There needs to be a web conference link sent to those guys. Once they enter the room, they see that Sam, Will, Jabez, Prentice, Jumper, etc all waiting in UW jerseys. Sam and Will hold up jerseys with Emeka and JT’s names on the backs. The usually stoic Jabez looks into the camera, pauses, and simply says... It’s time. Keep the class together. Let’s win multiple championships. Dawgs, baby.” The group gets hyped and chants in unison “Woof, woof, woof, woof, woof!”
Over the past few months Huard and another five-star recruit, Steilacoom High School wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, have met up on a number of occasions to play catch and grow their connection off the field. “It’s been awesome throwing to him. I could definitely get used to it,” Huard said, adding a light-hearted laugh. “Me and him, we were never really able to throw throughout our high school years. Since quarantine hit about a month and a half ago we reached out to each other and said ‘lets start throwing together.” Over the past three months Huard and Emeka have thrown together four or five times, including last Thursday when both sported the latest All-American Bowl gear. Both players are already slated to play in the showcase game on January 2, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. Also talks about his relationship with John Donovan/ Jabez Tinae, and Brock Bowers visit.
Over the past few months Huard and another five-star recruit, Steilacoom High School wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, have met up on a number of occasions to play catch and grow their connection off the field. “It’s been awesome throwing to him. I could definitely get used to it,” Huard said, adding a light-hearted laugh. “Me and him, we were never really able to throw throughout our high school years. Since quarantine hit about a month and a half ago we reached out to each other and said ‘lets start throwing together.” Over the past three months Huard and Emeka have thrown together four or five times, including last Thursday when both sported the latest All-American Bowl gear. Both players are already slated to play in the showcase game on January 2, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. Also talks about his relationship with John Donovan/ Jabez Tinae, and Brock Bowers visit.
Egbuka, like Huard, had planned to sign in December and enroll in January.
The difference for Egbuka, of course, is he's yet to make a decision- he's down to a final four of Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Washington.
While Egbuka hasn't made his final decision yet, he said that he's leaning towards playing his final season.
"I'm still working on a final decision," said Egbuka. "I feel the NCAA might come out and say recruits can’t early enroll anyway, so that would make the decision easier."
But Egbuka also remembers the pain of the state championship loss to Tumwater.
"I need to get that ring," said Egbuka. "We were so close last year."
That, Egbuka said, is what is making him lean towards finishing what he's started at Steilacoom.
"Coach (Colby) Davies (Steilacoom's head coach) reminded me I'm on the verge of breaking the state records," said Egbuka. "I talked to him and some other guys, like Sam and Shadeur Sanders, and what they were doing."
That's why Egbuka thinks he'll be back for his senior campaign.
"I think I want to play my senior season," said Egbuka.
Steilacoom (Wash.) receiver Emeka Egbuka had always planned to graduate in December, sign that month and after the All-American Bowl in January, enroll at whichever school he signed with.
Four schools remain in the mix for Egbuka- Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Washington.
But with this week's decision by the WIAA to push the 2020 football season to March of 2021, and Egbuka coming up short of a state title in the 2A championship game, early enrollment could be taking a back seat.
While Egbuka hasn't made his final decision yet, he said that he's leaning towards playing his final season, especially on the heels of the painful loss to Tumwater (Wash.).
"I'm still working on a final decision," said Egbuka. "I feel the NCAA might come out and say recruits can’t early enroll anyway, so that would make the decision easier. But I need to get that ring. We were so close last year. Coach (Colby) Davies (Steilacoom's head coach) reminded me I'm on the verge of breaking the state records. I talked to him and some other guys, like Sam (Huard) and Shadeur Sanders, and what they were doing. I think I want to play my senior season."
The NCAA shutdown has already thrown Egbuka's spring and summer for a loop- with official visits and unofficial trips wiped out.
So Egbuka is trying to be proactive and finding a way to get to at least one of those four schools this summer.
"On Tuesday, I just talked to Caleb Williams, and he’s going down to Oklahoma in August and he said I should come and visit and that I should bring JT (Tuimoloau) with me," said Egbuka.
That has Egbuka planning a visit to Norman in August.
Egbuka said that his mom and dad seeing each of his four finalists was important.
