TomVH: An Interview with WR Dwayne Stanford

Taft High is the home to DE Adolphus Washington and WR Dwayne Stanford. Teammates, good friends, and a so called package deal recruiting wise. Michigan has made up ground for both, and the pair plan on taking in Ann Arbor this coming weekend. Washington recently announced that Michigan was in his top five. Here's a look at Stanford's film and where he's at in his process.

TOM: Adolphus came out with a top five, so does that mean you have a top group too?

DWAYNE: No, I don't have a top five right now. I'm still considering a lot of schools.

TOM: When do you think you'll narrow your list down, and do you know if Michigan will be in your top group as well?

DWAYNE: I don't know when, probably mid to the end of June I'll narrow it to a top five. Michigan will definitely be in the top five though, especially with how hard Coach Smith is recruiting me.

TOM: Is Coach Smith your main recruiter? If so do you feel like you've built a good relationship with him?

DWAYNE: Yes, he is. I'm pretty comfortable with Coach Smith, I'm really comfortable with him. We talk a little about everything sometimes it's football, sometimes we talk about life. It's not always football, which is what I like about him.

TOM: If you've never been to Michigan before tell me what got you interested in Michigan?

DWAYNE: Michigan is a big time program and for them to be recruiting me I feel great about it. For them to be recruiting me as hard as they are that's what's doing it for me. At first I wasn't too interested in Michigan, but now I'm starting to grow on Michigan.

TOM: Both you and Adolphus were planning on going up to Michigan this weekend, is that still the plan?

DWAYNE: Yeah, we'll be up there. I'm calling Coach Smith to get everything set up and see what Michigan has to offer. It's my first time up there so I want to see if I feel comfortable, how they want to use me, and if it's something I like.

TOM: Do you have any other visits planned yet?

DWAYNE: We don't have any other visits planned, but we want to go to LSU, Alabama, Ohio State, FSU, and Kentucky. None of them are dates set in stone, but we want to get out there.

TOM: I've actually talked to your dad before, and I thought he said he was an Ohio State fan. Are you also an Ohio State fan?

DWAYNE: My family are all Ohio State fans, but I grew up liking Miami and Michigan. I just recently became an Ohio State fan. My family just tells me to stay humble in the process though. They just try to help me figure out if the coaches are being honest with me. They're giving me advice here and there.

TOM: Tell me what kind of receiver is someone going to get with you?

DWAYNE: I'm a big physical receiver that can get separation because of my size. The average big receiver is slow and not fluid out of breaks. I can get out of my breaks, I can play slot, tight end, or play on the outside. I'm not a possession receiver, I'm a little elusive where I can catch the ball and make some people miss too.

TOM: With your recruiting process, what are you really looking for in a school. How will you evaluate a program?

DWAYNE: I just want the school to be honest and up front with me. What's their plan with me. If they tell me I'll sit behind a veteran then I'll appreciate that more than if they tell me I'll play right away and I probably won't.

TOM: I know a lot of times when teammates say they want to be a package deal it doesn't end up working out. Is it 100% that you and Adolphus will go to the same school, or is there a chance you end up at different places?

DWAYNE: We're going to try to fit the best schools for both of us. If he likes a school and I like a different one then I don't want him to feel like he has to go to school with me just because. We want to go to the same school, though. A lot of the same schools are recruiting both of us. If it doesn't happen it's ok, but it is the main goal and we'd like it to happen.

TOM: If you guys are going to pick the same school you'll probably have to announce at the same time. Adolphus said you'll probably do it at an All American game. Is that still the plan for you too?

DWAYNE: We're committed to playing in the Under Armour All American game. I'll probably actually announce it at the end of my senior season. I know Adolphus wants to wait, but ya know, it's kind of on him. We don't necessarily have to do it at the same time, but it might be best to do it together.