College football prospect Alex Collins announced Thursday he was signing with the University of Arkansas even though his mother, who reportedly opposed him leaving South Florida, has hired a lawyer in the matter.

Thursday, a day after Collins told NBC 6 South Florida that he would sign with Arkansas, the South Plantation High School running back signed with the university during a gathering at Bokamper's Sports Bar and Grill in Plantation. The event drew many supporters, friends and relatives, including Collins' father and grandmother.

He also had been recruited by the University of Miami, Florida State, Florida and Wisconsin.

Collins said he loves the University of Miami, saying its NCAA issues didn't scare him away. But he said he chose the Razorbacks because he likes them more.

"Love the campus, I love the environment, I love the people," he said. "It is great up there."

Collins' mother, Andrea McDonald, was not present at Thursday's event. According to ESPN, McDonald had refused to sign her son's letter of intent Wednesday, when he was set to send it to Arkansas.

According to a press release issued Thursday, Andrea McDonald hired Miami attorney Jack Paris “to represent the family’s interests while she contemplates on signing the NCAA’s Letter of Intent that will decide where the South Plantation High School running back will play football."

Collins, ranked 57th by ESPN, verbally committed to University of Arkansas during a televised interview, according to the law firm's release. Collins had been a longtime commit to the University of Miami until he reopened his recruitment in November, the release said.

Under NCAA rules, a letter of intent for a student-athlete under the age of 21 must be signed by a parent or guardian in addition to the athlete himself.

Collins' father was on hand Thursday to sign with his son. When Alex Collins was told by a reporter at the signing event that his mother hired a laywer, Collins dismissed the possibility. 

He said no lawyers were involved at all and said his mother supports his decision. He said he had just spoken to her before Thursday's signing.  

"She always supported me," he said. "It is just the fact that from her standpoint, she wants to make sure this is the right decision for me." 

Alex Collins has in recent days said he faced a tough decision. 

Among his remarks on NBC 6's Signing Day special Wednesday, he said: "It's been stressful but I feel a lot of relief after I made my decision. I feel like everything will get easier now. I just have to sign that paper, and then everything else will be easy."

Collins' older brother Johnny had told The Miami Herald that McDonald had been having anxiety over Collins' signing.

"I know she preferred him to go to UM," he said. "Alex had said he was going to the U, and then all of a sudden he changes his mind. We found out he was going to Arkansas on TV."

McDonald's lawyer is part of The Cochran Firm, which was founded more than 40 years ago by the late attorney Johnnie Cochran. The law firm over the years has represented celebrities and public figures, including Michael Jackson, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Pitbull and O.J. Simpson.

Alex Collins Shares Biographical Details

Ray Lewis III signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Miami to play football for the Hurricanes Wednesday.

It was a proud moment for the running back from Lake Mary Preparatory School near Orlando and for his father – new Super Bowl champion Ray Lewis.

"I mean, it's a great accomplishment. What mother, what father wouldn't want to watch their kid sign some free education for the next four years to be able to go to the University of Miami,” said the 37-year-old linebacker, who retired from the NFL after winning the Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

The U happens to be the same school where the father excelled on the football field. That legacy is special to him.

"He had always said he was going to go to the University of Miami and to see it come so true today, it's just no greater reward as a father to be here right next to his side right now,” Lewis said. “It's just an awesome ride."

Complete Coverage of High School Signing Day

A great ride because Lewis continues to watch his son grow in many ways. Not only on the football field, but also with his knowledge of the game.

"I just think where he is right now, has been a process for many, many years and watching him get to this point. We knew it was going to happen, we just didn't know it was going to happen like this,” the father said.

Even though Lewis III has made a name for himself on the gridiron at Lake Mary Prep, he's looking forward to making a name for himself at the University of Miami. But he knows that the comparisons to his father will be there.

"I don't feel none of that pressure, any of that,” he said. “I'm just going to go out there and play to the best of my ability and the outcomes are uncontrollable – whatever happens, happens."

