Beth Long’s football recruiting notebook

Neuqua Valley junior Isaiah Robertson is one of many top prospects competing for Midwest Boom, one of the top 7-on-7 teams. Robertson traveled to Las Vegas and finished runner-up in the Pylon 7-on-7 National Championships along with Mount Carmel defensive back Houston Griffith and Neuqua Valley linebacker Owen Piche.

“The tournament was hype as always,” Robertson said. “I loved getting back out there on the field with my boys, there is nothing like it. For Boom it’s normal because that’s just what we do. We definitely made other people realize who we are and that we just keep getting better and better.”

The 6-2, 185-pound Robertson has recently picked up interest from Notre Dame and LSU.

“There is a lot of mail coming in,” Robertson said. “I talk to a few coaches over direct message on Twitter and I call some too. But besides that it’s pretty quiet. I’m just trying to plan my visits out right now.”

One school that he would definitely like to see in person this spring is Notre Dame.

“Notre Dame will be really cool to get back too because it will be my third visit and because of that everything is relatively familiar,” Robertson said. “I look forward to having more one on one time with Coach DenBrock.”

Robertson is a Rivals.com four-star wide receiver and has offers from Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota and others.

Three for Chris Sampleton

Nazareth junior Chris Sampleton, a defensive end and tight end, added his first three offers recently: Wyoming, Nevada and New Mexico.

“The first offer was from Wyoming,” Sampleton said. “Honestly it just feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders to have the first couple. But now I’m humbled that I am receiving more. It just makes me want to work harder and continue to prove myself. I’ve never been one to pound my chest about success.”

Sometimes the first offer comes as a surprise, and for Sampleton that was the case.

“I was riding home from Northern Illinois’ junior day and then I received a message from Coach Mallory at Wyoming and he said to call him,” Simpleton said. “We talked for a little bit and then he offered me. I can’t tell you how much joy I had in my body at the moment. I couldn’t stop smiling, but more importantly thanking God.”

Recruiting has been a special process for the 6-3, 220-pound athlete.

“Just being able to visit and build relationships wth all of the coaches has been the best part. It is quite a unique experience,” Sampleton said.

Sampleton knows what it takes to win after helping the Roadrunners take home two straight state championships and he’s quickly becoming a hot prospect on the recruiting trail. He’s received interest from Illinois, Western Michigan, Miami Ohio, Penn State, Michigan State, Brown, Iowa and Iowa State.

One school that particularly interests Sampleton is Illinois, because of the recent hire of former Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith.

“I believe that Illinois is going to make a big bang by bringing in such a high caliber guy,” Sampleton said. “Being from my home state of Texas and knowing that he has coached in the state, he knows football.”

He added, “My interest in them was already high. Now it’s through the roof. I look forward to talking with him soon.”