ON THE GOLDEN STATE RECRUITING TRAIL: THE SWAMP IS NOW TRYING TO LURE IN RISING PASADENA STAR

Pasadena-John Muir wide receiver/defensive back Elijah Blades (grabbing the interception) has landed four scholarship offers in a span of nearly 20 days, with the latest coming from Florida on Tuesday, March 8 (photo by Lorenzo Reyna). 

Just 18 days ago, Elijah Blades of Pasadena (Calif.) John Muir High School was offer-less.

Now, the 6-foot-3 lockdown cornerback and tall receiving target has had a red-hot recruiting period, with four reported scholarship offers including a big one that arrived on the evening of Tuesday, March 8: a pledge from the University of Florida.

Blades said the Gators, much like the other schools, are recruiting him to line up on defense.

“It feels great (to be offered). It’s even better coming from Florida,” Blades said.

His other scholarship pledges are from San Jose State, Arizona and Washington State, which offered him on March 2. Blades said that it’s too early for him to commit to a school and plans to wait on more offers.

This past weekend, Blades won over 247sports.com writer Barton Simmons following his performance at the Pylon 7-on-7 Tournament in Las Vegas, as the Class of 2017 prospect landed on Simmons’ Pylon “Dream Team.”

BIG 10 UNIVERSITY NOW AFTER KERN COUNTY STAR

Purdue may be the latest offer for Bakersfield (Calif.) defensive lineman standout Kurtis Brown, who wreaks havoc for CIF Central Section Division I champion Liberty High. But here’s one bragging right for the Boilermakers: they’re the first Big 10 university to make a dash at the 6-foot-3, 270-pound punisher.

And Brown said Purdue "Likes what they saw" out of him.

“They told me they believe I'm one of the best defensive linemen in the nation and believe I would fit in perfect over there,” Brown said.

Brown - who now holds eight offers including Colorado, Arizona and Fresno State – plans to trim his list to three or five schools by the summer and then commit either during or after his senior year.

MULTIPLE MOUNTAIN WEST SCHOOLS NOW ON CLOVIS WEST QUARTERBACK

The Mountain West Conference is the first to extend offers to a rising 2018 prospect from a place known for producing Football Bowl Subdivision talent: quarterback Adrian Martinez of Clovis West.

Now, Nevada has jumped into Martinez’s recruiting mix as the Wolf Pack offered him their pledge on March 8. Nearby university Fresno State offered him first during the month of February.

Also, per his club 7-on-7 head coach Elon Paige, Martinez will be heading to Fullerton, Calif. to compete in the Rivals QB Challenge set for Sunday, March 13.