Yesterday marked the first day of the NCAA evaluation period. Until May 31st, college coaches and recruiters have their schedules set. For many top BSC programs, a necessary first-stop was Freedom High School in Oakley, California.
Joe Mixon leads a healthy class of 2014 recruits as one of the nation's most coveted running backs. Mixon shared his experience from Day 1 of the evaluation period, as schools from near and far checked in for a visit.
"Texas Longhorns came to my school, Cal came and USC came," Mixon told CLA Sports. "I didn't get a visit from Arizona State but I got to talk to the Head Coach (Todd Graham)."
Mixon was impressed by the fact that USC running backs Coach Tommy Robinson visited. "That's not even his recruiting area," said Mixon. "He's pretty much saying that he only has two backs right now, and he said that I'd probably be competing for a starting job."
Early playing time is important and he says that most schools recruiting him have offered early playing time or the potential to compete as a true freshman for a starting position. Like many of the nation's top prospects, Mixon is attracted by incentives like early playing time that schools have offered to join their respective programs.
Once Mixon surpassed 40 official scholarship offers, we stopped coating, truthfully. At this stage in the game, he clearly has schools that he prefers over others and plans to announce a shorter list of about 10-15 top schools soon.
When asked whether or not distance from family will be a factor in his decision, he replied, "As long as they can see me on TV, it's all good."
If all goes according to plan, Joe Mixon will be playing in front of national television audiences on a weekly basis in 2014 and beyond.
Joe Mixon: Offer Roundtable Discussion
CLA asked Mixon what he liked about the following schools that have offered. Read what he had to say about Tennessee, Texas A&M, Michigan, USC, UCLA, Washington, Wisconsin and Oklahoma.
Tennessee Volunteers: "They're a young program and they got a great fan base. They're deep on Twitter. Coach Bajakian and Coach Jones, they're all great guys. It's an honor to have an offer from them. They're a great program in the SEC. They have a top class of recruits for 2014."
Texas A&M Aggies: "Of course, Johnny Manziel. Coach McKinney has been doing a great job with the running backs. The defenses that he goes against, he lights 'em up. They said I could likely have a starting job there."
USC Trojans: "I like their coaching staff. I like Coach Helton a lot, and I like Coach Kiffin. Coach Robinson is a great dude and I like having conversations with him. They said that I could come in as a true freshman and compete for a starting position."
Michigan Wolverines: "Coach Ferrigno, I talk to him a lot. They said they'll love to have me in the Michigan offense running down hill. They said that I'm a diverse back and they've got a good fan base. I'd love to play in front of 110,000 fans every home game.. to score a touchdown that'd be crazy.
Notre Dame: "I like Coach Denbrock a lot. He said they'd love to have me at Notre Dame. The running backs coach.. Coach Alford said that they need a running back and that I could come in and possibly start as a true freshman."
UCLA Bruins: "Coach McClure has being doing a good job recruiting me. Coach Broussard said he'd love for me to come down to UCLA and become a Bruin. He said that I could come down and compete for a starting job."
Washington Huskies: "I vibe with them a lot. Coach Sarkisian. They do a great job recruiting. It's been good with them recruiting me."
Wisconsin Badgers: "They've been doing a good job recruiting me."
Oklahoma Sooners: "I like Oklahoma a lot. My favorite NFL running back went there, Adrian Peterson. Coach Gundy he's a very good guy and he basically was breaking it down to me… They only got four running backs right now and they're getting older. He said he'd love for me to become an Oklahoma Sooner and he said that I'm his number one target for the class of 2014."