For Lewis, his life as an NFL player has come full circle. And it started with the birth of his son.

"I made a stand my junior year in college, the year he was born,” Lewis said. “I made a stand that it was time to go to the league and now the year he walks into college, I made another stand to say it's time for me to leave the league."

There's no doubt that the competitive DNA is in the Lewis blood. Lewis III broke a number of school records as a running back at his high school.

"His first record to get is to outrun me. We can set it up now,” the father said. “We can go outside right now. I can take the suit off. I can take the suit off too!”

Then, laughing, he said that he just finished playing about 48 hours ago, so he can’t.

Lewis also won the Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2001, when he was the game’s MVP.

He was asked Wednesday what is more special – a Super Bowl victory in his final year, or watching his son, in front of the cameras, get a full ride to play football at his alma mater.

"I don't think one outweighs the other. I just think both of them are totally separate ’cause one was for me for them and this was for him,” Lewis said. “And for me, I'm just sitting back and enjoying it all."

More Signing Day Stories:

• Canes Sign Small Class With Five ESPN150 Recruits
• Report: HS Football Recruit's Mom Took LOI
• Bo Ellis Signs with Harvard University

South Florida football prospect Alex Collins said Wednesday that he will be going to the University of Arkansas after all, even after his mother confiscated his letter of intent to the school.

"Yes sir, I'm staying with Arkansas, I'm just waiting," Collins told NBC 6 South Florida.

He said he would sign with Arkansas on Thursday.

According to ESPN, the South Plantation High School running back had his letter of intent confiscated by his mother, Andrea McDonald, moments before he was set to send it to Arkansas. Collins had been recruited by the University of Miami, Florida State, Florida, and Wisconsin, but chose Arkansas earlier this week.

"It's been stressful but I feel a lot of relief after I made my decision," he said on NBC 6's Signing Day special. "I feel like everything will get easier now. I just have to sign that paper, and then everything else will be easy."

He said the decision came down to Arkansas and UM, but he went with the Razorbacks because he felt most comfortable there.

Collins' mother does not want him to leave South Florida, according to ESPN. Under NCAA rules, a letter of intent for a student-athlete under the age of 21 must be signed by a parent or guardian in addition to the athlete himself.

"She’s having anxiety," Collins' older brother Johnny told the Miami Herald Wednesday afternoon. "I know she preferred him to go to UM. Alex had said he was going to the U, and then all of a sudden he changes his mind. We found out he was going to Arkansas on TV."

Johnny said Alex had not been communicating with his family over the last few days, saying the attention over his decision "is getting to him."

"I would prefer him to go to Miami, too," Johnny concluded. "Because it would be a better program for him, a better environment. He could get home faster and it’s more convenient if Mom wants to go to a game – instead of having to fly to Arkansas."

Collins is 57th on the ESPN 150 list of top prospects, the 7th-ranked running back on the list. He had verbally committed to UM before the 2012 season but decommitted in November. He ran for 1,276 yards and 14 touchdowns during his senior season at South Plantation.

Per NCAA rules, coaches cannot discuss any recruit who has not signed a letter of intent, so incoming Arkansas coach Bret Bielema has not commented on the Collins situation.

"We're going to give the family as much time as they need to make the right decision," South Plantation athletic director Mike Collins (no relation) told the Sun-Sentinel Wednesday. "At this time there's no indication of anything other than the original plan. The family just wants more time."

Collins was set to officially sign his letter at a signing ceremony at South Plantation High Wednesday morning, but he was not present at the ceremony when it began. Mike Collins said he was in school Wednesday morning, but left later in the morning.

"It's just a stressful time for him right now," teammate John Franklin told the Sentinel. "Some things happened that I'd rather not speak about because it's his business. I don't want to put it out there."

Gulliver Preparatory’s star running back, Bo Ellis, is signing his talents to Harvard University.

