DeMarcus Milliner has Alabama and Auburn fans in his family. The rivalry didn't stop Milliner, considered the nation's top prep cornerback by recruiting analysts, from displaying his sense of humor around family members when it came to his recruitment. There were days when Milliner told his father, a devoted Alabama fan, he had decided to attend Florida. The next day it might have been Georgia. Or LSU. Milliner's good-natured personality actually helped him deal with the pressures surrounding the recruiting process.
On Thursday, however, the joking stopped -- but Milliner's smile was just as bright. That's when Milliner, from Millbrook, Ala., verbally committed to attend Alabama in 2010. Milliner made the announcement in front of family, friends, fans and various media outlets in his school gymnasium at Stanhope Elmore High.
"It was a very hard decision. I had a chance to play at any of those schools but I chose Alabama and I think it was a great decision," said Milliner, who was flanked by his parents and seated behind a Stanhope Elmore High helmet and jersey.
"I've got Auburn and Alabama fans in my family, but Alabama is the school I felt comfortable with."
Milliner, a 6-foot-1, 185-pounder, had offers from across the country but said his final choice came down to Alabama, Auburn (his mother is a fan of Auburn) and LSU. The Crimson Tide now have 13 commitments for 2010.
Thursday was also a huge recruiting day for Brigham Young, which received three verbal commitments. Four-star (according to Rivals.com) quarterback Jake Heaps, former Texas commitment Ross Apo and four-star linebacker Zac Stout committed to BYU at a news conference at a restaurant in Salt Lake City.
Heaps, from Sammamash, Wash., is the country's top-rated quarterback, according to Scout.com. He threw for 2,190 yards and 38 touchdowns with just four interceptions last season. Heaps has thrown for 6,005 yards and 69 touchdowns in two seasons as a starter.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for me and my family," Heaps said at the press conference. "I want to thank all the college coaches that believed in me and gave me offers. I had 26 offers and I took all of them very seriously. This was a very difficult decision for me, but after looking at all of the options seriously, there was only one place for me."
Alabama was the only place for Milliner, who starts on offense, defense and special teams.
As a cornerback and safety, Milliner has 14 interceptions the past two seasons. As a junior, he picked off seven passes, returning two for touchdowns and recorded 57 tackles. He also rushed for more than 500 yards last season and was a reliable receiver. too. On special teams he returned two punts and one kickoff for scores.
"Alabama recruited me as an athlete and they haven't said which specific position they want me to play," Milliner told the Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser. "I'd like to play corner or free safety. But it doesn't matter where they put me. I just want to go in and try to make an impact as a freshman."
Stanhope Elmore coach Jeff Foshee told the newspaper that Milliner has a rare blend of athleticism and maturity.
"We've had a lot of good football players come through here. What separates him is he already knows what he wants to do," Foshee said. "His instincts are as good as any I've seen. You put those instincts in his body, and it's incredible. I don't know if I'll ever coach another one like him."
The evaluation process is also coming to close for recruiting sites.
The Scout.com/Fox Sports Regional Combine, sponsored by McDavid, will be held Saturday at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco. More than 250 heralded underclassmen have been invited to participate in the day-long session that will test players in various speed, power, strength and agility drills. McDavid provides each participant with a fitted compression shirt.
Several of Scout.com's Top 300 prospects nationally, and many more from the West and Northwest are expected to attend the combine, including five-star defensive end Chris Martin of Oakland, Calif., and running back Marquis Miller of Manteca, Calif. Scout's regional combine is the 12th and final session nationally of 2009.
