ESPN Southeast recruiting Blog

Posted by JC Shurburtt

It's a loaded year in South Florida for running backs and Giovanni Bernard (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Saint Thomas Aquinas) can make a strong argument for being the best in the region.

He is the top ball-carrier on a loaded team that figures to be among Florida's and the nation's best in 2009. The younger brother of former Oregon State standout Yvenson Bernard (who is currently playing in the Canadian Football League), is 5-foot-9 and 195 pounds. Giovanni is a natural, well-rounded runner with grit and a knack for making yards on his own.

The scholarship offers have poured in. Florida State and Oklahoma dispatched coaches to his high school on the very first day of the spring evaluation period. Miami (Fla.), Alabama, Auburn, Notre Dame, Oregon, Oregon State, Tennessee, Arkansas, Boston College, Connecticut, Louisville and West Virginia are just some of the programs that have stepped in with a scholarship offer.

Bernard, who averaged 9.5 yards per carry, rushed for 1,371 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. He talked about the Seminoles and said that they would definitely be one of his top schools when he narrows his list down.

"I really liked that they came on the first day that schools can come," Bernard said. "I like that team a lot. It's a really good school, though."

The Noles, however, may not get an official visit. Bernard was clear that nothing was set in stone, but that he would probably reserve his official visits for out-of-state schools.

"I may not take any officials to any of the Florida schools," he said. "But if I don't take official visits to those schools, that does not mean that I am not going there, not at all. I just don't want to use up an official visit on a school that I have been to so many times."

Oklahoma, Miami and Florida are said to be heavily in the mix as well. Obviously the Sooners would get an official visit and the Canes and Gators would not if this holds true.

Spring practice has started at STA and Bernard has taken a leadership role heading into his final season of high school.

"We are working hard to get the new players on offense that transferred in to learn the playbook and get everything down," Bernard said, adding that he has been helping transfer quarterback Turner Baty learn the STA system. "We are really making progress now."

Two on top for Reese

Receiver Joshua Reese (Miami, Fla./Central) said that Florida State and Florida are his solid top two schools. Tennessee, South Florida, Central Florida, Florida International, South Carolina and Arkansas also have offered him a scholarship.

"With Florida State, they came to the school to check on me and the quarterback here (Jeffery Godfrey) and they brought like 3-to-4 coaches," Reese said. "They are recruiting me very hard. I like the program and I like the way they run their offense. With Florida, I was up there during my spring break and I liked it. I like that they have a good young quarterback (John Brantley) to go along with the one that they have now."

Reese said that he wants to play where Godfrey plays.

"That's very important," he said. "That's what we are trying to do is all three of us (along with running back Brandon Gainer) play at the same school. I don't know if it will work out or not, but we will see how things go."

Noles still lead for Mitchell

Cornerback Terrence Mitchell (Tampa, Fla./Hillsborough) still has Florida State out in front as his clear leader.

"It's a top of the line program," he said. "I mean it's Florida right now. It used to be Miami and soon it will be Florida State again. The defense is real good and I think I could start right away. I just need to perform when I get there."

Illinois and North Carolina are the most recent offers for Mitchell.

Cowboys in the Sunshine State

Oklahoma State now leads for defensive tackle D.J. McCellion (Delray Beach, Fla./Atlantic).

Also, expect offensive lineman Dan Koenig (Cape Coral, Fla./Cape Coral) to end up in the Big 12 with Stillwater being a strong possibility. His two older brothers played at Oklahoma State and likes the offensive style of play in that league.