Georgia Tight End Exploring Options

Will Middleton, a tight end at Kell High School in Marietta, GA, is a big target at 6-5 and 245 pounds. He has an offer from Rutgers in hand, and has several other schools showing interest. Middleton is not completely sold on any school just yet, but he does admit he is after an offer from one school in particular.

“I don’t really have any favorite schools right now," Will Middleton stated. “If I had to name a few they’d be South Carolina, Rutgers, West Virginia, Mississippi State, Central Florida and Louisville.”

“I will say that I’d really like to get an offer from South Carolina. I love the place. I like the coaches, and I like their offense. Their stadium is great, and my sister goes there, too.”

The Gamecocks along with several other programs are showing Middleton a great deal of attention.

“They’ve said they’re [South Carolina] very close to offering me,” he stated. “They’re gonna come this spring and see me in person before they offer me. They want to come and check out my blocking. That’s what most schools have said.”

“Louisville has talked to me a pretty good bit, too. Mississippi State has been in close contact with me. West Virginia has been keeping up with me, too.”

Middleton has already visited a number of schools and has a few lined up in the months ahead.

“I’ve visited South Carolina, Florida, Auburn and Michigan,” he said. “This summer I’ll be at Rutgers for their camp in June. I’ll be at South Carolina, Mississippi State, and I might be at Louisville and Auburn.”

Middleton believes he’s definitely D1 material in that he is strong in very important areas.

“Receiving is what I do best,” he said. “I can line up in the slot, too. I’m good at going across the middle. That’s where I got the majority of my yards. About 75-percent of my catches were up the middle. I think that colleges like my size, and the way that I move.”

“The thing that I really need to work on are my blocking skills. I feel that if I can get that down that I’ll get even more attention from schools. I am working really hard to get better with my blocking.”

His skills were tested at the Under Armour/Scout.com Southeast Elite camp last weekend.

“The combine was very deep and talented,” he said. “I felt like I did pretty good. I felt that in the one-on-one drills that I faired pretty well. I also showed good agility in the drills. I move really well for my size.”

Last fall Middleton brought in 25 catches for 350 yards with two receiving touchdowns. Middleton is not concerned with stats for the 2008 season, but instead he’ll focus on goals at the team level.

“I want to make the playoffs more than anything,” he commented. “I’d like to be on the All-State team. I’d also like to commit before the season starts. I don’t have any particular numbers that I’d like to put up.”

Location will more than likely factor for Middleton this February.

“I just want to play football,” he said. “That’s the most important thing for me. I’d like to stay in the southeast. I think that SEC football is the best that there is. Going up north is fine, but I’d rather stay in the south.”

Middleton also starts for the Kell basketball team and plays golf for the school in the spring. Stay tuned to Scout.com for the latest news on Will Middleton.