"They've both been to Washington but my mom hasn’t been to Clemson and my dad hasn’t been to Ohio State and neither have been to Oklahoma, so my parents want to see a place before they send me off," said Egbuka.
Egbuka said that while he's hoping to visit Oklahoma in August on his own, with no meetings with the coaches allowed, it's not 100% set in stone.
"We're trying to do it and I think we're doing it, we just have to finalize a few things," said Egbuka. "I kind of want the Oklahoma trip to get closer to a decision. I have no idea what Norman is like and I want to experience it before I narrow it down."
That's why Egbuka is hoping to make the trip to Norman work- he wants to get closer to a decision in the fall.
"I'm only going to consider the final four, I don't plan to narrow it again until I commit," said Egbuka. "So if I have enough information after Oklahoma, I could start finalizing my decision."
Egbuka said all the uncertainty of official visits, the signing periods, the season, everything that was unexpected, has been difficult to navigate when trying to make a decision. Then throw in the postponement of his senior season, and it's been a busy summer.
"I talked to each of my finalists and they all kind of just told me, they heard the news and they were sorry that was the outcome because it's not what anyone wanted," said Egbuka. "But I'm still happy there is a season, but even I know there is still not a guarantee we. I'm just still waiting to see and not trying to get my hopes too high."
In the meantime, Egbuka said he's staying in consistent communication with each of his four finalists.
Clemson: "I talk all the time with coach (Tyler) Grisham. I talk with Joe Ngata too, talk with DJ (Uiagalelei) sometimes, I talk with Beaux (Collins), I talk to Frank Ladson. I don't talk with Dabo (Swinney) really that much, just mostly coach Grisham. I've done a virtual tour with Clemson too."
Ohio State: "I talk mostly with coach (Brian) Hartline, coach (Ryan) Day pretty regularly, coach (Tony) Alford and coach (Keenan) Bailey and then I just started talking to the quarterback coach, Corey Dennis, and the strength and conditioning coach, Mickey Marotti. And I talk to a bunch of players there, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Gee Scott, Jaxson Smith-Njiba, Julian Fleming, C.J. Stroud and I've talked with (commit) Kyle McCord too."
Oklahoma: "With Oklahoma, I talk all the time with coach (Dennis) Simmons and coach (Lincoln) Riley mainly. I talk with coach Riley a lot and coach (Cale) Gundy. They pretty much just pass around the phone when they're on the phone with me. And then the commits, I talk every day with Caleb (Williams) and Mario Williams."
Washington: "I talk a lot with coach (Jimmy) Lake, coach (Junior) Adams and coach (John) Donovan and I've even talked some with the DB coaches. And then I pretty much talk to the whole receiver room thats there, Rome (Odunze), Jalen (McMillan), Puka (Nacua), Sawyer (Racanelli) and then I've been training with (incoming freshman) Kasen Kinchen. And of course, Sam (Huard) hits me up every day and I've thrown with him some this summer."
While Egbuka said his communication with Swinney has been light, the other three head coaches are all constantly talking to him.
"I'd say it's pretty even between those three, coach Riley, coach Lake and coach Day, they all talk to me pretty frequently," said Egbuka.
Egbuka said he's still hoping to play in one or two of the all-star games he's been selected to, the All-American Bowl in San Antonio and the Polynesian Bowl in Hawaii, both in January, though both would be before his potential senior season.
"The plan was to play in the All-American Bowl then go to college, but now that could be changing," said Egbuka.
Still, as much of a whirlwind the spring and summer have been, Egbuka isn't too discouraged.
"I mean, I try to enjoy it," said Egbuka. "I know I'm in a unique position that one in one million kids get in the nation so I definitely try to enjoy it and I know I'm very blessed, so I'm not doing much complaining."
Physically, Egbuka said he feels as good as he has in a while.
"I feel good," said Egbuka. "I'm 6-1, 195 right now and working out every day, doing receiver sessions. I feel as crisp as I've ever been in my routes and my releases, I still feel strong and fast. The downtime has been kind of a blessing in disguise, you get to hone your craft and I know everyone is taking advantage of it."
A five-star in the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Rankings, Egbuka ranks as the No. 1 receiver nationally in the 2021 class and the No. 7 overall prospect in the country.
