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Thursday, 21 March 2013

Sports Xpress Recruiting Xclusive: Riley Barr

By: Kenneth True (@SXKennethTrue on Twitter)

The class of 2014 is now the center of everyone’s focus when it comes to football recruiting, with signing day in the books and most schools already having their junior days. One young man, that is a member of the class of 2014 and received his fair share of junior day invites is 6’1 236 lbs. LB Riley Barr from St. Petersburg (FL) HS.

Barr who played last season with Florida State OL signee Jeremy Kerr, received junior day invites from Mississippi State and South Florida. The LB looking to make a name for himself also says “Harvard, Yale, and John Hopkins requested my film and really liked what they saw.” Barr has also received camp invitations from Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Harvard, Iowa State, Utah, and Auburn.

“Harvard and Yale, stand out especially for the academic portion and Mississippi State for their performance last season” Barr says on which schools stand out. The Bulldogs from Starkville (MS) Barr says “I would say they have recruited me the hardest and while attending their junior day I really enjoyed their coaching staff. They were all very nice and genuinely cared about their players success not only on the field but in the classroom as well.”

Barr ended by saying “I wouldn’t mind playing my team mate in the 2013 class Jeremy Kerr who will be attending Florida State.”

Thursday, 14 March 2013

Sports Xpress Recruiting Xclusive: Larry Butler

By:Kenneth True (@SXKennethTrue on Twitter)

Larry Butler III was all set to sign with Tennessee on December 19^th but due to a 3 semester rule the SEC has in place, Butler had to look elsewhere because he was ineligible to play in the SEC.

Butler says “I had 20 offers” but he has found his new home and the talented LB will take his talents to New Mexico State. Where he says the biggest factor was playing time.

“I have yet to visit, but I will soon” Larry tells SX. When he does visit he says he’ll be looking at the set up and atmosphere. For Aggie fans wondering when Butler will be on campus he says “I will report in June.”

The talented JUCO prospect says the NMSU staff says “They like how I move for a big guy my size, and I should be playing SAM.”

At 6’0 235 lbs. Butler spent this past season at Eastern Arizona in Thatcher (AZ). His message to NMSU fans is “I plan to be one of the best players in program history.”

Larry hasn’t had the opportunity to speak with any of his incoming team mates but says “I seen Brandon Hines tape and he looks like a great player and I look forward to playing with him.”

Tuesday, 12 March 2013

Sports Xpress Recruiting Xclusive: Aaron Falzon

By:Kenneth True (@SXKennethTrue on Twitter)

Out of last years class St. Mark’s in Newton (MA) gave hoops fans Arizona’s Kaleb Tarczewski and Michigan’s Nick Stauskas. 2015 star Aaron Falzon is hoping to find similar success as Tarczewski and #18 Arizona (24-6) or Nick Stauskas and #6 Michigan (25-6) during his time on a college campus.

Falzon is already building a list of offers that includes Providence, Boston University, and Loyola (MD). The 6’8 210 lbs. PF prospect has also heard from Boston College and Ohio State. Out of all of those respectable programs Aaron says Providence and Boston College are recruiting him the hardest.

If you hope to catch Aaron this summer or spring he’ll be playing with the New England Playaz, or you can catch him at St. Mark’s next winter.
Sports Xpress Recruiting Xclusive: Juwaan Williams

By:Kenneth True (@SXKennethTrue on Twitter)

Tucker (GA) athlete Juwaan Williams will be off to Oregon in the coming months. Williams says “I have yet to build a bond with any of my class mates, due to the fact that I’m one of two incoming freshmen coming from the east coast.”

Williams says what made him head west was “The staff and the bond that I built with my recruiting coach John Neal, that ultimately confirmed my commitment.” As far as the staff Williams discussed Chip Kelly leaving the Oregon program to coach the Philadelphia Eagles in saying “I was on board when Coach Kelly was there and after he departed it was a rough patch in the recruiting process, because I had previously talked to him and he told me he was staying.”

Despite Chip Kelly now being in the NFL the 6’1 185 lbs. athlete who could play on either side of the ball at the next level says “I loved the staff prior to Coach Kelly leaving and after, they all stayed the same except they got two new coaches."

Monday, 11 March 2013

UFC 158 Preview: St. Pierre vs. Diaz

By:Kenneth True (@SXKennethTrue on Twitter)

Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz

Welterweight Championship

Georges St. Pierre is a staple in the UFC company, St. Pierre has long been one of the faces of MMA not only for the UFC brand but around the globe. In his last fight against Carlos Condit it seemed St. Pierre was on the edge of the cliff the whole time but Condit never could find a way to finish him off. St. Pierre has only lost twice his entire career but time and age seems to finally be taking its tow on the star.

Nick Diaz is coming off a loss to Carlos Condit himself, before that loss however Diaz was riding a 11 fight win streak. Most of those victories came at other promotions including Strikeforce. Diaz who hasn’t earned a lot of out of the ring points with UFC President Dana White is an immensely talented fighter but is he ready to take the next step and beat a guy of GSP stature.

Prediction: GSP via unanimous decision

Carlos Condit vs. Johnny Hendricks

Carlos Condit is the future of this division when/if Georges St. Pierre hangs up the gloves. Condit gave GSP all he wanted in their UFC 154 showdown. Prior to that fight Condit was enjoying a 5 fight win streak over big time names within the division such as Nick Diaz, Dong-Hyun Kim, Dan Hardy, Rory MacDonald, and Jake Ellenberger.

Hendricks is another up and coming star in this division and is currently riding a five fight win streak himself. While his 5 wins aren’t as impressive as Condits he has beaten some big names in Martin Kampmann, Josh Koscheck, and Jon Fitch.

Prediction: Condit via unanimous decision

Jake Ellenberger vs. Nate Marquardt

Before losing to Martin Kampmann at The Ultimate Fighter 15 Finale, Jake Ellenberger looked like he was headed toward a title shot. Ellenberger is hoping to start another hot streak with a win against Nate Marquardt who is making his return to the UFC.

Marquardt has fought his last two matches under the Strikeforce promotion. Marquardt at one time was a feared opponent in the middleweight weight class.

Prediction: Ellenberger via punches in 3^rd.