“Yeah it’s Harvard, but I think this school, Gulliver, prepares everyone who comes here for whatever you’re going to face in life,” Ellis said.

Ellis, named after NFL great Bo Jackson, has been a silent leader on the football field, says his coach, Earl Sims.

“He was infectious to our team, as far as having his character spill over and touching the rest of the teammates,” Sims said.

Canes Sign Small Class With Five ESPN150 Recruits

Ellis, with a GPA of 3.87 and athletic skill, had several options between Ivy League schools and Division 1 universities, Sims said.

For most student athletes, Signing Day is a tremendous highlight. But Ellis and his family say they reached the proud moment after overcoming obstacles.

Stacey Coley Decision Could Come Soon

Ellis never let anything hold him back, said Ellis’ mother, Tranika Ellis.

“Bo was I think 11 or 12 when his father passed and he took that in stride,” Ellis said. “He didn’t let it break him he used that to be the motivation to move him forward.”

Ellis continued: “There is always someone who’s in a situation that’s worse than yours, so you can’t complain.”

Signing Day Coverage
 

It is National Signing Day, the one day of the year when a nation of football fans turns its attention to the whims of thousands of fickle teenagers. University of Miami head coach Al Golden, a year after nabbing a class ranked in the top ten by multiple recruiting outlets, has assembled a smallish class that ESPN.com ranks 23rd in the nation.

So far, Miami has 16 recruits who have signed letters of intent, down from 33 commitments a year ago. Five recruits are ranked four stars (out of five) by Rivals.com (UM has no five-star recruits this year). Five appear on the ESPN 150 list of the best prospects in the nation, with seven ranked four stars by ESPN.

Because the Canes only lost two starters to graduation this year and are close to the NCAA limit of 85 scholarship players, Golden had little room to work with. The Canes wanted to go for quality over quantity, and while they missed out on some big local names, UM secured the services of a number of blue chips.

Miami lost out on a number of recruits who waited until this week to announce their decisions, including South Plantation running back Alex Collins (an Arkansas commit) and Port St. Lucie Centennial four-star defensive tackle Jaynard Bostwick (who will go to FSU).

A pair of recruits from Booker T. Washington High School, linebacker Matthew Thomas and offensive lineman Denver Kirkland, turned down UM for FSU and Arkansas.

The biggest new catch for the Canes came early Wednesday morning, when Staten Island Tottenville (N.Y.) running back Augustus Edwards picked UM over Florida State. He is considered to be the top fullback in the class of 2013.

Miami also may have signed its quarterback of the future in Kevin Olsen of Wayne Hills (NJ) High School. Olsen is the younger brother of former UM tight end Greg Olsen. He is 87th on the ESPN 150, the fifth-best pocket passer on the list.

Other recruits in the ESPN include receiver Stacy Coley of Oakland Park Northeast High (47th on the ESPN 150, 4th at his position), defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad of Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco High (58th on the ESPN 150, 7th at his position), cornerback Artie Burns of Miami Northwestern High (70th on the ESPN 150, 10th at his position), and tight end Standish Dobard of New Orleans Edna Karr High (136th on the ESPN 150, 4th at his position).

Of the two late-deciders being eyed by Miami, one has decided to join the Canes, while the other will go elsewhere. Four-star linebacker from Miramar High Jermaine Grace will go to UM in the fall. He is 138th on the ESPN 150 (11th among outside linebackers). Delray Beach Atlantic four-star defensive tackle Keith Bryant said he will attend FSU.

Recruiting rankings are not necessarily a marker of future success (UM's 2008 class was considered the best in the nation at the time, but results on the field did not follow), but they do tend to correlate to winning percentage in future years. By landing his third-straight top-25 class despite a low volume of signees, Golden has cemented his status at Miami as a solid recruiter who can convince top talent to try to return the Canes to their past glory.

Stacy Coley, arguably the top wide receiver in the state and the 4th best wideout in the country according to ESPN, could make his college decision as soon as Monday.

