Dodge Connection Draws Carroll

[WIFE2HOT4U]

The last of the NCAA recruiting dead periods concluded Jan. 4. The second weekend of visits takes place this coming weekend, as more commitments are expected to take place.

Oral commitments are non-binding, and the first day a recruit can sign a national letter of intent is Feb. 7.

Linebacker Justin Padron (6-foot-2, 220 pound) gave an oral commitment to play for his former high school coach Todd Dodge at North Texas, becoming the first player to commit for Dodge in his new era as a college head coach.

Up to this point, North Texas had been the only school to offer Padron a full scholarship. Padron said he had talked with SMU, Rice and TCU. However, talks with Rice trailed off, and SMU and TCU could only offer walk-on opportunities, he said.

Padron will have the advantage of playing for former Carroll defensive coordinator Ron Mendoza who also moved up to North Texas to become Dodge’s defensive coordinator.

Colleyville Heritage wide receiver Breece Johnson, a former District 5-5A opponent of the Dragons, gave an oral commitment to North Texas earlier this week. Dodge’s team faced the Panthers and Johnson twice this past season, once in the regular season and once in the 5A Region I championship round of the playoffs, so the former Dragon coach was familiar with the receiver’s talent.

Johnson led all area receivers with 19 touchdowns and compiled 1,343 receiving yards for the 2006 season. Johnson had plans to visit Utah State on Jan. 26 and had talked with some other schools, but had not received any other offers before the North Texas opportunity came together.

Carroll defensive end Kyle Russo is also planning an on-site visit at North Texas on Jan. 19. Russo had been talking with SMU, but said SMU coaches told him they were not going to recruit him. Russo is still talking with Baylor, Wake Forest, Iowa State and Kansas State, but talks with the schools have not accelerated.

Carroll twin brothers Arius and Anthony Ford have also been invited to take an on-campus visit to North Texas on Jan. 19, but Arius said the brothers may consider a visit to Division I-AA non-scholarship Georgetown and Ivy League schools Penn and Brown.

Carroll defensive end Bryce Saldi (6-4, 213) said talks with Texas Tech, SMU and Houston have picked up. Saldi, son of former Cowboy tight end Jay Saldi, said Texas Tech coaches were talking about coming for an in-home visit the week of Jan. 15 and is considering taking an official visit to SMU on Jan. 19.

Colleyville Heritage quarterback Casey Russell, who was second in the area in passing with 3,769 yards, said he is taking a visit to Utah State on Jan. 26 and still has his offer from Stephen F. Austin. Russell said he is also talking to smaller schools.

Linebacker Matt Howe said he is taking his visit to Stanford today and to San Diego State on Jan. 26, as he has offers from both schools. Howe said he still has an offer from Central Florida, but isn’t sure if he will visit.

Flower Mound/Marcus

Division I activity has surfaced for Flower Mound running back J.T. McDonald. With an offer from Division I-AA Virginia Military Institute in hand, McDonald said he has talked with coaches from Oklahoma State, Tulsa, Navy, Colorado State and North Texas.

He said the coaches have told him that they would probably come back to visit with him the week of Jan. 15.

Defensive end Rashad Sanders has seen his Division I interest fall. However, he has scheduled visits to Texas State (Jan. 28) and Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia, Ark., on Feb. 2.

Marcus defensive tackle Spencer Canole said he is taking a scheduled visit to Arkansas State today and has already been offered. He is also planning a visit to Navy, possibly on Jan. 26.

Northwest

Defensive lineman Peter Brooks is scheduled to take his official visit to Kansas today. However, he said he has not had contact with Oklahoma State.

Quarterback Will McAngus said he has tentatively planned to go to the Air Force Academy today and then to Navy on Jan. 26. Talks with SMU have apparently withered, he said.

[Harry]

It amazes me that Russo and the Ford brothers aren't garnering more interest. Especially Russo, that kid was a beast.

[Smitty]

If you're not a sure thing for UT, A&M, OU, etc. and you're looking at the TCUs, SMUs, and UNTs of the world, then going somewhere with your high school head coach and coordinator has got to be attractive. Forget that learning curve of a new system, you're suddenly at the head of the class.