Norman is cool on game day if you're not a player. That said it's Oklahoma and it sucks unless you're from the area or Texas. It doesn't have an SEC atmosphere. Sunday through Friday, Norman is an arid dump.
Norman is cool on game day if you're not a player. That said it's Oklahoma and it sucks unless you're from the area or Texas. It doesn't have an SEC atmosphere. Sunday through Friday, Norman is an arid dump.
The area has more to offer than Norman. You can always maybe get killed by a tornado in Moore or enjoy the hotspot of (white) cultural diversity that is OKC.
Norman is cool on game day if you're not a player. That said it's Oklahoma and it sucks unless you're from the area or Texas. It doesn't have an SEC atmosphere. Sunday through Friday, Norman is an arid dump.
I thought Norman was better that Baton Rouge. I was disappointed in LSU overall.
Norman is cool on game day if you're not a player. That said it's Oklahoma and it sucks unless you're from the area or Texas. It doesn't have an SEC atmosphere. Sunday through Friday, Norman is an arid dump.
I thought Norman was better that Baton Rouge. I was disappointed in LSU overall.
Been to both towns and Baton Rouge >>>>>>
The food alone makes it far superior.
Been to a game at OU and it was nothing special. Haven’t been to a game in Death Valley.
Norman is cool on game day if you're not a player. That said it's Oklahoma and it sucks unless you're from the area or Texas. It doesn't have an SEC atmosphere. Sunday through Friday, Norman is an arid dump.
I thought Norman was better that Baton Rouge. I was disappointed in LSU overall.
Been to both towns and Baton Rouge >>>>>>
The food alone makes it far superior.
Been to a game at OU and it was nothing special. Haven’t been to a game in Death Valley.
Comments
Kinda tough to do when having to choose between two sociopaths.
The difference for Egbuka, of course, is he's yet to make a decision- he's down to a final four of Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Washington.
While Egbuka hasn't made his final decision yet, he said that he's leaning towards playing his final season.
"I'm still working on a final decision," said Egbuka. "I feel the NCAA might come out and say recruits can’t early enroll anyway, so that would make the decision easier."
But Egbuka also remembers the pain of the state championship loss to Tumwater.
"I need to get that ring," said Egbuka. "We were so close last year."
That, Egbuka said, is what is making him lean towards finishing what he's started at Steilacoom.
"Coach (Colby) Davies (Steilacoom's head coach) reminded me I'm on the verge of breaking the state records," said Egbuka. "I talked to him and some other guys, like Sam and Shadeur Sanders, and what they were doing."
That's why Egbuka thinks he'll be back for his senior campaign.
"I think I want to play my senior season," said Egbuka.
Four schools remain in the mix for Egbuka- Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Washington.
But with this week's decision by the WIAA to push the 2020 football season to March of 2021, and Egbuka coming up short of a state title in the 2A championship game, early enrollment could be taking a back seat.
While Egbuka hasn't made his final decision yet, he said that he's leaning towards playing his final season, especially on the heels of the painful loss to Tumwater (Wash.).
"I'm still working on a final decision," said Egbuka. "I feel the NCAA might come out and say recruits can’t early enroll anyway, so that would make the decision easier. But I need to get that ring. We were so close last year. Coach (Colby) Davies (Steilacoom's head coach) reminded me I'm on the verge of breaking the state records. I talked to him and some other guys, like Sam (Huard) and Shadeur Sanders, and what they were doing. I think I want to play my senior season."
The NCAA shutdown has already thrown Egbuka's spring and summer for a loop- with official visits and unofficial trips wiped out.
So Egbuka is trying to be proactive and finding a way to get to at least one of those four schools this summer.
"On Tuesday, I just talked to Caleb Williams, and he’s going down to Oklahoma in August and he said I should come and visit and that I should bring JT (Tuimoloau) with me," said Egbuka.
That has Egbuka planning a visit to Norman in August.
Egbuka said that his mom and dad seeing each of his four finalists was important.
"They've both been to Washington but my mom hasn’t been to Clemson and my dad hasn’t been to Ohio State and neither have been to Oklahoma, so my parents want to see a place before they send me off," said Egbuka.
