Jackson QB hot on the recruiting trail

Andy Gay is a 6-foot-4, 200-pound quarterback prospect from Jackson High School in Mill Creek, Wash., and Gay updated Scout.com this week about the tour of schools he's visited so far in his recruiting process, as well as some of the events he'll be involved in this spring and summer.

"On February 28th I went to Junior Day at Washington State," Gay said. "I spent a lot of time with Coach Sturdy. I plan to throw for them on either June 21st at Jason Gesser’s camp in Tukwila or go to WSU on June 25th.

"Over Spring Break I went to the University of California and had Andrew McGraw give me a tour on Saturday March 28th. I met and visited with some of the coaches. While there I met and talked with Tom Lemming. He took my photo and gave him a bunch of information on me.

"We went to Stanford later Saturday afternoon and I really liked it. It was late in the afternoon when we got there so we only met Coach Anderson.

I went to Fresno State on Monday and spent a lot of time with the head coach, Pat Hill and Coach Grady. He watched my video while I did a campus tour and before their practice we spent about 10 or 15 minutes in his office one on one watching my video again, he really liked what he saw. l really liked Fresno State. He said he would not offer me early because as soon as he does a lot of other schools will start coming after me.

"Tuesday we went to UCLA and I got to speak with Norm Chow. He had just watched my video and is real excited to see me throw in person. I got to spend about 30 minutes visiting with Rick Neuhiesel in his office. He is going to try to come see me at Jackson and see me throw somewhere in the next couple of months. He told me that I am definitely a PAC-10 quarterback.

"On Wednesday, I worked out individually with Anton and Stevie Clarkson at the Rose Bowl and after 15 or 20 minutes a photographer showed up. In about another 10 minutes their dad, Steve Clarkson, showed up and I worked with him for about 20 minutes. They were really impressed with me and I got invited to an invitation only workout on Memorial Day weekend in Santa Barbara. I understand there will be eight college qb's (including Jake Locker (Washington), Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame) and Matt Barkley (USC)) and eight high school quarterbacks.

"I saw San Diego State on Friday but none of the coaches were around so I got a tour from a recruiting assistant. They have a really good new coaching staff. The offensive Coordinator, Al Borges, has seen my film and is really excited to meet me. Unfortunately, he was driving to Alabama as it was their Spring Break and he is moving his family to San Diego. Brian Sipe, the QB coach, emailed me yesterday apologizing for not being able to be there because he was gone for the week, but they are excited to recruit me.

"I spent all day Saturday at Arizona State at their Junior Day. I spent a lot of time with Coach Olson who is the offensive coordinator who has watched my video as is really jazzed about me. I also got to speak with Coach Erickson on the field at Sun Devil Stadium for about 10 minutes right after practice. He saw my video and told me I’m a PAC-10 guy too.

Gay has most definitely laid the groundwork for a successful recruiting process. Nothing beat visits to the schools you are interested in, as well as first-hand contact with all the head coaches involved. "Most everybody was surprised I was bigger than they thought," Gay said. "I know Scout.com says I am 6-foot-3 and 180 pound, but I am now 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds. That’s what I tell them when I send stuff to them. I guess everyone else is saying they are bigger than they are.

The west coast schools aren't the only ones showing Gay some serious interest. "Coach Roper from Duke tells me he is coming to my high school in May," said Gay. "North Carolina State also is real interested and I am trying to figure out when I can get out there to throw for them.

"I am trying to figure out which camps I am going to go to this summer. I know I will be at Washington’s from June22-24 with my high school team. I am also going to make sure I throw for Oregon State, UCLA, Arizona State, Washington State and Boise State."