ESPN College Football Recruiting

CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Historically, the Miami Nike Football Training Camp is the first stop in the circuit. Plus, the high volume of legitimate Division I talent and the fact that it usually takes place approximately two weeks before college programs begin the spring evaluation period (it starts April 15 this year) means there is plenty of recruiting buzz.

Here's a look at some of the notes from the camp.

From the sideline

Though he did not participate in the camp, cornerback Lamarcus Joyner (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Saint Thomas Aquinas) talked at length about the current state of his recruitment.

"Right now, I am looking at Ohio State and Florida State the most," Joyner said. "I am going to visit Ohio State for their spring game and also plan to visit FSU and Alabama on the same trip."

Joyner said he recently spoke on the phone with Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban.

"I enjoyed talking to him and like the fact that he likes to coach defensive backs," he said.

The Seminoles have long been considered a team that will be in the mix for Joyner, but the Buckeyes have made a strong push and it would not be a surprise to see Saban and the Tide make a move either. Florida has also been recruiting Joyner hard, so don't count the Gators out either.

• Florida-commit Matt Elam (Palm Beach, Fla./Dwyer) was also at the event and like Joyner did not participate. He was decked out in orange and blue Gator gear.

• Another Florida target, wide receiver Chris Dunkley (Royal Palm Beach, Fla./Royal Palm Beach) said he plans to take his recruitment slow. He should still be considered a Florida lean, but at this point he plans to take several visits before he makes a decision. It would be quite surprising to see him leave the Sunshine State for college, so the Gators should be considered the odds-on favorite in this race.

Trojans still on top

Jumbo athlete Delvin Jones (Miami, Fla./Palmetto) worked out as a receiver and a tight end at the event, but the 6-foot-6, 230-pounder most likely is best-suited to play defensive end in college. He has scholarship offers from coast to coast.

"USC is still on top," Jones said. "It's USC, Florida and Oregon."

The Ducks continue to work their way in with several players from the Southeast. Jones' recruitment is unfolding as an interesting one because he said he would prefer to play offense in college and two of his three favorites are 2,736 and 3,373 miles away from Miami, respectively.

After the season

Defensive end Lynden Trail (Miami, Fla./Booker T. Washington) holds a plethora of scholarship offers including Florida, Florida State, Miami, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Ole Miss, South Florida and others. The 6-7, 200-pounder said he's open to all schools that are looking at him, but mentioned a time frame for naming a top five.

"I am going to release my top five before the end of my high school football season," he said.

• Trail's teammate, wide receiver Quinton Dunbar, is currently committed to Miami.

• Booker T. Washington running back Eduardo Clements is looking at Florida State (which recently offered and was his favorite growing up), Georgia and Miami.

Close to the vest

Linebacker Jeff Luc (Port Saint Lucie, Fla./Treasure Coast) is keeping his recruitment close to the vest. He's an outstanding interview and answers questions thoroughly, but is very good at not giving hints as to where he is leaning (any other story you read that says otherwise is crafted and spun to make you read it a certain way).

Most of the major programs in the country have offered him and he plans on taking multiple unofficial and official visits, including trips to Southern California and others.

The day before dominating at the Miami Nike Camp, he made an unofficial visit to the University of Miami. It was his third trip to Coral Gables this month. Some believe that the Canes are in good shape, but it will be some time before anything is on the record about it and there is plenty of time for things to change.

New offer, new leader

Safety Travis Bell (Belle Glade, Fla./Glades Central) said that his coach informed him at the end of last week that he had picked up an offer from Miami and the Hurricanes vaulted to the top of his list. He claims offers from West Virginia, Georgia, Florida State and others.

"That's the school I grew up pulling for," Bell said.

Bell had a good showing in the camp.

More Gator leans

Linebacker/tight end Gerald Christian (Palm Beach, Fla./Dwyer) confirmed that he is still a strong Florida lean at this time. Count Jaylen Watkins (Cape Coral, Fla./Cape Coral) is another strong lean towards the defending National Champions.

Quick hitters

• Receiver MVP Ivan McCartney(Miramar, Fla./Miramar) has offers from multiple major colleges, including Florida, Florida State and Miami, but said he has no current visits (unofficial or official) on the docket except for a possible trip to Marshall. "I believe recruiting is going well, but I've just let my coach handle that for me and concentrated on getting better."

• Defensive end Corey Lemonier (Hialeah, Fla./Hialeah) has two dozen scholarship offers and is open to all suitors, but Miami and Florida are two he is highly interested in and until something changes, it would be a surprise to see him end up anywhere else. However, he plans to make multiple unofficial visits. • Offensive lineman Torrian Wilson (Miami, Fla./Northwestern) recently picked up offers from Tennessee and Michigan and says he has interest in both schools. As is the case with most Northwestern prospects, Miami is the team to beat, but Wilson hinted Sunday that he may take multiple visits.

• Cornerback Keion Payne (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Saint Thomas Aquinas) holds an offer from Ole Miss and is getting serious attention from Florida State. Payne had a great showing Sunday. Ohio State, Oregon and Georgia (the school he said would jump toward the top of his list if it offered) all are showing interest as well.

• Defensive back Gilbert St. Louis (Plantation, Fla./Plantation) is still sitting on an offer from Connecticut, but Central Florida, Michigan Oregon and Florida are all showing interest.

• Cornerback Tony Grimes (Hollywood, Fla./Hollywood Hills) recently picked up a scholarship offer from Purdue and said that Florida State is also showing interest. The physical defensive back got injured during position drills and was unable to compete during the one-on-ones.

• Tight end Charles Fashaw (Miami, Fla./Northwestern) is still holding onto a single offer from Boston College, but after his showing on Saturday expect his offer count to climb -- especially after recruiters descend on South Florida during the evaluation period and check in on him.

• Cornerback Richard Leonard (Miami, Fla./Killian) holds offers from South Florida and Florida International, but said Georgia is showing strong interest. The 5-7, 160-pounder is an excellent player, who is a little undersized.

• Defensive back Peniel Jean (Wellington, Fla./Palm Beach Central) is getting heavy attention from Virginia Tech, Rutgers and Vanderbilt.

• Fullback Cedrick Wilcox (Port Saint Lucie, Fla./Treasure Coast) is receiving attention from Miami.

• Running back Israel Linder (Miami, Fla./Northwestern) is getting attention from Colorado State.

JC Shurburtt covers recruiting for ESPN.com. He can be reached at jcsespn@aol.com.