The city of Memphis is loaded in the 2012 class, with prospects in the double digits already committed to BCS programs. One of the top athletes in the area, Will Redmond (Memphis, Tenn./East) is being pursued by several prominent schools, and with good reason. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior this year threw for 241 yards and a touchdown, ran for 361 yards and eight touchdowns, caught 20 passes for 416 yards and four touchdowns, made 35 tackles and three interceptions on defense, and averaged almost 28 yards per kickoff return, with one return for a touchdown.
Redmond has committed to an SEC program, although that has not stopped schools from pursuing the three-star prospect. He maintains that it is a necessary evil in trying to find the best situation available.
“I committed to Mississippi State, but I want to take the time to think about it and be sure this is the right decision,” Redmond said. "It has been up and down, but it is something you only get to do once. It’s the only time you have head coaches from schools across the country come to your house. I also do not want to forgo my officials and later regret it. I might see something on my official that the other school did not have, so I just want to be 100 percent sure.”
Coaches from Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Georgia have come by to see Redmond this week, with North Carolina expected in the next two days. All except Ole Miss have also made in-home visits with Redmond, including Georgia's secondary coach Scott Lakatos and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. The two let Redmond know they are excited about his upcoming visit to Georgia, his first official so far.
“They told me they could not wait to get me down there, being that Georgia was my favorite school growing up,” Redmond said. “They were just telling me that they have a lot to offer me.”
With no commitments at the moment from a defensive back, Lakatos and Grantham are working hard to secure a couple of talented athletes for the secondary. The coaches were prepared to sell Redmond on Georgia’s history and success through the last decade, but they soon realized that was not necessary.
“One thing the Georgia coaches were impressed about is that I already knew a lot about Georgia,” Redmond said. “Like I told them I watched them and it is my favorite school.”
But Redmond learned a thing or two during the time he spent with Lakatos and Grantham Wednesday night.
"I did not know the defensive coordinator had coached in the NFL,” Redmond said. “He really seems to know what he is talking about. They also showed me different things they do in their defense. They play a lot of press man coverage, and Coach Lakatos said he is looking for a tall, physical corner. He said I have those qualities and he likes his guys to get up in their face and press, and that is one reason I have an offer.”
This weekend will give Redmond the chance to get a close-up look at his childhood favorite.
“I have never been to Athens before, so I am looking forward to that and also meeting all of the other coaches,” Redmond said. “Like I said, I grew up liking them, so I know a lot already. It is really just a matter of seeing in person what they have to offer.”
While other programs like Notre Dame might secure an official from Redmond, chances are he will be playing for the Bulldogs at the next level. The question is, will it be in Athens or Starkville?