“I’ll narrow it down Monday,” the Northeast High School senior says. “I’ll probably have my decision Monday.”

But don’t expect a public announcement until National Signing Day on Wednesday. Coley is scheduled to make the decision live on national TV at 11 a.m.

The consensus leaders are three in-state powers, Florida State, Miami and USF, with the Seminoles perhaps having the edge. But Coley isn’t tipping his hand.

“I really don’t have a top 5 or top 3,” he told NBC 6 before the weekend. “I’m just looking to keep it all open right now.”

Coley has the tools that have attracted over 1,000 letters from top schools across the country. He’s 6’1”, 175 pounds, with 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash. He’s also the only uncommitted wideout in the top 15 of Rivals.com, leading to a high-stakes relentless recruiting push.

“Sophomore, junior year, it was fun. My senior year, it became reality. It became bigger than what it was. I’m still happy to see all the colleges that I had, but frustrated at the same time, just wishing I could be an average student again,” Coley says.

In his 3 varsity seasons with Northeast, Coley has caught at least 30 passes for 500 yards and 7 touchdowns each season, including a personal-best 10 this past year. He’s also added 5 rushing scores for a total of 29 during his time in Oakland Park, earning a spot in the Under Armour national all-star game.

Coley’s speed makes him a deep threat. He’s averaging more than 20 yards a catch. And in this day of wide-open, pass first offenses, it’s no surprise how much his athleticism is coveted.

He’s been getting a hard sell from FSU. ‘Noles Passing Game Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach Lawrence Dawsey has built up a steady relationship with Coley and the all-county star has made a trip to Tallahassee.

But, Miami is heavily in the mix too. He was one of many recruits at the UM/Duke men’s basketball game in Coral Gables that featured a capacity crowd storming the court after a rout of the former number 1 team. His coach may also have a say. Former Hurricanes fullback Donnell Bennett runs the Northeast football program.

“Coach Bennett and most of my coaches like the U,” Coley admits. “But I feel like wherever my decision is, they’ll be behind me 100 percent, even though they’re messing around with me with the U.”

What may not work in Miami’s favor is the departure of George McDonald. McDonald served as Miami’s wide receivers coach last season, but left to become offensive coordinator at Syracuse. He was heavily involved in Coley’s recruiting process.

The teenager is doing his best to handle the pressure of the big decision.

“With the huge decision on my shoulders, I try to stay away from that. I have good coaches, a good principal, and a good family that just try to keep everything off my shoulders due to the fact that I’m so young.”

Coley isn’t comfortable with the spotlight, which in this day of divas at receiver is surprising.

“I get nervous in front of cameras. I’m not your ordinary average ranked player. I don’t like the attention,” he says. “I’m just a nice kid, a hard-working kid, willing to work wherever the coaches say.”

“I stay smiling through bad times and good times. I like to laugh a lot. I get compliments on my laugh,” Coley says with a grin before adding, “Girls say I have pretty teeth and a good smile.”

He won’t be the only one grinning on Signing Day Wednesday. You can rest assured his mom, Chantelle, will be beaming too. And crying.

“I’d bet the house on that one,” jokes Bennett.

“I think she’ll feel happy,” Coley says with pride. “Growing up, seeing my mama struggle and for her to see I have an offer on the table and have college paid for, that’s a big plus. Me, being the first boy to go to college and to achieve everything she always wanted in her kids, I think she’ll be tremendous about my decision.”

If his words don’t express his bond with his mom, a look at his left forearm does. Coley wears a heart tattoo with his mom’s name on it.

“It symbolizes the love that I have for my mom. I cherish her so much and the things that we’ve been through,” he says.

It’s just one of three pieces of body art. The senior also has one of the comedy and tragedy masks on the same arm.

“Joy and pain. It just resembles the hard work and the happiness of the hard work in your success. All of my tattoos mean something.”

Coley’s freshest ink will come Wednesday, when he finally ends the speculation, signing on the dotted line on a scholarship offer.

