ESPN

ESPN's Roger Brown has an update today on the East Recruiting Blog regarding Dexter senior athlete Abner Logan Jr., saying the prospect appears to be down to three schools.

Dexter head coach Casey Day told Brown that Logan, the No. 3 overall senior prospect in Massachusetts, took his second official visit last weekend to Maryland, which is recruiting him as a linebacker. His first was NC State, which is recruiting him as a running back.

The only other school in the picture at this time is Northwestern, which is also recruiting him as a linebacker. Logan has yet to take an official visit to the Evanston, Ill. campus.

"It seems like it's still between those three schools -- Maryland, NC State and Northwestern," Day told Brown. "It looks like he'll be making a decision sometime before Christmas.”"

ESPN's Roger Brown checks in today on the East Recruiting Blog with Everett quarterback Jonathan DiBiaso, who is taking a visit to Harvard University this weekend. Until this point, most of the interest for DiBiaso had come from the Ivy and Patriot Leagues; he has visits with Dartmouth and Penn scheduled for next month, while Brown and Holy Cross have also expressed interest.

But the interest for record-setting quarterback, who on Monday was named ESPN Boston's Mr. Football for 2011, has slowly been picking. The latest school to reach out to him comes from the Big Ten.

Brown writes:

“Northwestern called over the weekend,” DiBiaso said. “I have to send them my transcript and film. We'll see what happens there. I hope that works out. I think it'll be a good fit for me.”

DiBiaso, a senior, recently received ESPN Boston's Mr. Football Award, which is presented annually to the top high school football player in Massachusetts. Last Saturday, Everett won its second consecutive Super Bowl by defeating Lincoln-Sudbury 36-13.

Harvard, Dartmouth and Pennsylvania are DiBiaso's other college options at this point. He's scheduled to visit Harvard this weekend, and both Dartmouth and Pennsylvania in January. Brown and Holy Cross have also shown interest.

“Harvard and Dartmouth have offered,” DiBiaso said. “I'm waiting on Penn. I think Penn will offer when I'm up there.

“I'm gonna see how the visits go. I really want to be on a successful team and [Harvard and Penn] are the two winningest programs in the Ivy League. I also like Dartmouth a lot. I went to the Dartmouth-Princeton game and I think they're moving in the right direction.”

You can read the full article here.

ESPN's Roger Brown checks in today on the Scouts Inc.'s East football recruiting blog with Dexter athlete Abner Logan Jr., who has narrowed it down to three schools.

Logan, the state's No. 3 overall player, told Brown that earlier this month, he cut his list to NC State, Maryland and Northwestern. He took his first official visit to State last weekend, and watched the Wolfpack beat rival North Carolina 13-0. He will take an official visit to Maryland on Dec. 9.

Brown writes:

“I'm going to visit Northwestern too, but the date is still up in the air,” Logan said. “I left North Carolina State feeling a lot better [about that school] than when I first got there. It was a sold-out crowd because it's a rivalry game. If anything it was an improvement.”

Logan, the top uncommitted recruit from Massachusetts in the Class of 2012, said he originally considered taking visits to Connecticut and Syracuse, but is no longer considering either school.

“I don't have too much interest in UConn or Syracuse,” he said. “You have to have that feel for a school. I'm not going to be taking visits to either school.”

North Carolina State is recruiting Logan to play running back. Maryland and Northwestern both like him as a linebacker. He said he's open to playing either position.

Georgia Tech is a wild card in the process. Logan said he still talks with Georgia Tech on a regular basis and has serious interest in the school, but isn't sure if that school will make him a late offer.

“Perhaps, but I'm really now sure,” Logan said. “Right now I'd say I'll make my decision sometime in December.”

Hotchkiss (Conn.) point guard and Houston native Clyde Smith put an end to his recruitment on Monday when he verbally committed to TCU for the 2012-13 season, mulitiple sources are reporting.

Smith chose the Horned Frogs over Northwestern, Stanford, Boston University and Notre Dame.

His current evaluation from Scouts Inc. reads as follows:

Strengths:
Smith is a skilled attacking guard who plays with great presence and confidence. He is a consistent threat from behind the three-point line with a good understanding of how to come off screens and an ability to make shots in bunches. He has developed a tremendous pull-up game that he utilizes in transition as well as the half-court and is good enough with the ball to make a play for himself or his teammates going to the rim. Physically, he has become much stronger and more explosive within the last year and has the quickness to be a good defender as well.

