If first impressions are as important as they're said to be, Alabama will need to roll out the red carpet treatment for Jeoffrey Pagan (Asheville, N.C./Asheville) next month.
Pagan, a prized ESPNU 150 Watch List defensive end prospect, will use his spring break week -- the first week in April -- to make his first-ever trip to Tuscaloosa to check out the Crimson Tide. The prep standout, who holds close to 30 offers, also plans to hit Florida during that same week.
"He's been to a lot of places already, but he's saved his spring break for the farther away trips," Asheville coach Danny Wilkins told CrimsonConfidential.com Tuesday afternooon.
Pretty much all the big-name schools -- Southern Cal, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Florida State, LSU, Georgia, Tennessee, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Texas Tech, Texas A&M and others -- are pursuing Pagan. The in-state schools were the first to jump on him, and then Florida followed soon after.
"It sort of snowballed from there," Wilkins said of Pagan's recruitment.
In fact, Wilkins, who's been coaching for more than 30 years and has coached players who went on to the NFL, said he's never coached anyone that's commanded as much attention this quick as Pagan has.
Wilkins said his coveted star likes Clemson a lot but stopped short of calling the Tigers his favorite.
"I don't know that he's got a leader," Wilkins said. "He's trying to stay open."
The coach said there's probably about a dozen schools Pagan is seriously considering. Alabama is one.
"He's got a lot of interest in Alabama and respect for the tradition Alabama represents," Wilkins said. "He wants to take a first-hand look at the school for himself."
And if Pagan likes what he sees in Tuscaloosa, don't think he won't hesitate to spend his college days that far away from home if that's what it comes down to.
"He's said all along that distance is not a factor," Wilkins said.
The coach said he and Pagan plan to sit down after the spring break visits to Alabama and Florida and try and narrow the field. Wilkins has a feeling Pagan will like what he sees out of the two SEC powerhouses.
"Alabama and Florida are probably two schools that will end up in his final five," the coach said.
Whichever school ends up with him will have one heck of an athlete at its disposal.
"He's got a good-looking physique," Wilkins said of Pagan. "He's 6-foot-4 and
he's put on a little weight to where he's up to ...
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