RECRUITING: Sitting Idle For Now

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Tampa (Fla.) Plant tight end Orson Charles focusing on state semifinals - not recruiting - right now

by Daniel Mingea III
Tiger Rag Recruiting Analyst

CLICK HERE to read Mingea’s recruiting blog at NOLA.com.

High school careers are over for the majority of the high school seniors across the country as the 2008 season has just about come to an end.

However, there are some who have extended their careers by guiding their teams to the semi-finals of the playoffs.

Plant High School defeated Southeast last weekend 13-7 placing them in the semi-finals against Armwood High School this Friday. One of the leading factors behind Plant’s success has come from the play of tight-end Orson Charles (6-3, 215, 4.5).

The four-star prospect’s performances have been recognized by many which has led to offers from just about every major college football program in the nation. Charles is flattered by the offers, but at the same time he understands the challenge set before him this weekend.

“Last weekend was a good game and I think we needed a game like that,” Charles admitted. “We’re focused now and we understand we cannot take anyone lightly. Everybody has been working hard because we know Armwood has a good team.

“They beat us in the first game of the season, 9-2,” Charles added. “I keep having flashbacks of that game. I can’t give a prediction for this game, but I know we are going to come out ready to play, so we’ll see.”

Charles, the No. 3 overall athlete in the nation by Rivals.com, is rated the No. 10 overall prospect in the state of Florida.

Although Charles has been trying to maintain focus on the playoffs, at times he has sneaked a peak at the world of college football. According to Charles, he noticed something from one of the teams that created concern.

“Basically every school that has offered me has been calling me when they can just about everyday it seems,” Charles claimed. “I usually speak to coach (D.J) McCarty from LSU, but I haven’t talked to him in a while. I think he understands I am focused on the playoffs right now.

“On the weekend I’ve been watching a lot of the games,” Charles continued. “I didn’t get to see the LSU vs. Arkansas game, but I did see some of the highlights.

“They kind of had a rough season and so now I’m waiting to see if anything happens to their coaching staff. I do not want to see anything happen to them, but I know when you’re not winning games coaches get fired. That’s just how college football is today. You just don’t know what to expect anymore.”