'09 GA DE Izaan Cross (Official Offer)

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'09 GA DE Izaan Cross



Strongside defensive end
Flowery Branch (GA) Flowery Branch

Ht: 6-foot-4
Wt: 250 lbs
Class: 2009 (High School)

PalmettoSports.com | South Carolina Recruiting | Phil Kornblut | GoUpstate.com

LB Izaan Cross (6-4 250) of Flowery Branch, GA has an offer from USC. He's never visited the school but hopes to get in for the spring game. "I'm open to all of my options," Cross said, "but I do call coach Beamer (at USC) every once in a while." Cross also has offers from Oklahoma, Central Florida and Georgia Tech while Clemson, Florida, Georgia, MIssissippi State, Oklahoma State, Notre Dame, LSU and Louisville are showing him interest. He attended junior days at Georgia Tech and Georgia. He's also been to a basketball game at Georgia Tech. Cross said he doesn't have a favorite "mainly because growing up I never had that one team." While recruited mostly for linebacker, Cross also plays defensive end.

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Tech, Oklahoma, South Carolina offer Flowery Branch DE | Football recruiting | ajc.com

Central Florida, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma and South Carolina are the first programs to extend scholarship offers to Flowery Branch defensive end Izaan Cross.”

Though Florida and Georgia have yet to offer, each school continues to actively recruit the 6-foot-4, 240-pound junior.

“Florida is recruiting him as a tight end, which is kind of funny because everybody else is recruiting him as a defensive end,” Flowery Branch Lee Shaw said.

Cross, who runs the 40 in just over 4.7 seconds, will likely get some reps at tight end in Shaw’s offense this fall.

“Florida asked me if he has good hands,” Shaw said. “I told them ‘yes’ and what a versatile athlete he is. He has good speed and great hands.”

Despite holding a limited number of class of 2009 scholarships, Georgia may be on the brink of offering Cross.

“Georgia had him down one time, and I think they want him to come back for another junior day,” Shaw said. “They’re in contact with me about him.”

The offer from Oklahoma has apparently given Cross a national presence in the recruiting world.

“He’s starting to get correspondence from schools like Southern Cal, Oregon and Ohio State,” Shaw said. “It’s becoming nationwide for him now.”

Shaw believes it’s too soon to declare a front runner.

“He’s just taking it all in, to be honest,” Shaw said. “I don’t know that there is one major school in his sights.

“I think he’s just enjoying the recruiting process and enjoying people wanting him, like every high school player does.”

Shaw’s son, Jaybo Shaw, signed with Georgia Tech last month to play quarterback.

Lee Shaw said it would be a disservice for him to urge Cross to rule out other programs and join his son at Tech.

“I think there is a natural kind of draw for him to Georgia Tech,” Shaw said. “But ultimately, it comes down to that kid and his family. I’d feel awfully guilty if I convince him to go to a school that wasn’t a right fit for him.”

[GoRU]

New offer for Flowery Branch defensive end | Football recruiting | ajc.com

Wake Forest is the latest program to throw its hat in the ring in the recruitment of Flowery Branch’s Izaan Cross.

The junior defensive end already had scholarship offers from Central Florida, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma and South Carolina.

Cross, who visited Tech and Georgia earlier this year, is tentatively scheduled to make his first trip to South Carolina later this week.

“I know they have a great coach in Steve Spurrier,” Cross said. “A lot of attention comes with his name. Everybody knows coach Spurrier.

“I know with coach Spurrier there would be a lot of attention [if he commits to the Gamecocks], along with the fact that South Carolina is in the SEC.”

The 6-foot-4, 240-pound Cross appears to be equally impressed with the Gamecocks’ emphasis on academics.

“On the academic part, [South Carolina recruiters] were telling me how they built a new center for student athletes that they put $13 million into,” Cross said. “That will be nice to see.”

On Tech: “I know Georgia Tech is one of the best schools academically in the nation,” Cross said. “I know it would be a great opportunity to get a diploma from there.

“Georgia Tech football is up-and-coming. I know they will be good in the future.”

