On the COVID recruiting trail Part 6

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As is normally the case, high school football players across the country are trying their best to be seen by college football coaches on the recruiting trail. However, the coronavirus pandemic has caused in-person recruiting to be shut down, taking away their chances to be seen by coaches at summer camps as well as visiting campuses of prospective schools. The Sumter Item met with football players from Sumter, Lakewood and Crestwood to see how they've maneuvered through this process.

JUAN CORREA - LAKEWOOD SENIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMAN

NOTEWORTHY OFFERS: Committed to Mounty Marty College

How do you think the coronavirus pandemic has affected your recruiting process?

The pandemic played a big factor because it all came down to whether I'm having a football season this year or if I'm just going to have to sit it out. I'm just hoping I made the right decision to commit to college early instead of waiting for my senior season, but that played a big part of it.

What went into your decision to commit early instead of waiting to see what happens with the season?

A couple talks with my family, my mom and my dad, seeing what was the best option for me and seeing if Mounty Marty was going to let me commit. I didn't want to lose my spot, so I could come out my senior season and perform and see what I can do.

What would potentially losing out on this fall season mean to you?

It would mean a lot because your senior season is big for everybody. It's your last chance to show what you have and what you've been working on the last four years of your high school career. Going straight from high school and not having a show off season is just jumping into a big pond, going against bigger and better competition on the next level of football.

If football were postponed into the spring, would you consider enrolling at Mounty Marty early and skip your senior season?

That's crossed my mind, but at the same time I'd have to speak to the coaches at Mounty Marty and see what we could agree on. I feel like I have a lot of potential and I know what I can do, so I'd have to speak to them and see if that's the better move to enroll early and start working with the bigger cats or stay back and see if my recruitment goes any better than it has already.