4-Star Juco OT has many suitors

The 6' 7", 310 pound New Hope (Minn) resident, who now preps at College of Sequoias (CA), has not had as tough of a transition coming from the blistering cold to the scorching heat.

"We just got done with two a days yesterday," added Roszell Gayden. "It was 105 degrees today, but the heat is not that big of a deal to me. I mean, it gets hot in Minnesota too, so it is not like it is foreign to me. It just is not this hot for this long back home in Minnesota (laugh). I like the heat though. It makes you tougher."

The former Minnesota signee transferred to College of the Sequoias after coming up just short on his academics. He entered the junior college level as a highly touted recruit, but now that he thinks back on it, he had a long ways to go.

"My freshman year I was probably not that good (laugh). I had D1 talent, but I did not know at all about how to play the offensive tackle position. Each day I am getting better and better. I feel like I improve every month, and some people it takes a full year to improve. We did not pass the ball at my high school, so I did not know any techniques on pass blocking. Now I do because that is all we do here. I have always run blocked well, but now I am more explosive, and I am staying on my blocks longer.

The preseason All-American is hopefully that he will graduate in December so he can get in a spring before he starts the D1 level.

"I am trying to get out in December, but I have schools telling me if that can't be done, they will wait on me. Having said that, I am going to try my hardest to get out in December, and I am taking all of the needed classes to meet that goal."

Gayden holds over 20 scholarship offers. Which schools are standing out?

"I really like California's school. I really like Iowa State back in the Midwest. Arkansas and Arizona State. I am liking all of those schools. They are all recruiting me pretty hard, but I do not plan to make a decision anytime soon."

Has he set up his official visits yet?

"I do not have any dates set, but I am talking to three of four about getting one set up. Everybody wants me to visit though. California, Iowa State, Arkansas, and Arizona State have really been on me about getting a visit scheduled. I do not know. I have a lot of tough decisions to make."

Outside of those schools; who is still in the picture?

"I have been talking to a couple of other schools like UCLA, Oregon, Utah, Tennessee, Fresno State, Arizona, Auburn, and I actually just got off the phone with the offensive line coach at Ole Miss. They just started recruiting me. We have a lot players from over here who go to Ole Miss every year. They are another school I would like to check out. Tennessee and Auburn too. Playing in the SEC is real attractive for me."

Roszell has a twin brother, Rashad Gayden, who is a LB at College of the Sequoias. Iowa State is trying to work that to their advantage.

"They have not offered Rashad yet, but they are recruiting him harder than anyone else. They are getting pretty close to offering him. It is kind of a package deal with them."

There are also a couple more positives for the Cyclones.

"It is only a three hour drive from home. I have some family who just moved to Iowa City. It is also not too tough to get into school there with a junior college degree. They have a good Business School too."

Arizona State's coaching staff is very attractive for Roszell.

"They play in the PAC 10 and have a real good staff. Their offensive line coach told me he really needs me to come in and be the starter at left tackle next year."

The locals around school are all encouraging him to attend California.

"I am in California right now so everybody wants me to go to Cal. I have not visited the campus, but their coaches are on me real hard. They have been to see me three or four times, and they were the first school to offer me. They have a great academic reputation and a need for a starting left tackle. Their left tackle is graduating this year."

Arkansas is also another SEC school which is attractive.

"They are telling me it is the best conference to get exposed so you can get into the NFL. They are trying to upgrade their OL. That is what they tell me on the phone. They also have great tradition."

When it does come decision time; what will be the main factors?

"I want to go to a school where I can be challenged, academically. I want their degree to mean something, and football, I just want a chance to play on the field next year."