SEC schools courting elite Louisiana CB need to meet a very important condition
NEW ORLEANS — Dull moments are few and far between for New Orleans cornerback Tre’ Swilling.
Between his recruitment and AAU basketball, the prized defensive back prospect has barely had the opportunity to try and narrow down his list of top schools.
But know this: he is trying.
The four-star cornerback out of Brother Martin High School (New Orleans) has plans on releasing a top five — eventually, that is — but it has been postponed as offers continue to roll in and familiar schools make greater efforts to land the highly-touted prospect.
It’s coming, said Swilling, but for now there really isn’t any sort of rush.
“It’s kind of tough,” a smiling Swilling told SEC Country at Nike’s “The Opening” regional in New Orleans on Sunday.
“It’s more tough than I thought it would be. Every day new coaches are following you, contacting you on Twitter. I want to try to cut my school list down, but you can’t deny a blessing. I trust my parents, who tell me to take it slow and enjoy everything.”
LSU is among the favorites to land the elite defender, who visited the nearby campus in late February for the team’s Junior Day.
After the visit, the Tigers solidified their status as one of the top schools in the running for Swilling. But the in-state program will have to stave off a host of other SEC powers that regularly maintain contact with the cornerback and are pushing for a spot in his top five.
“The schools I talk to a lot are Tennessee, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Alabama, LSU, UCLA and Texas A&M,” Swilling said. “I’m starting to talk to Florida more, and I’m hoping to get an offer from them. You know, the LSU vs. Florida for ‘DBU’ things I kind of like … like the rivalry and competition amongst themselves. It’s a great competition.”
As far as naming the real “DBU,” Swilling pled the fifth.
However, the 6-foot, 180-pounder did explain what message LSU coaches have been sending since he was last on campus.
“I met (defensive backs) Coach (Corey) Raymond my freshman year and I’ve known (running backs) Coach (Jabbar) Juluke since I was 4 years old, a toddler,” Swilling said. “The conversations have been really good, very sentimental. It’s more family-oriented than recruiting, because they give insight but also recruit me to the school.
“Things are great. I talk to them a lot, if not the most, and all of their coaches. It’s an hour and half away, a family-oriented place. There’s not one thing they can do different. They’re making a great push and everything is going fine.”
Florida, Texas A&M and Tennessee are among the suitors looking to disrupt LSU’s path of securing a commitment from the in-state talent.
Swilling couldn’t deny his interest in those other SEC schools, either.
On Florida: “Well, I like how they (Florida) interchanges the kids and the products they’ve put out,” Swilling explained. “They’ve got a new (defensive backs) coach, but everything is still in place. (Vernon) Hargreaves, Jalen Tabor … Hopefully, I can be on the same level as them, if not better.”
On Texas A&M: “I have a good relationship with (defensive coordinator John) Chavis. We talk every week during the football season, and I ask how they’re doing with scrimmages to show them I’m interested in them, too.”
On Tennessee: “(Running backs) coach (Robert) Gillespie is making a push. Tennessee has a great fan base and it’s a great place to be, one of the best places to play in college football, and that orange is nice.”
Because of Swilling’s AAU basketball schedule, visits are rarely planned and transpire in more of a spontaneous fashion. As of now, nothing is set in stone for the coming months.
Still, those SEC powers courting the New Orleans native have a chance to gain ground and possibly crack his top five if they can check off one very important factor on Swilling’s list.
“I want to hear more from (those schools) and see what they have to offer, but I’m not going to go to a school that’s recruiting 40 defensive backs,” Swilling said. “I’m not scared of the competition, but I don’t want to come in with 40 other people to compete for a spot on the field.”
Sam Spiegelman covers LSU football recruiting for SECCountry.com and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on who’s on their way to play in Tigers Stadium.
