Since decommitting from USC nearly two weeks ago, 2013 West Mesquite (TX) wide receiver Eldridge Massington has been a busy man -- he’s taken official visits to Alabama, Arizona State, and UCLA since then.
Eldridge Massington nearing decision after visiting Alabama, UCLA, Arizona State
It’s been a whirlwind two weeks for the former USC commit after opening up his recruitment.
The first trip was to Tuscaloosa to take in the Crimson Tide program, a journey that had a serious impact on Massington, who said that the Tide have been a program high on his list since early in his recruitment.
He has also consistently said that the lifestyle is something that he likes about the Alabama program ($):
The visit was great. I loved it down there. It was really good. I feel like the lifestyle fits for me. I like how the players do it. I like how they treat the players. I feel like the lifestyle is for me.
Going to coach Saban’s house was the best part of my trip. We rode around on his trail with the carts. We saw some big ole catfish. I gained some pounds this weekend with all the food.
What is that lifestyle? Working hard, because Massington says that Alabama players don’t do much other than football and that seems to suit him:
It’s all about football there. That’s it. I’m not about the flashiness, the city, the nightlife, I’m not interested in all that, I’m tryin’ to ball. I’m tryin’ to win, and get myself ready for the League.
The big question is whether Alabama has room to take him as an early enrollee.
The second trip for Massington was out to UCLA, where he has connections because his grandparents live in the area.
The Bruins can also offer something that would be difficult to come by early at Alabama -- playing time. Three of the four leading pass-catchers for the Bruins will graduate following this season, while the Crimson Tide don’t have a senior among the top four wide receivers.
Track is also an option for Massington at UCLA if he decides that he wants to continue showing off his 10.52 100m speed that drew so much attention last spring when he seemingly got faster by the week. Actually, there was no seemingly about it, as the elite high school deep threat did actually get faster by the week
If the connection between Massington and teammate Will Earley wasn’t enough to get the big wideout to consider Arizona State, the plan laid out for Massington by offensive coordinator Mike Norvell was enough to draw the 6-4, 200-pounder’s attention ($):
I like their new system and how they use big receivers more. They’d move me around everywhere -- in the slot, give me a lot of one-on-ones; they want to use me on the outside, the inside. They like to throw the ball deep, so it’d allow me to be a downfield threat.
Throw in the fact that the Sun Devils never stopped recruiting Massington and they appear to have a legitimate shot to land his services.
From the sound of it, though, there’s a significant chance that Massington commits to Alabama, if there is room in the class. If not, it sounds like it could be a toss up between UCLA and Arizona State.
A consensus four-star prospect who drew attention for his track exploits in the 100m this spring, Massington says that he plans on announcing a decision on the 19th, as he still wants to enroll early at the school of his choice to continue rehabbing the ACL tear he suffered back in July.
