3.72 GPA at Millbrook High School and was named to the National Honor Society.

GAINRecruiting.com shares the journey of Sam Blue in his own words culminating his signed letter of intent to join the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights.

THE BEGINNING

"I started playing football in 8th grade. I played defensive end at West Millbrook Middle School.  We went 2-7 and I hated losing. When I started at Millbrook High School, I started at TE on junior varsity and we finished 9-2 and JV Conference Champs. I moved to varsity at TE as a sophomore, our team went 6-6, and I played with running back Keith Marshall, who signed with Georgia. My junior year, I moved to defensive side of the ball blitzing off the edge at either OLB or DE. We went 3-8 as our team had to suffer through 19 injured players.  My coaches utilized my versatility a lot more during my senior year. I dropped in coverage, put my hand on the ground, played nose, 3-technique, as well as defensive end. We went 10-4, and lost in 3rd round of state playoffs in four overtimes."

SACKS

"One of my coaches, Jermicus Banks, played at North Carolina and taught me a lot of great pass moves.   He taught me the keys on how to react to offensive lineman.  My best attributes are I play relentless, have a great swim move, and a great spin move."

RECRUITING

"As a junior, I was 6'1, 215-pounds. I grew to 6'2.5, 225-pounds before my senior year.  I can play linebacker or rush end.  I put on a lot of muscle keeping my explosiveness to make me a stronger overall player going into my senior year."

"The recruiting process started going into my junior year.  I heard from Elon, first.  They invited me to campus a couple times. After my junior year, I heard from Elon, Furman, Western Carolina, Applachain State, Towson, Villanova, and James Madison."

"Georgetown started recruiting me during my senior season. They visited me at school a couple times, called me a few times. Heard from a lot of people it's a great academic school that provides a lot of opportunities. They offered me an academic full scholarship and invited me to take an official visit. I had a great time at Georgetown and had a great feel there. I meshed well with the city, the coaches, with the school. You're in the middle of everything. 

"I committed later in the week on the Thursday following my visit. I was feeling great about my decision. I was pretty excited."

"The week leading up to my Georgetown official visit, I heard from Coach Browning at Rutgers. He called me first and then I was in contact Coach (Jim) Panagos who came to Raleigh to schedule an in-home visit  after visiting my high school. I knew Rutgers was a bigger football program and I would be playing with bigger exposure opportunities. I was excited for the opportunity."

"I heard from Coach Panagos on the Wednesday leading into my official visit weekend, and he said they need to wait through the weekend to determine if they could offer a scholarship. While I was there for my official visit, we talked schemes, and I feel pretty good I am a good fit at the rush end position where they are recruiting me in their 3-4 defense. They project me to play at 265-to-270-pounds. I met with Coach Flood and talked with him about the weekend. He told me he was extending me an official offer to become a official Scarlet Knight. I had already spoke with my parents, and once I received the offer, that is when I committed."

CLOSING

"I really plan on going to Rutgers to be an impact player and make a big impact on the team. I am going to be hard worker with determination to develop into the best player I can be. I am planning to major in forensic science or perhaps civil engineering. Not totally sure yet. I am excited for the opportunity I have at Rutgers University."