Sabre Scoop: Weekend Notes (Free)

Is Clemons Solid?

South Aiken (Aiken, S.C.) senior defensive end/outside linebacker Rasool Clemons met with University of Virginia coaches this past Sunday. Clemons has been exploring his options, including LSU, where he visited last month. This past weekend’s meeting with Virginia staff appears to have gone well, as the 4-star prospect tweeted the following…

Academics may be a lingering issue here, so even if Clemons signs a letter of intent with the Hoos this coming February, it’s possible he may need a postgraduate year before enrolling. Stay tuned to TheSabre for more on the 6’6”, 210-pound senior, his future plans, and what is next for him in the recruiting process.

Pennsylvania Recruiting Notes

UVa has enjoyed some recruiting success in the state of Pennsylvania in the class of 2015, so far securing commitments from five high school senior prospects: OL Ryan Bischoff of Plymouth Meeting, CB Kareem Gibson of Johnstown, Philadelphia DE/LB Gladimir Paul, Erie DT James Trucilla, and Philadelphia tailback Olamide Zaccheaus.

The Cavaliers would like to build on that success. Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, PA) senior safety John Petrishen is a player we have reported on numerous times. Virginia and Pitt have been at the top of the 6’2”, 200-pound prospect’s list for months, but he is not rushing into a decision and said last week that he planned to make his official visits before committing.

Petrishen’s recruitment got a little more interesting last week, when Penn State came through with a scholarship offer. Look for Virginia and Pitt to land official visit spots from the talented athlete. The Nittany Lions as well as Wake Forest and West Virginia are among the other schools vying for officials as well.

Look for Petrishen to focus more on recruiting now that his senior season has come to an end. Central Catholic (11-2) lost to Pine-Richland, 21-13, in last week’s WPIAL AAAA championship game. Petrishen, used as a quarterback in the Wildcat formation, rushed for 170 yards in his final game with the Vikings.

While UVa seeks to close the deal on Petrishen, it has reentered the race for another Keystone State product, wide receiver Freddie Simmons Jr. The Bethlehem Catholic star senior tweeted this past weekend that he has de-committed from Rutgers. He originally committed to the Scarlet Knights on October 21, spurning offers from Virginia and Wake Forest, among others.

Simmons had 58 receptions for 812 yards and 20 total touchdowns his senior season. UVa would like to recruit at least one more receiver prospect in the class of 2015, but it could take more if the right players want to come on board. UVa has one receiver commitment so far in this class in Kettle Run (Nokesville, VA) product David Eldridge III.

Recruiting Calendar

November 30 marked the beginning of a Contact Period, meaning FBS coaches are now allowed to make in-home and in-school visits with recruits. This Contact Period began this past Sunday and lasts through January 31. As defined by the NCAA, during this time six in-person off-campus contacts per prospective student-athlete shall be permitted with not more than one permitted in any one calendar week.

There is a Quiet Period on December 14 followed by a Dead Period that begins December 15 and lasts through January 14. A coach is not allowed to have in-person contact (in-home visits, official visits or otherwise) with a recruit during a Dead Period. Phone calls are permitted, though.

The “Contact Period” resumes January 15 and goes through January 31, so coaches will be making their final recruiting pushes during this time. UVa recruit Tanner Cowley told me most of Virginia’s class of 2015 commits would be making official visits to UVa the weekend of January 23-25, so obviously that weekend is one to circle on the calendar.

A Quiet Period takes place on February 1 and is followed by another Dead Period February 2 – February 5. National Signing Day is Wednesday, February 4.