Weaknesses:
Smith is more scorer than distributor and so still not a pure point guard despite playing more on the ball than off. He needs to prove he can make those around him better and also make more of a commitment to impacting the game on the defensive end. He doesn't have a pure release on his jumper and so rarely gets credit for being as dangerous as he is with his long ball.

Bottom Line:
Smith is a talented combo-guard with a versatile attacking game. While he isn't a pure point guard he plays with an aggressive demeanor and is the type of guy who can fill up a scoring column in a hurry.

ESPN's Roger Brown checks in today with Brookfield (Conn.) junior quarterback Boeing Brown, who is patiently awaiting that elusive first offer but has already pointed out a favorite.

South Carolina, Wisconsin, Notre Dame and Northwestern are the most notable Division 1 programs to inquire about Brown, considered one of the state's top Class of 2013 prospects. But Boeing's dream is to play in-state for UConn.

Roger Brown writes:

"We don't want to focus on just one school, but we'd like him to play at UConn and be a UConn Husky," Boeing's father, Chris, said. "Boeing has a relationship with [Connecticut quarterbacks coach Joe Morehead] I haven't seen with any other coach."

Brown threw for 1,511 yards and 18 touchdowns [five interceptions] last season, when Brookfield lost to New London in the Class M semifinals. He's 6-foot-3 and said he has a 3.47 GPA.

"I feel like I have a strong arm and that I'm accurate with my throws downfield," Brown said. "If I have to run I'll do it."

Brown has taken unofficial visits to Connecticut, Northwestern and Notre Dame. He said Boston College, Central Florida, Duke, Illiniois, North Carolina, South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin are also in the picture. He's scheduled to visit Boston College this weekend. His father played at Central Florida.

"Our head coach is talking to BC's head coach," Chris said. "They've reached out to Boeing a couple different ways.

"We've been invited to quite a few games this fall. We're gonna try to get to a Duke game, a South Carolina game, a Vanderbilt game and a game at Notre Dame.

"I'd say UConn is No. 1 followed by Notre Dame and Northwestern. We're big fans of UConn."

For more recruiting updates on New England's top high school football talent, be sure to check out Brown's ESPN blog.

ESPN's Roger Brown checks in today on his recruiting blog with Dexter running back/linebacker Abner Logan Jr., who has started to trim the list of schools he is considering.

The Newton resident told Brown that UConn, Maryland and Northwestern are on the list. He also has offers from Boston College, Florida International, UMass, Syracuse and Towson.

Brown writes:

"Not much has changed recently," Logan said. "I like some schools more than others and I'm gonna narrow my list down to five in the next week or two, and then take my official visits. I'm definitely going to go to UConn, Maryland and to Northwestern.

"I still have to go visit Syracuse [unofficial] to see if they're in my top five."

Although ESPNU has Logan rated as the No. 26 inside linebacker in the country, most schools are recruiting him to play outside linebacker.

"Schools are recruiting me mostly to play Will linebacker," Logan said. "BC wants me to play running back. It's different. I'll be used in multiple ways, so I like that."

Logan transferred to the Dexter School from the New Hampton (N.H.) School following his sophomore season. Last fall was the first season he was used at running back.

"His athleticism and his explosiveness are really what set him apart," Dexter School coach Casey Day said. "Schools like what they see once they get a look at him."

Logan said he plans to take some of his official visits during his senior season, but will likely take some in the winter as well. He said he isn't sure when he'll make his final decision.

"Right now I have no idea about that," he said.

For more recruiting updates on New England's top high school football talent, be sure to check out Brown's ESPN blog.

Buckingham, Browne & Nichols offensive tackle Eric Olson, the state's No. 2 prospect, spoke with ESPNBoston.com tonight and shared a little more insight into the verbal commitment he issued last night to Northwestern University.

Last night, the 6-foot-6, 270-pound Sudbury resident made three different phone calls to the Wildcats -- first to head coach Pat Fitzgerald, then to superbacks coach Bob Heffner and offensive line coach Adam Cushing -- issuing his verbal commitment after heavily deliberating between Michigan, Virginia and Boston College. For Olson, who most recently took an unofficial visit on May 21, it was the best mix both on and off the field.

"It just felt like the right fit," he said by phone. "When I visited there, coach Fitzgerald gave an unbelievable presentation on players' futures, and how they care not only about their football careers but what they do in the future. He said Northwestern is not a four-year decision, it's a 40-year decision.

