TC’s Lundy visiting S. Dakota; Wilkes could get more offers

Posted Jan 22, 2010 by Bill Ward

Updated Jan 22, 2010 at 02:06 PM

Tampa Catholic senior defensive back Chris Lundy is taking an official visit to the University of South Dakota this weekend while another member of the Crusaders secondary, Jeremi Wilkes, could be receiving more Division-I offers even though he has already made a verbal commitment to Syracuse.

The 5-foot-9, 160-pound Lundy was one of TC’s most consistent performers defensively and one its leaders in solo tackles with 63. He has also has received a scholarship offer from Towson University but this weekend, he’s off to Vermillion, S.D. to visit with the Coyotes’ coaching staff and players.

Wilkes, meanwhile, finds himself in an interesting situation. He made a verbal commitment to Syracuse just before the Crusaders’ reached the Class 2B state title game against Jacksonville Bolles. Plenty of other schols wanted him, including Iowa, Florida State, Rutgers and Louisville. But TC coach Bob Henriquez says that so many Division-I programs are losing defensive backs because of underclassmen declaring for the NFL draft, Lundy is receiving interest from many of those schools. Among them are Texas Tech and Penn State.

“It’s something I haven’t encountered this late in the recruiting process,” Henriquez said. “Schools that are losing kids to the [NFL] draft are scrambling to fill those holes.”

TC’s bounty of standout players—including 6-5, 295-pound lineman Chaz Green and versatile star quarterback Christian Green—is such a regular stopping spot for college recruiters this season that ESPN plans to be at the school for National Signing Day on Feb. 3. As a result, don’t be surprised if the Greens wait until that day to pull on the caps of the schols they are headed to. Both players plan visits next week, with Chaz traveling to the University of Southern California and Christian foing to FSU. Last night, Chaz had a home visit with coaches from the Gators’ staff, said his father, Charles.

Photo: Tampa Catholic defensive back Chris Lundy, right, tackles Jacksonville Bolles running back Jawan Jamison in last month’s Class 2B state football championships at the Citrus Bowl. Photo by Bill Ward.