January 8, 2010
[h1]Recruits Respond to Carroll News[/h1]
USCFootball.com Recruiting
USCFootball.com Staff
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Morgan comments on CarrollParker talks Carroll situationPrater mum on news
Talk about it in
The Peristyle
When news broke Thursday that Pete Carroll had interest in taking the vacated Seattle Seahawks job, recruits at the Army All-American Bowl reacted quickly, and swiftly.
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Gerard Martinez | |
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Kyle Prater left the team hotel Thursday shaken by the news of Pete Carroll possibly leaving USC
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Here are the thoughts on the situation from the Trojans' committed recruits just moments ago from San Antonio.
Running back San Diego (Calif.)
Dillon Baxter, distraught, is already conceived that Carroll and his staff will be on their way to Seattle before the end of the week.
"He's gone man," said Baxter Thursday night before his All-American awards ceremony. "I've haven't talked to the coaches yet - they won't talk to me."
Baxter isn't alone in his assumption. While none of USC's committed recruits had spoken specifically with the Trojans coaching staff, Chino (Calif.) four-star defensive tackle
George Uko like Baxter was already convinced that Carroll was leaving.
"He is really gone," said Uko, back home in Chino.
Baxter and Hillside (Ill.) five-star receiver
Kyle Prater are both scheduled to enroll at USC next week. Prater took the news emotionally, but didn't explain his feelings in detail.
"I don't even want to talk about that," Prater told Rivals.com.
Walking away, with a sickened look on his face, Prater had no further comment.
USC commits, receiver Robert Woods and punter
Matt Darr reacted with less emotion, but just as much concern.
"Yes, I heard," Woods explained. "I haven't gotten into contact with (the coaches) yet. I heard what everything (being said on) TV. It's really uncertain what's going on right now."
Darr, also an Army All-American, followed suit.
"My feeling is, from his perspective, he has to do what's best for his family," said Darr. "If going to the NFL is what's best for him, I have to do what's best for me, and that means looking out for me and my family."
College coaches nationally have already begun contacting many of USC's committed recruits, which makes the silence of Trojan assistant coaches even more deafening.
"I can't declare that I;'m going to talk to other schools, because I haven't," said Darr. "Those thoughts go through your head. We'll see where this takes us."
Several of USC's committed recruits in San Antoinio have spoken to the Trojans' staff members early this week, making Thursday's news that much more surprising.
"I got calls from (Brian) Schnieder and (Jeremy) Bates yesterday and the day before just about the game here, and them wishing me luck," said Darr. "This is a big surprise. I was at practice when they called, so I thought they were just routine calls. Maybe they were trying to tell me something."
USCFootball.com will continue to bring you the latest from this developing story in San Antonio.