"I have offers from Vandy, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Louisville, and
Memphis." added Mack Weaver. "I have been talking to Virginia a few
times lately and Cinci once or twice."
The 6' 4", 235-pound defensive end/tight end could play either position
on the next level.
"Most colleges like me at defensive end. Mississippi State and Ole Miss
are recruiting me to play tight end. Louisville is specific for defensive end,
and the rest of them are telling me I can play whatever I want to play."
Which side of the ball does the Memphis resident want to play on the next level?
"I really do not have a preference. I am willing to play anything in college,
but if I had to decide on one, I would have to go with defensive end. That's
what I have played all of my life. I primary play defensive end for us but on
certain formations I will line up at tight end. It's actually quite a few formations
I play tight end but defensive end is my primary position."
Mac had 64 tackles and 12 sacks on defense and 12 receptions on offense last
season.
"I am really quick off of the ball, and I they say I have really soft hands."
Weaver visited Mississippi State, Memphis, and Vandy earlier this spring. He
tripped to Ole Miss Tuesday.
"That was my first time to see the Ole Miss campus. Me and my coach toured
their campus and football facilities and just drove around and watched the students
walk to their classes. I looked around their dorms and then we met with all
of the coaches and a few players. Eli Manning was in the football facility while
I was there and that was cool getting to meet him. We met for about an hour
and half with the coaches and then me and my coach went and got something to
eat. We came back and met with the coaches again, and that is when they offered
me a scholarship."
What did Weaver want to learn about the Rebels on the trip and what did he find
out about those issues?
"I really wanted to know about their summer school program and how that
plays out with their football team. I also wanted to learn about their graduation
rate and education programs. Their players go to summer school every summer
and they cover their expenses. That's good. I did not get a chance to ask about
the graduation rate of their players but it was really good. They told us. I
just can't remember what the number was but it was really good. I just found
out there are a lot of good academic opportunities there at Ole Miss. They have
some great programs to major in."
What stood out the most about Ole Miss?
"I just liked their campus. They really take care of it. I also could tell
that their students really love their school and are happy being there. It really
is just a beautiful campus. You would have to see it for yourself to see what
I am talking about. It's the nicest campus I have seen so far."
The Ole Miss staff believed Mac would be a good fit for their program.
"They just said if I came there I would play tight end, but I would have
an opportunity to play another position if I just really wanted to. They showed
me all of the different formations they use for their tight ends and the different
places I would line up. We went over my film, and they believe I would have
a good opportunity to get down the field and make some catches. They also think
I would be a good fit because of my character."
Where does Ole Miss now fit in the big recruiting picture?
"I am considering Ole Miss. Right now everyone is equal but Ole Miss is
now in the picture. They just came into the picture but even with them being
more recent than the others, I am considering them just as strong."
What is going on with Vandy?
"It really was a nice campus too. They had a bunch of construction going
on while I was there so I really could not see a finished product but even with
all of the construction going on it was nice. Their coaches are really nice
guys, and they are working that football team hard. It just seems like everybody
belongs there. They also have a great sense of family on that team. Everybody
is real close."
And MSU?
"I went to their Jr Day. I didn't get to really see the whole campus or
anything like that. I just saw their football facilities, but I got to talk
to some of their coaches. I really enjoyed them and their facilities are really
nice. I can just tell their coaches make it fun. They are fun to be around."
How did the trip go to his hometown school, Memphis?
"It was good. I met with the coaches. I do not want to sound negative about
their past staff but the new staff just seemed like they knew what they were
talking about. They just had a lot more knowledge and they also have a great
sense of family there too. They have really come together on that team. They
eat together every day and even the holidays. They just do everything together.
I like that."
Mac is in no hurry to make a decision.
"I am not trying to come up with a Top 5 or anything. I am just going to
research as much as I possibly can on all of the schools and take a few visits
after my season is over. This is a big decision so I am going to take my time."