“I wouldn’t be here without football. I wouldn’t have the success that I have without football. Football is life.”
 

Alex Collins is on the clock.

The highly coveted running back from South Plantation High School is expected to announce his college choice Monday night in Atlanta during a live broadcast on national television.

Six schools will be waiting and hoping.

“It’s Miami, Florida, Florida State, Wisconsin, Arkansas and Texas,” declares the senior tailback.
Miami and Arkansas are believed to be the frontrunners and fans of both schools have taken to Twitter to try to sway the 5’11”, 205-pound workhorse.

So much so, that the University of Miami’s compliance office has asked the UM faithful to back down, tweeting that “only coaches can recruit prospects.”

Collins, who is active on the social media site, may not be close to a decision.

“This definitely feels like the longest weekend of my life,” Collins tweeted Saturday.

Complete Coverage for High School Signing Day

“You want to make the right decision for yourself,” Collins told NBC 6. “You take everything into consideration and it’s a lot to take in. It’s hard.”

Nicknamed Budda (pronounced like Buddha), Collins is arguably the top prospect in Broward County. In two seasons with South Plantation, he rushed for nearly 3,000 yards and 38 touchdowns. He is ranked 13th among running backs in the entire country by Rivals.com and a 5-star recruit (out of 5) by Scout.com.

Schools are pushing hard. National Signing Day is Wednesday. Collins is being asked to decide two days early and admits he’s torn.

Jamal Carter Chooses University of Miami, Home Cooking

“You have to go to all these schools and you end up falling in love with all these schools, and then you have to turn those schools down because you have to pick one. Each school has a lot to offer and for you to turn that down, it’s hard when you really think about it.”

Arkansas Head Coach Bret Bielema is doing all he can. Earlier in the week, he tweeted a picture of himself in front of a picture of Buddha with the caption, “Found a Budda in Dallas. Lucky charms everywhere we go.” The spelling was no typo.

Miami Head Coach Al Golden enjoyed a powerful sales pitch, too, the week before. Collins was invited to the UM Duke men’s basketball game. The ’Canes routed the Blue Devils who were ranked No. 1 at the time. The fans stormed the court. Collins was among them , caught up in the euphoria.

So who has the edge? Collins is giving few clues.

Originally he committed to Miami. Then he stepped back. He’s approaching his decision the same way he approaches football: methodically.

“I started off standard. I made a list. I did a lot of research. I made sure each school had my major. I’m really interested in every school. When I make my final decision, I’m going to make it based on wherever I feel most comfortable,” Collins says. “I want to sit down to talk to my head coach about it and my mom about it, then I’ll sit down and talk to myself about it.”

If it’s up to his mom, the decision would already be made.

“She wants me to go to Miami because she’s a fan of the school and because it’s close to home, so she’ll be able to come to all of my games,” Collins says before adding, “It’s ultimately going to be my decision. She’ll just end up being ok with whatever school I go to and support me.”

“I would hate to upset her, but it’s just something I have to do for me.”

Weather could play a factor in the decision. But not for the reasons you might think.

Anthony Walker: Miami's Future Gordon Gekko

“I haven’t ever seen snow,” Collins admits. “I want to. When you run in cold weather, to me, it feels like I’ll never get tired,” he says.

Whatever the decision may be, Budda will be relieved when it’s all over.

“I can guarantee you that you’ll see my shoulders just drop. I’ll be like, ‘finally, it’s over.’ I’ll be able to take a deep breath. I feel like I’ve been staying up late a lot. I’ve been stressing over thinkings. I’ll be finally at ease.”

At ease means being able to be a just a regular high school kid again. Collins will return to the South Plantation lacrosse team. He can again relax as he tickles the ivories of his favorite piano.

“I like to do a lot of different things than football. It’s fun. I like to learn new things. I like to overachieve at it,” Collins says proudly.

“I still remember the first song I learned to play in the eighth grade, and I can still play it. It was 'Lean on Me.'"

