Chatta Vol
January 22nd, 2010, 10:04 AM
Ambles recruitment takes a turn
McDonough (Ga.) Henry County five-star receiver Markeith Ambles is getting a second chance.
Recruited heavily by USC last spring, Ambles was seriously considering suiting up for the Cardinal & Gold. But within a few weeks, a near commit became a target USC dropped from their sights.
Ambles would go on to commit to Tennessee, building a strong bond with then-head coach Lane Kiffin. Fast forward to Jan. 12, and within another few weeks time, Ambles fate is yet again intertwined with USC.
Ambles will officially visit USC Friday, realizing a childhood dream that has synchronized with Kiffin's.
"As a kid, I always liked USC," said Ambles. "They've always had good quarterbacks, and when I went out there this summer, I loved Hollywood. I've always looked at myself as a little Hollywood. You know how you grow up and have that one school you just love? USC is that school for me."
Kiffin's dream job has always been Ambles dream school. Over the course of his senior year, Ambles and USC's new head coach have created a bond.
"I'm excited to get out there and see what USC has to offer," said Ambles. "They have a good staff, and a lot of commits have been calling me and saying that it's only getting better with Kiffin.
"Coach Kiffin is all about running the program the right way. No violations or any of that stuff. He's working hard to get USC football back on the championship map.
"I've been keeping up with him throughout this whole thing, so we have a different type of relationship than everybody else. Everything is good with me and him."
However, under Pete Carroll at USC, Ambles went from being a highly sought after recruit, to a forgotten name in the class of 2010.
Now, it's USC that hopes that Ambles forgets and forgives.
"It is like that," said Ambles. "All of the old coaches that are still up there; I'm going to ask them about what happened. I'm not going to be shy about it - that's not me. I want to know how they feel, and if I'm not comfortable with what they say, I probably won't end up going to USC."
That may be the only hurdle USC faces in landing Ambles' signature. Factors such as location and the depth chart, which can often give recruits second thoughts about USC, are non-issues for Ambles.
"I like the idea of going to a school with better players," said Ambles. "You have to compete to play, and that makes you better. I'm not worried about that - I'm a competitor."
In fact, Ambles has already been in contact with his East Army All-American teammate, and fellow five-star wide out, Kyle Prater.
"Yeah, I've got to call him tonight," said Ambles. "When I get out there we're going to hang out. When all of that stuff happened with Pete (Carroll) going to Seattle, I was talking to him about going to Tennessee.
"Now that coach Kiffin is at USC, he's telling me I need to come out there with him."
As it stands, Ambles views himself as an uncommitted recruit preparing to explore his options.
"I de-committed from Tennessee," said Ambles. "I have eight or nine schools I'm still looking at. Tennessee is still in there, and the new coaches came down to see me already. I'm not officially visiting there because I've been up to the school a bunch of times.
"There's a chance I still unofficially visit again before signing day. Right now I'm still considering Tennessee, SC, LSU, North Carolina, Auburn, Alabama and a couple of other schools."
After he officially visits USC this weekend, Ambles will confer with his family and formulate his college decision. While that decision could come before signing day, an announcement of a commitment will not.
"I'm not going to do the whole hat trick thing" said Ambles. "I'll call the coaches two or three days before signing day and let them know. I'm not going to tell anyone else until I sign."
USCFootball.com will continue to bring you updates on Markeith Ambles throughout the recruiting process.
McDonough (Ga.) Henry County five-star receiver Markeith Ambles is getting a second chance.
Recruited heavily by USC last spring, Ambles was seriously considering suiting up for the Cardinal & Gold. But within a few weeks, a near commit became a target USC dropped from their sights.
Ambles would go on to commit to Tennessee, building a strong bond with then-head coach Lane Kiffin. Fast forward to Jan. 12, and within another few weeks time, Ambles fate is yet again intertwined with USC.
Ambles will officially visit USC Friday, realizing a childhood dream that has synchronized with Kiffin's.
"As a kid, I always liked USC," said Ambles. "They've always had good quarterbacks, and when I went out there this summer, I loved Hollywood. I've always looked at myself as a little Hollywood. You know how you grow up and have that one school you just love? USC is that school for me."
Kiffin's dream job has always been Ambles dream school. Over the course of his senior year, Ambles and USC's new head coach have created a bond.
"I'm excited to get out there and see what USC has to offer," said Ambles. "They have a good staff, and a lot of commits have been calling me and saying that it's only getting better with Kiffin.
"Coach Kiffin is all about running the program the right way. No violations or any of that stuff. He's working hard to get USC football back on the championship map.
"I've been keeping up with him throughout this whole thing, so we have a different type of relationship than everybody else. Everything is good with me and him."
However, under Pete Carroll at USC, Ambles went from being a highly sought after recruit, to a forgotten name in the class of 2010.
Now, it's USC that hopes that Ambles forgets and forgives.
"It is like that," said Ambles. "All of the old coaches that are still up there; I'm going to ask them about what happened. I'm not going to be shy about it - that's not me. I want to know how they feel, and if I'm not comfortable with what they say, I probably won't end up going to USC."
That may be the only hurdle USC faces in landing Ambles' signature. Factors such as location and the depth chart, which can often give recruits second thoughts about USC, are non-issues for Ambles.
"I like the idea of going to a school with better players," said Ambles. "You have to compete to play, and that makes you better. I'm not worried about that - I'm a competitor."
In fact, Ambles has already been in contact with his East Army All-American teammate, and fellow five-star wide out, Kyle Prater.
"Yeah, I've got to call him tonight," said Ambles. "When I get out there we're going to hang out. When all of that stuff happened with Pete (Carroll) going to Seattle, I was talking to him about going to Tennessee.
"Now that coach Kiffin is at USC, he's telling me I need to come out there with him."
As it stands, Ambles views himself as an uncommitted recruit preparing to explore his options.
"I de-committed from Tennessee," said Ambles. "I have eight or nine schools I'm still looking at. Tennessee is still in there, and the new coaches came down to see me already. I'm not officially visiting there because I've been up to the school a bunch of times.
"There's a chance I still unofficially visit again before signing day. Right now I'm still considering Tennessee, SC, LSU, North Carolina, Auburn, Alabama and a couple of other schools."
After he officially visits USC this weekend, Ambles will confer with his family and formulate his college decision. While that decision could come before signing day, an announcement of a commitment will not.
"I'm not going to do the whole hat trick thing" said Ambles. "I'll call the coaches two or three days before signing day and let them know. I'm not going to tell anyone else until I sign."
USCFootball.com will continue to bring you updates on Markeith Ambles throughout the recruiting process.