Cam Newton is keeping his options open.
The quarterback from Blinn (Junior) College in Texas has decided to delay his decision until early next week about where he”ll play his last two years of college football.
Newton had scheduled a press conference for Tuesday to announce which four-year school he planned to attend, but those plans changed.
There has been so much interest from other schools that Newton and his father, Cecil, have decided to wait a little longer.
Cecil, who has served as the primary spokesman for his son in the recruiting process, said the delay doesn”t mean they aren”t interested in Mississippi State.
“We”re not trying to rub egg in the face of Mississippi State,” Cecil Newton said. “We”re just trying to consider all of the options that will serve Cam”s best interest for college and for his potential beyond.”
MSU, Kansas State, and Arizona have offered Newton scholarships. Tennessee remains in the mix, and Cecil said six to seven other schools have called. Cam visited Oklahoma last Friday.
The signing period for junior college players begins today, but Cecil said it still will be a few days before Cam signs with a school.
“We have discussed that with (MSU) coach (Dan) Mullen,” Cecil said. “Cam has been bombarded nationally from a whole lot of other schools. I don”t think we”ll be able to address all of those. I”m at the point where we”re going to stop answering calls from a whole lot of schools because it isn”t realistic to be talking to all of these people. I”m flattered that they will consider us, but it”s too late to be flying all over the country.
“I was really just letting him get through with finals which will end sometime (today) and we are going to allow him to rest through the weekend. There will be an announcement coming Monday or Tuesday at the earliest.”
Newton was a four-star recruit coming out of Atlanta”s Westlake High School. He went to the University of Florida, but had limited playing time as a freshman in 2007 and played only one game in 2008 because of an ankle injury.
After taking a medical redshirt, Newton transferred to Blinn because he “never had a defined role with the Gators.” He had a legal matter dropped, stemming from an alleged theft of a laptop computer, before deciding to leave Florida.
Rivals.com ranks Newton as the No. 1 junior college recruit in the nation. He passed for 2,833 yards and 22 touchdowns as a sophomore and rushed for 655 more yards and 16 touchdowns.
n MSU receives three commitments: It appears Mullen”s recruiting efforts are paying off.
The Bulldogs have received three verbal commitments from in-state talent.
Oak Grove (Hattiesburg) High School wide receiver Robert Johnson and running back Jay Hughes announced their intentions to play at MSU.
Johnson, a four-star player by Rivals.com, had 28 catches for 529 yards and two touchdowns as a senior for Oak Grove, while Jay Hughes, a three-star player by Rivals.com, rushed for 856 yards and four touchdowns.
Hughes, the son of MSU safeties coach Tony Hughes, also was being recruited by Auburn, West Virginia, and Duke. Johnson also had the University of Mississippi on his list.
The Bulldogs also received a commitment earlier this week from Northeast Jones High School linebacker Corvell Harrison.
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