Wooddale RB may play soon at Auburn
Robinson’s future opens up with departures
Wooddale High School running back and Auburn University commitment Jovon Robinson earned a four-star rating from rivals.com through hard work off the field and breathtaking moments on it.
But during the past few weeks, he’s become the top running back pledge of Auburn’s 2012 signing class without doing much at all.
The Tigers recently lost their best running back when ALL-SEC juniorto -be Michael Dyer elected to transfer, reportedly to Arkansas State. Then, the Tigers lost five -star running back prospect T.J. Yeldon to rival Alabama.
Now, suddenly, Robinson is the lone running back on Auburn’s commitment list.
“Jovon is definitely talented enough to play early down there,” said Wooddale coach Keith Spann. “And I think they’ll have to consider playing him early because they may not have any other choice.”
The first of three recruiting weekends for new University of Memphis football coach Justin Fuente begins with a Texas twist.
And one of the recruits making an official visit this weekend brings an impressive resume of suitors.
Tight end Vincent Hobbs of Mesquite, Texas, will arrive in Memphis on Saturday — after playing for his Horn High basketball team tonight — and tour the cam-
Robinson won’t find the backfield completely empty when he arrives on the Plains — even if the Tigers elect not to sign another running back in this class.
Speedy veteran Ontario Mccalebb announced this week that he’ll be returning to Auburn for his senior season, and talented backs Tre Mason and Quan Bray will return after showing sparks of ability last year as freshmen.
But the situation will be far less crowded than it would have been with Dyer and Yeldon on the roster, and Robinson’s style of running might make him a perfect fit.
Mccalebb is a perimeter back with blazing speed and NFL- caliber pass- catching ability. But at 5-10, 170 pounds, he’s never had much success running between the tackles against SEC defenses.
At 6-1, 218 pounds, Robinson seems well- equipped to do just that.
“He’s right at 220 pounds now, and he’s going to get bigger,” Spann said. “He’s got a lot of room to grow, and I believe he can be a great inside runner at that level.”
Though it seems little more than a formality, Robinson is visiting Auburn this weekend.
Memphis commits visiting Ole Miss
Wooddale also has a pair of players committed to Memphis in wide receiver Daniel Hurd and defensive end Carl Mitchell. But Spann said he believes both players are planning to take official visits to Ole Miss next week. Ridgeway running back Sheldon Dawson is in a similar situation. He committed to Memphis in late July, but is planning an official visit to Ole Miss on Jan. 20.
Redmond planning heavyweight visits
Defensive back Will Redmond of East High School is committed to Mississippi State and is scheduled to visit State this weekend. But he has visits planned to a pair of heavyweight programs before the recruiting season is over.
Reached by cell phone Thursday, Redmond said he plans to visit Miami (Fla.) on Jan. 20 and Ohio State on Jan. 27. The Buckeyes won’t be allowed to participate in a bowl next season due to recent NCAA sanctions, but there has been a buzz around the program since former Florida