Jordan Wilkins could be on the verge of seeing his recruitment explode.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound junior running back from Cordova, Tenn., (St. Benedict) entered September with four offers – Ole Miss, Tennessee, Middle Tennessee State and Memphis before adding another from Mississippi State while a host of other schools have picked up their interest.
“It’s just now starting to pick up a little bit. A lot of colleges are starting to look at me,” said Wilkins, who’s heard from Notre Dame, Alabama, Arkansas, Oregon, South Carolina, Wisconsin and Vanderbilt since the season started.
After rushing for 1,300 yards and 24 touchdowns as a sophomore, Wilkins has a big goal for his junior year.
“I’m trying to get a 2,000-yard season, but that’s going to be hard because we only have nine regular season games before the playoffs,” he said.
He has over 1,000 yards and 17 touchdowns through his team’s first five games. Wilkins feels like he’s a versatile back who can go inside or outside.
“It doesn’t really matter,” he said. “I like running over you just as much as I like juking you and running around you. Whatever is needed.”
Wilkins was hoping to make a trip to Mississippi State last month, but had to cancel. He was at Ole Miss for the season’s opener.
“I liked it,” he said. “It’s an SEC school, I kind of want to play in the SEC, but I’m not sure yet. I like it, but I’m just looking around.”
Wilkins made a stop at Tennessee over the summer, but hasn’t made any other visits. He’s hoping to see Alabama and Arkansas soon.
The Irish are trying to build a relationship with Wilkins at this point.
“They sent me some mail through my school,” he said. “It said they’re going to be watching me and congratulations on being one of the top 2013 prospects. They said they want to keep in touch and get to know me.”
Wilkins doesn’t know much about Note Dame as a program yet.
“I don’t know anything,” he said. “I need to go up there and visit.”
While Wilkins would prefer to play in the SEC right now, he says it wouldn’t be impossible to lure him out of SEC country.
“It wouldn’t be that hard,” he said. “I guess living down in the South, that’s the conference, but I’m going to visit places before I make my decision and whatever I feel most comfortable with, that’s what I’m going to go with.”
The opportunity to get on the field early will be one factor that would make him comfortable.
“The main thing is going to be coming in and probably going to get a chance to play as a freshman and not going too far away from home.”
