Recruiting notebook: Northeast RB still firm on Washington State

Keith Harrington may have renewed some interest from college coaches after Saturday's Blue-Grey All-American Bowl. The running back scored four touchdowns and gained more than 300 total yards to help lead the South to a 47-44 double overtime win and was named the game's most valuable player.

But it's too late to keep Harrington in the area. He committed to Washington State in May and he's sticking with that commitment. In fact, Harrington is headed to Pullman, Wash., on Thursday to take an official visit, his first trip to the school.

"I'm still going to Washington State," Harrington said. "I like the offense they run. I'll be a slot receiver. I'm not looking at any other schools."

Harrington, who chose the Cougars over Arizona, Massachusetts, Florida International, Marshall, Ball State and Northern Illinois, was one of the few bright spots for Northeast in 2013. Prior to the season eight of his teammates transferred to other schools. A foot injury kept him out of preseason workouts and the preseason game.

When he finally got healthy, Harrington found himself surrounded by young and inexperienced players. The Vikings went 1-9 and didn't score until the fifth game of the season.

In the Blue-Grey game, Harrington had a chance to prove what he could do with and against other top players.

'"It was great being out there with all those other top recruits," Harrington said. "I'm at 100 percent right now and I just wanted to show what I could do."

Spartans should be busy: Lakewood coach Cory Moore thinks at least nine of his seniors will sign letters of intent on national signing day Feb. 5.

Offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn has been solid on Georgia since the summer. Safety Brujoun Bonner has committed to Memphis and receiver Darquez Watson has committed to Presbyterian College in South Carolina.

Moore said versatile receiver/returner Donterio Fowler plans to visit Akron this weekend. Seven others — safety Patric Jones, athlete Jocqui Ellison, linebacker Oshario Mitchell, running back Courtney Burge, lineman Ricky Wilcox, safety James Swain and defensive back Chris Jackson — all could receive offers.

Givens, Maxwell still looking: Admiral Farragut running back/linebacker Cortavious Givens and receiver/safety Napoleon Maxwell have visits planned this weekend, but no official offers. Givens will visit Fairmont (W.Va.) State while Maxwell will visit North Dakota State, according to coach Ryan Hearn. Maxwell also plans to visit Wyoming and Florida International.

Givens missed much of his junior year with a knee injury but played this past season on both sides of the ball.

"I've called everybody I can think of trying to get some interest in him," Hearn said. "I've told them you've got to recruit this kid or you're crazy. They are all worried about the knee. The knee is fine. But that put him behind because a lot of these big schools are a year ahead. By the spring they are just about already full."

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Singing Day bonanza: East Lake, which advanced to the Class 7A state semifinals for the first time, already has four Division I recruits: defensive back Devin Abraham (USF), offensive lineman Mason Cole (Michigan), receiver Artavis Scott (Clemson) and defensive lineman Hunter Snyder (FAU). The Eagles will add more to an impressive 2014 class with defensive back Keon Brown holding an offer from Air Force and offensive lineman Jared Gleason visiting Penn last week and Stetson this weekend.

Second(ary) to none: The position that could have the most signees in the county is the defensive backfield with as many as eight who could be headed off to college.

East Lake's Abraham (USF), Lakewood's Bonner (Memphis) Gibbs' Maurice Hall (UCF) and Largo's Cordell Hudson (Syracuse) have already committed. Four others are narrowing their college choices.

East Lake's Brown is waiting to see if he receives interest from other schools before scheduling a trip to Air Force. Countryside's Mike Johnson is going to Marshall this weekend and plans to visit Iowa State and Louisville. Pinellas Park's Pierre Johnson went to Georgetown last week and is visiting Lehigh this weekend. And St. Petersburg Catholic's Chris White is visiting Georgia Southern Jan. 24 or 31. He said he also has interest from Akron, FAU, Jacksonville, Mercer and Robert Morris.