On Georgia, which has not offered: “When I went there for junior day, it was the same day as one of my basketball games,” Cross said. “According to NCAA rules, I wasn’t able to talk to coach [Mark] Richt.

“But the coaches there kept telling me they’re interested and to keep Georgia on my mind. I don’t know how the depth chart is looking at defensive end at Georgia, but I know they’re interested in me.”

On other potential offers: “Florida could possibly offer,” Cross said. “I’ve talked to them and they’re interested in me as a tight end. West Virginia, Tennessee and Virginia Tech are also possibilities.”

Cross insists that he won’t commit before the start of his senior season. He plans to experience game days at several campuses before picking a college.

“I don’t see myself committing early,” he said. “When football season comes around, I’ll be attending games.”

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4/8

From the GVASV site. Wake Forest has offered. Cross will visit South Carolina this week.

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Rivals $

4/28

Talks a bit about his favorites.

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PalmettoSports.com | South Carolina Recruiting | Phil Kornblut | GoUpstate.com

April 30, 2008
USC Keeping Contact With Cross
By Phil Kornblut

DE Izaan Cross (6-5 253) of Flowery Branch, GA says he gets mail every day from USC and he expects to see recruiter Shane Beamer at his school sometime this spring. NC State, Mississippi State, Central Florida and Georgia have already been to the school. And with spring practice commencing Monday, Cross is expecting more recruiters to come thru. He does not have a favorite. "I like them all," he said. Cross has offers from USC, Oklahoma, Central Florida, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and West Virginia. He's also getting interest from Tennessee, Mississippi State, NC State, Florida, Georgia and Louisville.

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The Wolfpack offer Flowery Branch DE | College recruiting | ajc.com

N.C. State is the latest program to send a scholarship offer to Flowery Branch defensive end Izaan Cross.

Central Florida, Georgia Tech, Maryland, South Carolina and West Virginia had previously offered the 6-foot-4, 240-pound junior.

“It’s always a cool feeling, but you can’t ever get tired of getting offers,” said Cross, who received notification of N.C. State’s interest on Thursday.

Cross reiterated his desire to thoroughly research each program before making a commitment.

“I like all my schools,” he said. “I’m just enjoying the process right now. It may even be after football season [before a decision is made].”

Coaches from LSU, Indiana and Marshall have attended Flowery Branch’s spring football practice, which began on Tuesday.

“Spring practice is going pretty good,” Cross said. “I’m not surprised because I know we have a lot of potential going in this season.

“We’re missing a few people to other sports, but I think when we get all the pieces together we will be a force.”

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6/2

From the UNC site. North Carolina has offered, and Cross says he is interested and excited about the offer. He has no favorites, and will not make a choice until aftre his season.

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7/10

From the South Carolina site. Cross is wide open, and plans to take his time with recruiting. Right now his top schools are Maryland, Oklahoma, South Carolina, UCF and Georgia Tech, though he says that list can change at any time.

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7/21

By S Robertson. Cross says that his father "idolizes" coach Croom, and that his visit to Mississippi State has elevated them. He doesn't have a final list, but is focused on Maryland, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Georgia Tech and Mississippi State.

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8/12

By B Hayes. Focused on UCF, South Carolina, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Maryland, and Mississippi State and Oklahoma. He likes the fact that he can get a good education at each school and that each one has a soilid football program.

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Flowery Branch DE Cross describes Tech as "my No. 1" | College recruiting | ajc.com

Georgia Tech has become the clear leader in the recruitment of Flowery Branch defensive end Izaan Cross, following coach Tommy Bowden’s departure from Clemson on Monday.

Cross, whose front-runners had been the Jackets and Tigers, expressed slight frustration over not hearing from his recruiting coach at Clemson for the past 10 days. He also questioned how many of Bowden’s assistants will be retained.

“Tech has been my number one for the longest, and this helps them a lot,” Cross said. “I’m not going to pull the trigger right now, but Tech is definitely at my top.

“I’m thinking about maybe dropping [Clemson from consideration].”