DT Ekom Udofia (6-1, 290, 4.8) from Scottsdale Chaparral (AZ) has coast-to-coast offers and is also an exceptional student.
Ekom favors USC slightly over Miami (offer), Tennessee (offer), LSU, Oklahoma and Stanford (offer). He also has offers from San Diego State, Arizona, Arizona State and Georgia.
"I think USC is close to offering. I sent out my film to them and my coach says they are very interested," said Udofia.
"I like them because they aren't too far away and they have great competition. It's the complete package because the academics are great too.
"I want to face great competition everyday in practice and during games. That's what I'm looking for in a school. I want to play for a competitive team. Arizona and Arizona State didn't perform well last year and I feel my top schools are just better opportunities."
Ekom grew up watching Miami. "I'm a big fan. They are a big-time program and always have great teams. They offered me about three weeks ago. I called Coach Larry Coker on the phone and he told me he was really impressed with me and said he has a scholarship waiting for me. Distance doesn't matter. I'm willing to go wherever."
But don't expect Ekom to make a commitment any time soon. "I definitely plan to take all five of my visits before I decide."
Ekom will be attending the Nike camp at Stanford on May 22. He says The Cardinal were his first scholarship offer during his soph year! (Stanford really likes Ekom--they never offer sophs who haven't taken the SAT or ACT yet, but feel very strongly in this case.)
"The football program at Stanford is on the rise and I expect them to get better. My brother, Udeme is a DE there and they've put together some good classes. He wants me to go there, but said not to let any outside influences affect my decision."
Ekom has 63 tackles with 37 for loss and 12 sacks as a JR. He also had three fumbles caused and recovered.
"I feel like I come off low and hard off the ball and I have real good hands. I study film a lot and know what I'm gonna see before I even face people. I have great moves and anticipate well. My biggest thing is to come off low all the time. I get tired in the fourth quarter and tend to go high. I'd also like to split the double teams better."
He BPs 390, SQs 605 and has a VJ of 30.
4.1 (4 scale)/May SAT