Along with Channing Ward, Quay Evans and a handful of other elite prospects, wide receiver Jason Croom ranks high on Mississippi State's wish list for its recruiting class of 2012.
Croom, a 6-4, 200-pound athlete from Norcross (High), Ga., has attracted the attention of coaches and scouting services thanks to his size, ability to utilize his strength to position himself against defenders, and overall athletic ability. After sifting through over a dozen offers (including Florida State, Louisville and Michigan), Croom is set to pick between Mississippi State and Tennessee on Aug. 18.
Since narrowing his choices, Croom hasn't tipped his hand on his likely destination. In an interview with Bulldawg Junction last month, Croom mentioned he's looking for a school that provides a family atmosphere and good academics. As for playing time, he said, "I am not worried about the whole early playing time deal because getting early playing time is up to me and depends on how hard I work and prepare."
Given Croom's size and a Mississippi State receiving corps that lacks it, we could certainly stand to have him more than the Vols. Tennessee currently boasts six receivers that stand 6-3 or taller while Mississippi State's lone wide out with substantial height is true freshman Joe Morrow.
Though MSU and Tennessee will eagerly await Croom's decision, a Red and Black wrench could be thrown into the schools' plans.
Through out his courtship, Croom has made it clear that he covets an offer from his home-state Georgia Bulldogs, and after a recent shake up, it could happen.
Wednesday night, receiver C.J. Curry of Flowery Branch (High), Ga., informed Mark Richt that he was decommitting from Georgia to play for Oklahoma State. Curry's departure leaves the Bulldogs with only one wide receiver for next year's class in Lonnie Outlaw from Georgia Military College.
As Norcross began spring football practice, Georgia coach Bryan McClendon informed their coaches that Croom was close to getting an offer from the Bulldogs. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Croom said, "My coaches said [McClendon] told them that Georgia was going to offer. That's my high schools coaches told me, but I'm waiting to hear it directly from Georgia. It would be better if I was told to get in contact with them, and they said, ‘Yeah, you got an offer.'"
Since then, Richt put Croom on the back-burner in favor of other targets but things could quickly be heating up for the receiver in the form of a Bulldog offer.
So a week from now Croom will make a decision...but that doesn't mean it's over. After all, we're talking about recruiting.