Colorado applied a 3-on-1 press Thursday in an effort to influence Columbine High School quarterback Danny Spond to recommit to the Big 12 school.
The Buffs are back in the picture, but Spond said he will still take his official visit to Notre Dame today. He might not announce the winner until signing day Wednesday.
Spond is the second-ranked college prospect in the state, according to . He said he drove to Boulder on his own Thursday to meet with CU coach Dan Hawkins, athletic director Mike Bohn and chancellor Phil DiStefano.
The four-star prospect committed to CU in April, then decommitted in November in the wake of a 3-9 season and uncertainty over Hawkins’ future.
“It was a great meeting,” Spond said. “I believe Coach Hawkins is a great man, a great coach. He wants the right type of guys and wants to be successful. He took over CU when it was a mess, and it takes time to rebuild.”
He said Hawkins didn’t attempt to sway him from taking the trip to South Bend, Ind. Last week, Spond visited TCU.
He applauded Hawkins for not taking a negative recruiting approach. Spond won’t hint where he’s leaning, or if he even knows. As for holding out on an announcement until Wednesday, he said, “I try to keep everyone on their toes.” Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
Hemschoot opts for Stanford.
Lakewood High School linebacker Joe Hemschoot, who had been one of the highest-rated of the uncommitted Colorado football prospects, told that he committed to Stanford. Hemschoot, rated a 3-star prospect with a big upside, chose the Cardinal over CU and Oregon.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder told that he chose Stanford because of “my heart, the people, the football on the rise and the strength of the degree after I graduate.”
Hemschoot, who also played quarterback for Lakewood, continued a trend of top Colorado players heading to Pac-10 schools, led by Grandview defensive end Chris Martin and Steamboat Springs quarterback Austin Hinder (the state’s top-rated recruit), both headed to the University of California, and Stanford commitment Dillon Bonnell, an offensive tackle at ThunderRidge. Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
Barry joins Kiffins at USC.
Former Fairview High School all-state linebacker Joe Barry is Southern California’s new linebackers coach, leaving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to rejoin former boss Monte Kiffin.
Barry, who starred for Fairview’s 1987 Class 4A (biggest classification) state title team as a junior, is returning to his alma mater to work for Kiffin and his son, Lane, who took over the Trojans earlier this month. Barry started at linebacker for USC in 1993.
