Inside Football Recruiting
Cary Angeline, if given the opportunity, could be the next Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, or Jimmy Graham. That trio, while best known for their gridiron accomplishments, fared quite well on the hardwood in college.
In his recently completed hoops season at Downingtown East, Angeline, a blue-chip football recruit as a tight end, averaged 22.4 points and 11.2 rebounds. The 6-foot-7, 230-pounder first dunked when he was an eighth-grader at Lionville Middle School.
"A few coaches have asked me about playing basketball in college, but I think I'm going to focus on football," the junior said.
As of Thursday, Angeline had a total of 30 Division I scholarship offers. The latest to offer the 17-year-old, who is the fourth-ranked tight end in the Class of 2016 according to 247Sports.com, are Auburn, Nebraska, UCLA, and USC.
Offers have also come from Alabama, Notre Dame, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, South Carolina, and Stanford.
"It's very flattering to get offers from schools that you've watched so much on TV while growing up," said Angeline, who last season made 66 receptions for 1,015 yards and 10 touchdowns while earning Inquirer first-team all-Southeastern Pennsylvania honors.
Angeline took unofficial visits to Duke and North Carolina last weekend. He has also made stops at Miami, Notre Dame, and Penn State.
Does the Chester Springs resident want to stay close to home, to give his family the chance to see him play on a regular basis?
"That's not a big factor for me," he said. "I just want to choose a college where I'll feel real comfortable with the coaches and players. That's what's most important."
Angeline is the No. 4-ranked "Y" tight end in the Class of 2016 by ESPN.com. Positioned on the line, the "Y" tight end is a bigger guy, usually 6-4 or taller, who is a solid pass blocker and a stalwart across the middle.
The area has another elite junior tight end in Imhotep Charter's Naseir "Pop" Upshur. The 6-3, 233-pounder holds many of the same top-flight offers as Angeline: Alabama, Miami, Michigan, and Michigan State, to name a few.
Upsher is the No. 4-ranked "H" tight end in his class according to ESPN.com. In general, the "H" role is that of a second fullback, positioned off the line, and able to add strength to a solid run game. Angeline's brother, Ryley[CQ], fills that role at Delaware.
Cary Angeline says he has yet to narrow his list of choices. "I don't have any favorites at this point," he said. "I'm pretty wide open with everything."
Football Interest
Ray Bordley, West Chester Rustin, junior offensive lineman. Offer from: Massachusetts. Interest from: Buffalo and Virginia.
Michael Clark, Downingtown East, junior offensive lineman. Offers from: Maryland, South Carolina, Wake Forest, and West Virginia.
Doug Costin, Bishop Shanahan, junior defensive lineman. Offers from: Army, Bucknell, and Western Michigan. Interest from: Miami, Penn State, Rutgers, Temple, and West Virginia.
Karamo Dioubate, Prep Charter, junior defensive lineman. Offers from: Boston College, Miami, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Tyliek Raynor, Imhotep Charter, junior running back. Offers from: Buffalo, Maryland, Purdue, Rutgers, Temple, and West Virginia. Interest from: Wake Forest.
Anthony Russo, Archbishop Wood, junior quarterback. Offer from: Bucknell. Interest from North Carolina, North Carolina State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, and Rutgers.
Yeedee Thaenrat, Father Judge, junior defensive back. Offers from: Massachusetts and Rutgers. Interest from: Akron, Army, Boston College, Connecticut, Delaware, Northwestern, Pittsburgh, and Purdue.
Shaka Toney, Imhotep Charter, junior defensive end. Offers from: Buffalo, Massachusetts, Penn State, Syracuse, Temple, Rutgers, Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt, and West Virginia. Interest from: Maryland and North Carolina.
Benny Walls, St. Joseph's Prep, junior defensive back. Offers from Rutgers and Temple. Interest from: Clemson, Maryland, Michigan, Penn State, Virginia, and Virginia Tech.