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          Football Recruiting - Southeast Region

          Orlando/Miami NFTC notebook


          The Florida leg of the Nike Football Training Camp series didn’t disappoint. Top prospects from all over the Sunshine State made their way to Orlando (Fla.) and Miami to take part in the ultra-competiive camp. An incredible 11 prospects from the Orlando NFTC were invited to The Opening, an elite camp and 7-on-7 tournament held in early July at the Nike Headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. Here’s a closer look at the top news from over the weekend.

          Orlando NFTC/Elite 11

          The Opening/Elite 11 invites: QBs Deondre Francois and De'Andre Johnson, RBs Ray-Ray McCloud III, Jacques Patrick and Dexter Williams, WRs George Campbell and Deondre Farrier, OL Martez Ivey, LBs Sherrod Pittman and Cecil Cherry, and DE Byron Cowart.

          Francois and Johnson were invited to the prestigious Elite 11 camp from a group of talented quarterbacks that also included Brad Mayes and Dwayne Lawson, who each have multiple offers.

          Francois, who also won the quarterback MVP, has a top four of Florida State, Tennessee, Ohio State and Auburn and plans to visit all four schools over the summer. The 6-foot signal-caller from Olympia High School would like to make his decision before the first game of his senior year.

          Lawson and Williams name favorites

          Lawson has seen his recruitment explode in recent months. The ESPN Junior 300 dual-threat athlete from Tampa (Fla.) Hillsborough said there are four schools that are standing out to him.

          “In order, Florida, Tennessee, UCF and Ohio State are sticking out to me,” Lawson said. “They all just do a great job of recruiting me and staying in contact with me the most."

          ESPN Junior 300 tight end Garrett Williams, much like Lawson, has started to narrow down his list of schools. His list of schools, which he claims are all even, includes Florida State, Stanford, Clemson and Auburn.

          Williams also got a surprise at the conclusion of the NFTC. NFL draft hopeful Blake Bortles made his way out to the practice fields to get some work in. He chose a few prospects to throw some passes to, including Williams.

          “That was awesome,” Williams said of his experience. “Not many high school prospects have the opportunity to throw with a quarterback of that caliber. I was really happy that they asked me to throw with them. It capped off a great day.”

          Ivey taking his time

          Ivey, an ESPN Junior 300 tackle, is a top 10 player nationally and will have his pick of schools. The 6-foot-6, 271-pound tackle prospect plans to take his time with his college decision.

          However, three SEC schools can expect to receive a visit from the talented lineman over the next few months.

          "I’m probably going to try to get to Florida, Alabama and Auburn during the spring,” Ivey said. "Definitely Florida and Auburn right now. It’s all overwhelming -- there’s a lot coming at me.

          "I don’t want to say it’s just those schools because I have like three crates full of mail, but those are just two of the schools really showing me a lot of interest.”

          Campbell trying to slow the process down

          Campbell, the No. 2-ranked player for the class of 2015, shocked many when he decided to commit to Michigan in July. He eventually decided to reopen his recruitment, but this time he said he would like to slow the process down.

          “Yeah it gets a little overwhelming,” Campbell said. "I have tried to keep a relationship built with the coaches by calling them once a week but it’s a lot to handle and sometimes I forget so I feel bad, but I do forget to call them sometimes.”

          The 6-foot-4 athlete plans to sit down with his uncle and map out a few visits over the spring but he is undecided as to where he will go. Campbell, who is planning to make his decision at the Under Armour All-America game in January, said his final decision will come down to a few factors.

          "It will come down to academics and how I feel with that program's offense,” he said. "Not just that, I want coaches that are going to help build me as a player and as a role model.”

          Cowart looking at Pac-12 schools

          Cowart had a standout performance at the NFTC. He not only earned an invite to The Opening but also took home the defensive line MVP. The Seffner (Fla.) native has all of the in-state schools coming after him and he admittedly likes Florida, but he also said he’s very serious about a few schools on the West Coast.

          "I’m still looking around,” Cowart said. "I like Florida and Oregon, and USC still in it too. I’m still open to all schools really. I like the Pac-12. That division they pass a lot and sacks get you to the next level -- that’s why I’m looking at some of those schools. I’ll probably try to visit those schools after The Opening."

          Cowart is planning to make his final decision at the Under Armour All-America game.

          Miami NFTC

          Eight prospects from a talented Miami NFTC group earned invites to The Opening. The group included WRs Da'Vante Phillips, Calvin Ridley, safeties Calvin Brewton and Kendrell McFadden, CBs Tyrek Cole and Tarvarus McFadden, ATH Torrance Gibson, and LB Tevon Coney.

          Mullins makes spectacular catch

          The Miami NFTC, as always, was loaded with talent -- but the play of the day came from rising junior wide receiver Dionte Mullins, who hauled in a pass that was thrown behind him with a circus, one-handed catch during individual drills. Though still two years away from going to college Mullins has already drawn interest from schools such as Alabama and Florida State.

          Gibson works at quarterback

          One of the best athletes in the country, Gibson could play multiple positions on the next level. He is arguably the top pass-catcher on his South Florida Express 7-on-7 team, which includes Phillips. But Gibson wants to play quarterback on the next level and he said that’s what most schools are recruiting him as.

          "I’ve been playing quarterback all my life, man," Gibson said. "I’ve been watching all these great quarterbacks and I just picture me doing those type of things. Quarterback has just been my dream position. I’ve been playing it for so long and I’m a good leader. I just couldn’t imagine playing another position.”

          Gibson said he has a top 20 but is not ready to narrow down his choices. Ohio State, Tennessee, Florida and Oklahoma are schools he specifically mentioned as places he would like to visit in the near future.

          "Ohio State, Tennessee stood out a little bit," Gibson said. "I like their coaches and their fans are amazing. Miami of course, Florida, Oklahoma -- those are just a few that kind of stand out, but I’m wide open."

          Phillips feels home at FSU

          Phillips, a former Florida wide receiver commit, remains open in his recruitment. He’s reluctant to name a leader, but there is one school he said he feels comfortable with.

          "I don’t have favorites, but I’ve been to FSU a few times,” Phillips said. "I’ve been around town and seen different places so I really know it and know the area and I feel comfortable there.”

          There will be several factors that play in to his final decision, but Phillips said playing time will be a very big factor for him.

          "I want to know, I have to know that I’m going to have playing time when I get there or start as a freshman for any school I go to,” he said. "If it’s a guaranteed ‘no' or 'I’m not sure', I don’t think I would go to that school. I have to get a yeah, or a ‘you work for it, you’ll get it.’”

          Phillips has also visited Miami several times and is planning to visit Auburn, Louisville, Alabama and Ohio State over the spring.