Four years later, Collins has moved up the ranks from Bill Withers to Alicia Keys.

The senior has dabbled in basketball and track for the Paladins. He also has added another wrinkle.

“Don’t call him a cheerleader,” says South Plantation football coach Doug Gatewood. “He’s a stuntman.”

Yes, Collins is part of the South Plantation cheerleading squad. He’s responsible for lifting, throwing and catching the girls on the team. He just wrapped up the state competition.

Budda is a busy man. And if you’re wondering how exactly he got that nickname, he explains that, too.

“I was a really big baby, so my older brother named me Budda,” Collins says. “The reason he thought of Budda was because my dad’s nickname was Bubba. So it was kinda like changing the b’s into d’s and it reminds him of Buddha being that I was just that big of a baby.”

So now Budda contemplates. As anguishing as the decision may be for Collins, don’t think he isn’t appreciating the moment. Regardless of the final choice, he’s in a win-win situation.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance and opportunity. For me to have a full scholarship offer to basically wherever I want to go, it means a lot. If you work hard at something, you’ll get a good outcome.”

What college do you think Matthew Thomas will choose? Answer the NBC 6 Question!

Call it Al Golden’s secret weapon.

The Miami Hurricanes head coach getting an unconventional assist in the recruiting battle for Jamal Carter. Mama’s home-cooking.

“When you go in the house, you’re going to smell it. You’re just gonna want to stay there,” says the senior safety from Miami Southridge Senior High School. “We just had a good one last night. Macaroni, rice, collard greens, ribs, steak, everything you can name.”

Ranked as the 21st-best safety in the entire country, the 6’2”, 215-pound playmaker is orally committed to the U, and entirely committed to his mom’s culinary creations.

“Yeah, look at my size,” Carter proudly crows. “You should’ve seen my little brother. He’s gonna be bigger than me!”

Staying in Coral Gables keeps Carter close to his mom’s dinner table.

“Miami, it’s right down the street. If I really wanted to come down for the weekend I could just catch the bus. If I get homesick, I could go right back to my house,” he says.

And that’s just fine with UM. Carter not only fills a position of need, he provides some explosiveness. The versatile speedster returned 7 punts for touchdowns 2 seasons ago, and often lined up at running back and receiver. That had LSU, Clemson and Miami hot on his trail.

And barring a highly unlikely change of heart on National Signing Day next Wednesday, Coral Gables will be where he stays.

“You’re from Miami, so why not? Why not go to Miami and put on for your city? Everybody used to love Miami, but now, this generation – people want to go everywhere else. They don’t really have that much pride. That’s why I’m trying to go to Miami to put the city back on.”

And having his family close to see it makes it the ideal situation.

“Family is real important to me because growing up, that’s all I had,” Carter admits. “My mama, she wanted me to stay because she says I’m her baby. I’m 18, but I’m still her baby. She brags on me to everybody. All around her work, everywhere.”

Carter will team up with last season’s recruiting gold mine that features fellow defensive backs Deon Bush of Columbus High School and Tracy Howard of Miramar.

“If all of us stay together on one team, it’s gonna be crazy. It’s gonna be something nice to see. Just tell everyone to bring their popcorn because it’s going to be a movie every game.”

Confidence isn’t in short supply for the pride of the Spartans. And he’s not afraid to let you know.

“I expect to make a name for myself. When I get on the field, everybody’s going to know that’s Jamal Carter. He’s going to do something big this game.”

“I just want to be a part of this legacy because I know this train is going take off. We’re going to win this year. When I get to UM, I’m gonna make an impact. Just be ready.”

The college football recruiting trail often has plenty of twists and turns, committals and de-committals and last-minute changes of heart.

But for Monsignor Pace High School senior Anthony Walker Jr., the decision begins and ends with one city. Chicago.

The linebacker/safety is solid is his choice of Northwestern University.

