I added three players to the respective Big Boards (at posts #2 and #3 on this thread) and one to the Watch List (players with offers) as a result of offers made during a busy recruiting week. I looked at the highlights for the CB that Wake were the first to offer and thought he looked really legit. Here is what I added:
Big Board Additions
Malik Staples (RB 6’0 / 197) – Peachtree Ridge HS / Suwanee, GA
Rating: 3-star
Power 5 Offers: Wake Forest, Boston College and Georgia Tech
Background: Physical-type runner is successful running between the tackles. Very decisive and knows how to get yards after contact. Not a speed guy. Recently transferred back to a public school Peachtree Ridge from a private school. He is facing better competition this year. 247 says that Peachtree Ridge is traditionally one of the most talented programs in Georgia. Teammates with two other Wake offerees, Chad Clay and Baylen Buchanan. Had a 4.25 shuttle and 30 inch vertical jump at a Nike combine in March 2014. 247 says that he has a “strong academic background.”
Visits: Boston College (November 2013). He camped at Tennessee (no offer) and N.C. State (no offer) this summer. Making some high profile visits to SEC schools (Auburn, LSU) with 4-star teammate Chad Clay.
Recruitment: Boston College offered at the beginning of Staples sophomore year (September 2013). He has said that he speaks with their RB coach monthly and they have continued to tell him that he is a top priority.
Kobe Smith (DT 6’3 / 315) – Archer HS / Lawrenceville, GA
Rating: 3-star
Power 5 Offers: Wake Forest, Indiana, Iowa, NC State and West Virginia
Background: Big, athletic interior defensive lineman is the type of player is always in high-demand.
Visits: N.C. State on September 26 for the FSU game. Georgia Tech (no offer) on September 13.
Martin Mangram (CB 5’11 / 180) – Buford HS / Buford, GA
Rating: Unrated
Power 5 offers: Wake Forest
Background: 247 says he is 5’11, which would provide the height that the staff is looking for at corner. Also plays some RB on his HS team. From watching his highlights I buy that he is 180. He is not a skinny CB. In my opinion, he could be a physical player at the college level. That’s a great profile for a 4-2-5 CB. His most entertaining highlights are kind of buried in the middle of the junior highlights where he chases down slower offensive players that had gotten past the defense.
Recruitment: Wake Forest offered in October and was the first to offer. He gave a nice quote to Rivals saying that he thinks highly of Wake, especially for being the first school to offer him.
Watch List Additions (Players with Offers)
Unrated DE/OLB Keith Simms (Landon School / Bethesda, MD) was offered by Wake in October. Already had eight other Power 5 offers headlined by UNC, Maryland, West Virginia, Iowa and Pitt. He appears to be a top priority for Maryland and Simms has already visited there twice this fall. He plans to visit West Virginia, Boston College, Penn State (no offer) and possibly Iowa this year. We will have to see if the offer from Wake provides incentive for him to visit Winston-Salem. Between the strong mutual interest that there appears to be with Maryland, and the potential for an offer from Penn State down the road, this appears to be a longshot for Wake.