Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Savage Fired Up for Rutgers; Smith, Larrow Impress
No college coaches were permitted at today’s Big Time Football Showcase at Rutgers Stadium.
But college coaches from across the land could watch some highlights and interviews of the event on CBS College Sports during Thursday’s night’s post-Lost telecast.
The event was put on by Chris Melvin, Chuck Mound and Nick Lubischer, who for years have run the Elite College Combine each May in New Jersey. Because a new NCAA rule says college coaches can’t attend combines, these guys worked out a deal with CBS College Sports to have Tom Lemming appear and interview various players.
Here are some snippets from those interviews…
QB TOM SAVAGE, Class of ’09 Rutgers commit from Cardinal O’Hara (Pa.)
“I know I’m just going to go in there and work hard and the best player plays. I didn’t want to do the whole depth chart math and just try and see who’s leaving, who’s coming in. I just wanted to go in there and work hard and see what happens.
“They’re all great ballplayers at Rutgers and they’re all going to be great athletes, and I just wanted to keep talking to them because I think they’re going to build something special here. They already have, three straight bowl games.
RB THEO RIDDICK, Class of ’08 Notre Dame commit from Immaculata
“(My decision) was based on academics. A lot of D-1 chools are going to be good in football, that’s just how it is… But you come out of Notre Dame, you do whatever you want to do. A degree from Notre Dame is just amazing, and that’s why I picked them.
“When I talked to Charlie Weis, he really stressed (me playing) running back. But whenever I get on the field fastest. If I have to play cornerback, that’s what I’ll do. Whatever Charlie wants me to do, that’s what I do.”
WR DEVON SMITH, 5-7, 140-pound WR from Waldorf (Md.) Westlake who ran a 4.25 40 and will surely pick up some offers after reportedly holding none going in
“I knew I was going to run pretty fast because I run track and I’ve been training on that in the offseason. I ain’t played football so I’ve been running track all year. So I knew I was going to run a good time. I was aiming for the 4.1”
DE MICHAEL LARROW, 6-3, 250 pound DE from Union who holds offers from Rutgers and Syracuse. Melvin calls Larrow the “biggest sleeper in the state of New Jersey.”
“I just want to get a chance to see all the schools and give myself the best opportunity to go to the best school and have fun the 4 or 5 years that I’m at the school.”
(Photos courtesy Rivals)
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
No college coaches were permitted at today’s Big Time Football Showcase at Rutgers Stadium.
But college coaches from across the land could watch some highlights and interviews of the event on CBS College Sports during Thursday’s night’s post-Lost telecast.
The event was put on by Chris Melvin, Chuck Mound and Nick Lubischer, who for years have run the Elite College Combine each May in New Jersey. Because a new NCAA rule says college coaches can’t attend combines, these guys worked out a deal with CBS College Sports to have Tom Lemming appear and interview various players.
Here are some snippets from those interviews…
QB TOM SAVAGE, Class of ’09 Rutgers commit from Cardinal O’Hara (Pa.)
“I know I’m just going to go in there and work hard and the best player plays. I didn’t want to do the whole depth chart math and just try and see who’s leaving, who’s coming in. I just wanted to go in there and work hard and see what happens.
“They’re all great ballplayers at Rutgers and they’re all going to be great athletes, and I just wanted to keep talking to them because I think they’re going to build something special here. They already have, three straight bowl games.
RB THEO RIDDICK, Class of ’08 Notre Dame commit from Immaculata
“(My decision) was based on academics. A lot of D-1 chools are going to be good in football, that’s just how it is… But you come out of Notre Dame, you do whatever you want to do. A degree from Notre Dame is just amazing, and that’s why I picked them.
“When I talked to Charlie Weis, he really stressed (me playing) running back. But whenever I get on the field fastest. If I have to play cornerback, that’s what I’ll do. Whatever Charlie wants me to do, that’s what I do.”
WR DEVON SMITH, 5-7, 140-pound WR from Waldorf (Md.) Westlake who ran a 4.25 40 and will surely pick up some offers after reportedly holding none going in
“I knew I was going to run pretty fast because I run track and I’ve been training on that in the offseason. I ain’t played football so I’ve been running track all year. So I knew I was going to run a good time. I was aiming for the 4.1”
DE MICHAEL LARROW, 6-3, 250 pound DE from Union who holds offers from Rutgers and Syracuse. Melvin calls Larrow the “biggest sleeper in the state of New Jersey.”
“I just want to get a chance to see all the schools and give myself the best opportunity to go to the best school and have fun the 4 or 5 years that I’m at the school.”
(Photos courtesy Rivals)
