ESPNU150 Watch List defensive end Alfy Hill is from an area of North Carolina (Shallotte is just north of Myrtle Beach, S.C., a stones throw from the border) that rarely produces Division I-level talent. Its an under-recruited area to say the least, so schools are just finding out about him.
But as programs have gotten the word, his offer list has grown.
North Carolina State, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Iowa State, Purdue and Virginia Tech have offered Hill and several other schools, like North Carolina and South Carolina, are showing interest.
The offer from the Vols, his only from a Southeastern Conference program, caught Hill by surprise.
I watched Tennessee and Clemson a lot growing up, he said. I was excited to get the offer from N.C. State because it was my second offer. I never thought I would get an offer from the Vols. I plan on going over there sometime this summer. I am wide open with the schools I am considering, though.
Hill also plans trips to North Carolina and Virginia Tech for camps. He says the Tar Heels told him they were currently evaluating him. He attended North Carolinas Junior Day.
Hill was an All-State and All-Conference selection as a junior.
Hokies jump in with James
Receiver Matt James (Raleigh, N.C./Sanderson) did not put up the numbers of a Division I prospect at his position last season because his high school team ran a ground-oriented offense (throwing it approximately 46 times all season) last year.
The 2009 season will be a different one in terms of scheme, though. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound James will be featured in a new spread attack.
I am real excited about what we are going to be doing, not just for me individually, but for the entire team to help us win more games, he said.
Despite the lack of stats, college programs have taken notices of James upside. Virginia Tech, Air Force and East Carolina have already offered him a scholarship. The offer from the Hokies came just this week.
That meant a lot in terms of the opportunity that I may have with colleges, he said. I just felt honored to be offered by a football program of that stature.
James also is getting looks from Wake Forest, Clemson, North Carolina State and Duke.
Tigers in front for McCain
Though they have yet to offer him a scholarship, one school has jumped out in front for tight end/defensive end Chris McCain (Greensboro, N.C./Northeast Guilford).
My top five in order is Clemson, California, North Carolina, Wake Forest and Penn State, he said.
The Tar Heels and Demon Deacons, along with Virginia Tech, South Carolina and East Carolina have offered McCain a scholarship thus far.
He plans to visit Clemson this weekend for the Tigers Junior Day event.
Looks for DE Martin
East Carolina and Duke are the early offers for defensive end Kareem Martin (Roanoke Rapids, N.C./Roanoke Rapids), but as programs find out more about him, interest has picked up.
The 6-foot-6, 215-pounder had 121 tackles and six sacks last season.
Virginia may be the next school to offer, he said. They are showing a lot of interest. Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech also just started showing me some attention.
Martin plans to attend the Nike Football Training Camp in Charlottesville, Va., later this spring.
Clyburn likes Pack, Heels
Safety P.J. Clyburn (Statesville, N.C./West Iredell) has offers from North Carolina State, Illinois and East Carolina.
Clyburn was raised a North Carolina fan, but the Heels have not offered. Still, he remains interested in UNC and has them in his top two, along with the Wolfpack who have offered.