Egbuka said that while he's hoping to visit Oklahoma in August on his own, with no meetings with the coaches allowed, it's not 100% set in stone.
"We're trying to do it and I think we're doing it, we just have to finalize a few things," said Egbuka. "I kind of want the Oklahoma trip to get closer to a decision. I have no idea what Norman is like and I want to experience it before I narrow it down."
That's why Egbuka is hoping to make the trip to Norman work- he wants to get closer to a decision in the fall.
"I'm only going to consider the final four, I don't plan to narrow it again until I commit," said Egbuka. "So if I have enough information after Oklahoma, I could start finalizing my decision."
Egbuka said all the uncertainty of official visits, the signing periods, the season, everything that was unexpected, has been difficult to navigate when trying to make a decision. Then throw in the postponement of his senior season, and it's been a busy summer.
"I talked to each of my finalists and they all kind of just told me, they heard the news and they were sorry that was the outcome because it's not what anyone wanted," said Egbuka. "But I'm still happy there is a season, but even I know there is still not a guarantee we. I'm just still waiting to see and not trying to get my hopes too high."
In the meantime, Egbuka said he's staying in consistent communication with each of his four finalists.
Clemson: "I talk all the time with coach (Tyler) Grisham. I talk with Joe Ngata too, talk with DJ (Uiagalelei) sometimes, I talk with Beaux (Collins), I talk to Frank Ladson. I don't talk with Dabo (Swinney) really that much, just mostly coach Grisham. I've done a virtual tour with Clemson too."
Ohio State: "I talk mostly with coach (Brian) Hartline, coach (Ryan) Day pretty regularly, coach (Tony) Alford and coach (Keenan) Bailey and then I just started talking to the quarterback coach, Corey Dennis, and the strength and conditioning coach, Mickey Marotti. And I talk to a bunch of players there, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Gee Scott, Jaxson Smith-Njiba, Julian Fleming, C.J. Stroud and I've talked with (commit) Kyle McCord too."
Oklahoma: "With Oklahoma, I talk all the time with coach (Dennis) Simmons and coach (Lincoln) Riley mainly. I talk with coach Riley a lot and coach (Cale) Gundy. They pretty much just pass around the phone when they're on the phone with me. And then the commits, I talk every day with Caleb (Williams) and Mario Williams."
Washington: "I talk a lot with coach (Jimmy) Lake, coach (Junior) Adams and coach (John) Donovan and I've even talked some with the DB coaches. And then I pretty much talk to the whole receiver room thats there, Rome (Odunze), Jalen (McMillan), Puka (Nacua), Sawyer (Racanelli) and then I've been training with (incoming freshman) Kasen Kinchen. And of course, Sam (Huard) hits me up every day and I've thrown with him some this summer."
While Egbuka said his communication with Swinney has been light, the other three head coaches are all constantly talking to him.
"I'd say it's pretty even between those three, coach Riley, coach Lake and coach Day, they all talk to me pretty frequently," said Egbuka.
Egbuka said he's still hoping to play in one or two of the all-star games he's been selected to, the All-American Bowl in San Antonio and the Polynesian Bowl in Hawaii, both in January, though both would be before his potential senior season.
"The plan was to play in the All-American Bowl then go to college, but now that could be changing," said Egbuka.
Still, as much of a whirlwind the spring and summer have been, Egbuka isn't too discouraged.
"I mean, I try to enjoy it," said Egbuka. "I know I'm in a unique position that one in one million kids get in the nation so I definitely try to enjoy it and I know I'm very blessed, so I'm not doing much complaining."
Physically, Egbuka said he feels as good as he has in a while.
"I feel good," said Egbuka. "I'm 6-1, 195 right now and working out every day, doing receiver sessions. I feel as crisp as I've ever been in my routes and my releases, I still feel strong and fast. The downtime has been kind of a blessing in disguise, you get to hone your craft and I know everyone is taking advantage of it."
A five-star in the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Rankings, Egbuka ranks as the No. 1 receiver nationally in the 2021 class and the No. 7 overall prospect in the country.
Hopefully, he hates Norman.
The food alone makes it far superior.
Been to a game at OU and it was nothing special. Haven’t been to a game in Death Valley.
So much for the SEC being football heaven.