When it comes to recruiting and all that goes into the decision making process, recruits across the country need to talk with Antonio Logan-El. This massive five-star offensive line prospect from Forestville (Md.) has a plan and it’s a plan he plans on following until the end. After all, it will assist him in the biggest decision of his young life.
Logan-El’s grandfather is a college professor and he has instilled in Antonio that he should come up with a value system as a measuring stick for all the college football programs he is considering. The value system consists of the player-coach relationship, graduation rates, the level of degree at each school, exposure, environment and other key things he is looking at in each program.
“I am going to take my time,” said Logan-El. “He (grandfather) has instilled this in me and I am taking it very seriously. I will take all my visits and fill out my value system and come up with the best decision for me and where I fit in the best.”
On the outside looking in some many may think he is solid to the University of Maryland. He did commit to the Terrapins early in the process. But if you know big Antonio, you know that he is very familiar with his home state school.
”I actually recruited Maryland when I was young,” proclaimed Logan-El. “Ever since my sophomore year I have been going there, going to camps and games. I interact with all the players and coaches and I have a great relationship with everyone. I know them and there is a great comfort level with me and the people there. And their academics are great.
”I would say I am a soft commitment to them and I will take all of my visits just to make sure. And I will compare them to everyone else.”
As things stand right now, Logan-El has already visited Oklahoma and he has set up official visits to Maryland (12-3), Tennessee (12-10), Florida (1-13) and Virginia (1-20). Penn State will not receive an official visit but the Nittany Lions find themselves very much in the mix. Here is what Logan-El likes about each of these great programs.
“My grandfather and I went to Oklahoma for my first visit. It was a good one. During the game I really focused on their o-line and what they were doing scheme wise. We did many of the same schemes that they do. We were also very impressed with their academics and their academic support. I also love their staff and how they relate to their players.
”I fell in love with Tennessee when I met coach Slade. He just blew me away. I love his personality and I also love his love and passion for the University of Tennessee. It was infectious to me.
“A lot of the things I think I am looking for in a college I see in Florida. It’s a place with a great player-coach relationship and coach Meyer has it going on, they are playing so hard for him and he has that thing going in the right direction. And their academics are awesome and at Florida you get so much exposure.
”Virginia is a place where I love how they use and develop their offensive linemen. Al Groh is a former OL coach. He has that experience that can make me a better player. I also just love the way they are recruiting me.
“And Penn State may not get a visit but they are very much in this. What really attracted me to them is their players, their young players. They went to Penn State to turn that thing around and they did just that. They are changing things there. They are building up that program again and I wouldn’t mind being a part of that. I went there for the Ohio State game and it was just electric. Fans were chanting my name. It was crazy and it blew me away.”
With the season now over after finishing 5-5, Antonio Logan-El can look back and know that despite missing the playoffs, he was more than just a standout player. He was a leader leading a young team.
”The playoffs for us came down to the last game and we lost. We have just a few seniors and a lot of younger players. I was the leader this season and hopefully I did a good job at getting these guys (younger players) ready for the future. That was my role this season and I think I did it well and I also improved on all the things I set out to do as a player.”
Logan-El played both offensive and defensive tackle this season. At times the 6-5 and 310 pounder also played middle linebacker. He finished the season with 89 tackles and 6.5 sacks and only allowed one sack on the year.
”I basically graded out with an “A” each game and that sack wasn’t really a sack. Our quarterback was supposed to spike the ball and I just let me man go. But he didn’t and he got sacked on the play.”
So with the season now behind him the No. 9 rated OL prospect in the country can look forward to his visits and upcoming decision. He can’t go wrong with his choice and he has his grandfather and value system to help him with his big decision.