"They have so many connections all over Chicago, coupled with the fact that they're competitive in the Big Ten, coach Fitz just signed a 10-year deal, they've been to a bowl game three years in a row, coupled with the fact that you can get a good degree at such a great place. It was the right fit."

Like most incoming offensive lineman, Olson expects to redshirt the 2012 season; but with the Wildcats graduating eight tackles over the next two seasons, it's possible Olson could get on the field early into his college career.

Olson will continue his four-days-per-week, three-hours-per-session summer training program at the Woburn-based Athletic Evolution training facility, but the Wildcats coaching staff want him to keep a slim frame to maximize his athleticism. Fitzgerald likes the way Olson could fit in his no-huddle, spread-oriented attack, with the ability to block and hook players out in space.

"They say they don’t do conditioning in practice, because they cover it during team periods," Olson said. "It's so uptempo."

Besides, Olson originally transferred into the Cambridge campus two years ago as a basketball prospect. So did he ever think in this, his third year of organized football, he'd be making this kind of a decision?

"Oh my God no," he laughed. "Seriously, it's pretty unbelievable."

EAGLES OFFER JOY

Chelmsford linebacker Tim Joy received a scholarship offer earlier today from Boston College after participating in the third session of its football camp, a source close to the situation told ESPNBoston.com.

Joy recorded 131 tackles (13 for loss) to go with two sacks and three interceptions for the 6-5 Lions, and was named to ESPNBoston's inaugural MIAA All-State Team. He reportedly ran a hand-timed, 4.72-second 40-yard dash today in the rain.

Joy has also been receiving varied interest from UConn, Maryland, Duke, Nebraska and Miami (Fla.). The Eagles have been courting Joy for some time now, and are believed to be his top choice.

ESPNU has confirmed that Buckingham, Browne & Nichols offensive tackle Eric Olson has verbally committed to Northwestern for the fall of 2012.

The 6-foot-6, 270-pound Sudbury resident is the No. 2 ranked prospect in Massachusetts. He was also considering Boston College, Michigan, Duke, Virginia, UConn and UMass at the time of his commitment.

Scouts Inc's current evaluation on Olson reads as follows:

Olson displays the explosion and playing strength necessary to dominate as a run blocker against his present level of opposition. Has the size and athleticism for the offensive tackle position at the major level of competition. We see some lower body stiffness however his balance and agility still allow him to play on his feet in space; from a three point stance this prospect comes off the ball low and hard demonstrating the ability to get immediate push when single and double team blocking. We like his initial quickness, fit and pad level; his solid blocking base and persistent leg drive allow him to sustain. Flashes the foot quickness necessary to gain leverage on shaded defensive linemen and we feel he has the ability to consistently get a hat on active 1st and 2nd level defenders. This guy has the athletic and physical tools to make all the required run blocks at the next level of play. His arm length and quick hands should be assets in pass protection; flashes good initial set quickness showing the ability to slide and play flat footed. Will need to improve his bend and overall base; plays to tall and straight legged at times, leaning in instead of using his arm length. All areas of hand use will need refinement including punch and location. This is a tough customer who finishes with the nasty attitude we look for when evaluating offensive linemen. Olson may need some time and perhaps a red shirt year to add bulk to his frame while polishing his technical skills; once accomplished he should have a long and productive career at the BCS level of play.

ESPN's Roger Brown checks in today on his recruiting blog with Dexter junior athlete Abner Logan, who is hitting up a handful of one-day camps next month in hopes of increasing his exposure.

UMass, Towson and Florida International have already offered the 6-foot-1, 225-pound Cambridge native. He told Brown he plans on visiting one-day camps next month at Boston College, UConn, Florida, NC State, Northwestern and Syracuse; he'll also take an unofficial visit to FIU following his trip to Florida camp.

"It's frustrating to see other guys ranked where I am who have 10 or 15 offers right now," Logan told Brown.

His head coach at Dexter, Casey Day, thinks it might be just a matter of patience for Logan, who is being recruited at either linebacker or running back, depending on the school.

"We knew the month of June is when he's going to get the majority of his offers," Day told Brown. "He's an excellent student and he's doing everything right. I think it's just a matter of time.

"I think he's definitely a kid who should have five to 10 offers right now, so he is a little frustrated. I'm not sure if it's his height [Logan is 6-foot-1, 225 pounds], the competition we play or what."

For more recruiting updates on New England's top high school football talent, be sure to check out Brown's blog.