Augustus Edwards’ greatest asset as a running back is making quick decisions. He sees a hole and the Tottenville star hits it.
He’s the same way in his recruitment.
Despite holding 17 BCS-level scholarship offers and National Signing Day eight months away, the standout junior is ready to decide on his future. Edwards will pick between Syracuse, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina State at a press conference July 10.
“I just want to get ready for the season,” the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder said. “It’s also for insurance, who knows what could happen?”
Edwards, who rushed for 995 yards on 146 carries with 10 touchdowns and scored three more times also in leading Tottenville the PSAL City Championship division semifinals, has only visited Syracuse of his four finalists, but plans to see two of the others before July 10.
As of now, Syracuse is his favorite, he said. His former Tottenville teammate, Alvin Cornelius is headed there this coming fall and the Orange has landed several of the top city prospects in recent years. In fact, they had 10 city products this past season.
“I like Syracuse a lot, there was chemistry with the kids there,” he said. “I see what they do, what they’re about.”
Edwards also landed scholarship offers from UConn, Vanderbilt, ndiana, Temple, Rugters and Pittsburgh, but narrowed down his list based on his comfort level with the different coach staffs, the amount of time they have spent recruiting him and where he thinks he fits best.
“I looked at the values I’m looking for in schools and that’s how I got to them,” he said. “I’m looking for a coaching staff I trust, [immediate] playing time, overall trust and support.”
Whoever lands Edwards will be getting a running back capable excelling at the next level, one college coach familiar with him said.
“His potential is unlimited,” the coach said. “He runs downhill, he puts his foot in the ground and goes. He’s a back that can help you win games in the ACC. He’s got great size, good speed, he’s a tough kid, plays on a winning program. He can run, he can catch.”
While coaches will almost certainly keep calling him leading up until National Signing Day in early February, Edwards will have his decisions by July 10 and won’t change it.
“I feel like my mind is pretty much made up,” Edwards said. “I’m not going back.”
Ogundeko set for July 20th commitment: Ebenezer Ogundeko, the star defensive end out of Thomas Jefferson who saw his recruitment shoot up this spring after de-committing from Connecticut, plans to pick a school July 30 at Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn, he said.
Ogundeko, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound standout who amassed 79 tackles and 11 sacks in leading Jefferson to the PSAL City Championship division quarterfinals last winter, will choose between Florida, Notre Dame and Syracuse. He is set to graduate early from Jefferson and plans to enroll in college in January of next year. Ogundeko is still hearing from plenty of other schools, such as Maryland, Mami, UConn and Alabama, he said, but doesn’t plan to open up his recruitment.
“It’s really those schools,” he said of Syracuse, Notre Dame and Florida. “I let everyone know about my top three, that I’m planning on making my decision soon.”
Ogundeko, who will attend the Opening, a four-day camp July 5-8 for the nation’s top prospects I Oregon at Nike Headquarters, has visited his three finalists once apiece. He plans to see Syracuse again before his decision. Ogundeko and Edwards, Tottenville’s dynamic running back, are close friends and have previously talked about attending the same school. Syracuse is the lone program to make the final list for the two prospects.
“It depends where I want to go, where he wants to go,” Ogundeko said. “We talk about it all the time.”
NOTES: Sheepshead Bay defensive tackle Rashaad Coward picked up his first offer recently, from Wagner College, to go along with interest from UConn, Syracuse, Maryland, Marshall, Albany, Stony Brook, Temple, Duke, Fordham, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Boston College, he said. Coward recently visited Fordham. … Fort Hamilton wide receiver/defensive back Travon Reid Segure holds offers from Temple, Syracuse and UMass and recently visited UConn. … Tottenville reciever Malique Belfort said he has offers from Boston College, Arizona State, Temple, Maryland and Illinois. Beach Channel lineman Folorunso
Fatukasi listed significant interest from Hampton, Old Dominion, Delaware, Maryland, Temple, James Madison and UConn. Buffalo remains his lone offer.