“A couple of late schools tried to come in, but Northwestern is where I’m going to go,” the 17-year-old says proudly.

There Walker and his 4.7 GPA can enjoy the best of both worlds – continuing to play the sport he loves while getting a degree from the school commonly called the Stanford of the east.

“I’ve been built on academics. Football can come later,” Carter explains. “I’m going to study economics and human growth and development. There’s just so many things I can do with that degree.”

Those options could include some time hustling on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

“I can be a Wall Street agent. That’s always a dream of mine. I watched the movie “Wall Street” and said ‘wow’ these guys really do this every day.”

The future Gordon Gekko’s path to the Windy City got set in motion thanks to a Nike camp in Miami last February. The 6’1”, 210-pounder ran the fastest 40-yard dash time of the thousand invitees. That got him a lot of attention quickly.

“I got my first [scholarship] offer after the Nike combine. Then my name kind of got out there. Before the spring game, I got offered by Northwestern and then I took my visit up there. I had a talk with my dad and I decided to go ahead and commit.”

It’s the input of Anthony Walker Sr., an administrator at Pace, that has been a consistent guiding force in Walker’s life.

“My dad was a football coach. I was doing pushups at the age of 2,” the younger Walker admits.

As the son of a coach, Walker quickly became immersed in a world of X’s and O’s.

“I love football. Football is not just a sport to me. It’s life because I feel like if you take football seriously, your life will be a lot better,” Walker says.

“If you do well on the football field, you can be an average student and still get a great Division 1 scholarship. Most of my friends – we just want to make it out of the South Florida area and be something better in life. We see so many of our friends dying and going to jail every day. We just want to be the people who make it out of here.”

That’s not to say the hometown team didn’t have a chance. Walker, like many of South Florida’s kids, grew up a fan of the Miami Hurricanes and dreamed of following in the footsteps of his favorite player, former UM linebacker Sean Spence, now with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Walker says he even listened to a late inquiry from one of the ‘Canes newest assistant coaches, Mario Cristobal, but decided to stand firm is his commitment to Northwestern.

With the decision already settled, now the Pace senior can begin preparations for moving across the country – preparations that include a lot of practice time in the kitchen.

“I’m a great chef,” Walker brags. “I can make my own breakfast, lunch, dinner. I make Sunday dinner almost every week for me and my dad. Most of the time it’s chicken, but sometimes we’ll go with baked tilapia or pork chops or salmon. It’s a great learning tool for me especially for when I got off to college.”

On Wednesday, Walker will make it official. He can formally sign his full athletic scholarship to play for the Wildcats, reaping the rewards of his hard work and budding independence.

“It’s going to be a long time coming because I always told my dad and mom, you don’t have to worry about having to pay for me to go to college. I’m going to get a scholarship. It’s going to be a great moment for me and my family.”
 

Touchdown Jesus has scored again.

The famed image on the iconic Notre Dame campus has reeled in another one of South Florida’s top high school football recruits.

Michael Deeb is going to South Bend.

“You get on the campus and it’s basically like a theme park. You’re just like 'wow,'” gushes the American Heritage linebacker. “You see the golden dome. It’s like something out of a movie. It’s just really like something I’ve never seen before.”

Deeb will see plenty more of it in the fall. He’ll be signing a football scholarship with the Fighting Irish next Wednesday on National Signing Day. The senior is choosing the BCS Runners-up over nearly a dozen of other offers.

“Spiritually, athletically, academically, it’s unmatched by any program across the nation really,” says the 6’2”, 235-pounder. “Their business school was ranked number one last year. And I want to study business, so I think it fit well off and on the field for me.”

That’s an appropriate choice for the Plantation resident who isn’t all that interested in the distractions high school life provides.

“I put together a schedule. And when I have a schedule I like to follow it,” Deeb says. “I like to stay focused on whatever task I’m doing and I don’t like leaving things incomplete whether it’s in the classroom or whether it’s on the field.”

