For some recruits, making choice ends 'crazy' ride

Source: San Antonio Express-NewsJan.迷你倉 04--SAN ANTONIO -- It all started with a letter. Then, the phone calls followed.At first, it all seemed like a dream come true -- a high school football standout being courted by many of the nation's top college programs.But the letters and phone calls never relented. Boxes were needed to keep up with all the mail arriving from around the country. The phone calls were so frequent, that it seemed as if there was barely a moment to catch a breath before the phone would ring again.Joe Mixon and Frank Iheanacho know this scenario all too well. It's the life that the best of the best in high school football endure for months, if not years.The chaos will come to an end for Mixon and Iheanacho when the highly rated prospects will be among the players announcing their college decisions during Saturday's U.S. Army All-American Bowl at the Alamodome."I definitely enjoy it, but at the same time, it can get annoying," Mixon said. "Sometimes it can get very hectic with all the calls and letters and offers and everything."A five-star running back prospect, Mixon, from California, has narrowed his list of schools to Oklahoma, Wisconsin and UCLA. Iheanacho, a 6-foot-7, 220-pound wide receiver from Houston, will pick from among offers from Texas A&M, LSU, Oregon, Missouri and Arkansas."I always wished to be one of those types of recruits you see on TV, and it's crazy that you're actually one," Iheanacho said. "It's a blessing. You never think it would be you. For me, it's unreal every time I get offered. I'm just glad I'm here."Iheanacho's journey was an improbable one. He played in his first varsity game this fall at Houston's Westside High School. He didn't play football as a junior in 2012, instead 儲存倉ocusing on basketball, his first love. As a sophomore in 2011, he received no playing time.Iheanacho joined the growing trend of basketball players leaving the hardwood for the gridiron. It was a fruitful decision."It can be stressful," said Iheanacho, who is rated as a four-star prospect after posting 47 catches for 618 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. "But I always remind myself that not everybody gets this opportunity. It's always fun thinking you can go wherever, but it's a hard decision at the end of the day. It's a big moment in my life."For Mixon, this is an occasion that has been years in the making. The 6-2, 195-pound tailback said he received his first recruitment letter as a freshman and his first scholarship offer as a sophomore.After rushing for 4,281 yards and 57 TDs in three varsity seasons at Freedom High School in Oakley, Calif. -- including 1,704 yards and 23 TDs in 2013 -- he wasn't short on schools seeking his services."I pretty much try to block it off, try not to get into it too much," said Mixon, who also considered Clemson, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Florida State and Georgia. "At the same time, I've still got to pick a school. I'm ready to make a decision."If for no other reason than to bring an end to a recruiting process.Mixon has termed his experience "crazy," since everyone from recruiters to media to fans to classmates wants to know his every thought and move while awaiting his decision."It was good," Mixon said. "I was happy. It's still good to have publicity. I was just working, and all the hard work paid off."tthomas@express-news.netCopyright: ___ (c)2014 the San Antonio Express-News Visit the San Antonio Express-News at .mysanantonio.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉最平