That focus includes a week stuffed with weightlifting, speed training, sledge hammering tires and punching the heavy bag wrapped up with beach workouts on the weekend. That combined with maintaining a 3.8 GPA, leaves little time for being a kid.

“If I have to miss fun time with the friends while they go out to a movie I have to get another workout in, or I have to finish a project, it’s a sacrifice that I have to make because I have goals that I want to meet,” Deeb acknowledges.

Ranked 36th among inside linebackers in the country, Deeb followed up a 90-tackle, 5-interception junior season with a 95 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 blocked field goals and an interception as a senior.

That caught the eye of Notre Dame’s head coach Brian Kelly and changed the complexion of Deeb’s future.

“Last year, the offers starting coming a little bit, so I’m excited because these schools actually want me to come there,” says Deeb. “Then an offer from Notre Dame comes and you’re just like, ‘wow.’ I think it means a lot in their tradition of excellence. They’re always going to be a top school and you can use it as a vehicle to set you up to do so many great things in life.”

So with offer in hand and pen-to-paper just a few days away, Deeb can fine-tune. He’s tackled a new challenge recently.

“Hot yoga,” Deeb admits. “I tried it out. Ever since then, I’ve been addicted to it because it’s just what I need for my recovery and to help my flexibility and body control.”

Of course, he’s one of the largest budding yogis you’ll come across.

“It’s something that most of the time you won’t see a big guy doing, but I think it’s really an advantage being able to control your body when you’re in an uncomfortable position.”

But while his body may be in downward dog, his focus is only upward.

“I’m going to sign that letter and go to Notre Dame. My next goal is to get in there and get on the field and attack my studies,” Deeb says. “I stay focused on goals and if they’re not accomplished, I’m going to keep going after them until I can achieve them.”

He also may be attacking the mall. Winters in South Bend are a far cry from hot yoga classes.

“Jackets. Heavy blankets,” Deeb jokes. “Maybe a snuggy.”

There is nothing like living in South Florida leading up to National Signing Day -- where every year a handful of blue-chip high school football players will go down to the wire before making their decision. And knowing if your school lands a couple of those players it could have an immediate impact on how good your team can be.

Take Duke Johnson for example. The running back from Miami Norland Senior High School chose to go to the University of Miami just last year and in his freshman year won games almost by himself with his big plays. Or how about Amari Cooper. Last year he stood with me on the stage of our National Signing Day live special and just a few weeks ago he was catching 2 touchdowns for Alabama in their national championship win over Notre Dame.

For everybody that's a college football fan, you understand the importance of a good recruiting class. It's equivalent to the NFL Draft except you can grab as many kids as you have room for. Great recruiting classes mean more wins in college which generates more money and more exposure.

I have lived in South Florida for more than 30 years and I feel the pride of watching high school players turn into NFL stars. Frank Gore from Coral Gables High plays for the 49ers. Andre Johnson from Miami High plays for the Texans. Stephen Tulloch from Killian plays for the Lions. Geno Atkins from St. Thomas Aquinas plays for the Bengals. Willis McGahee from Central High is still going strong in Denver. Antonio Brown from Norland High plays for the Steelers. The list goes on and on in South Florida. Matter of fact, Miami-Dade County has more active NFL players than any other county in the country.

More than a hundred South Florida high school football players will go to college on scholarship to play next year. From Ivy League to SEC, millions of dollars are spent by universities in their recruiting budgets just to come to Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. Think about that. Hotel rooms, rental cars, restaurants -- recruiting is big business and the hotbed is the tri-county area.

South Florida has always taken pride in their high school football and there's just so much talent. Just look at recent history: Miami Northwestern High School and St. Thomas Aquinas were named national champions. Central, Norland, Booker T. Washington all have won state championships over the past couple of years and University School in Davie was just ranked the #1 small school team in the country by Max Preps.

So forgive me if I feel like a proud papa and enjoy the recruiting so much. I'm counting down the days to National Signing Day and excited to be part of it.