Rohan Blackwood, Nature Coast DE (6-5, 215)
The latest: The senior pass rusher earned one of his biggest offers to date Friday, picking up an offer from Nebraska, Sharks assistant Rob Kazmier said. The Big Ten has actively recruited Blackwood, who plans to make official visits to Wisconsin and Minnesota, along with West Virginia, this fall.
Offers: UMass, USF, Wisconsin, Mississippi State, Southern Miss, Toledo, West Virginia, FIU, Minnesota, Tulane, Cincinnati, Marshall, Virginia, Miami, Louisvile, Purdue, Nebraska, Iowa State
Last season: Blackwood earned first-team all-North Suncoast honors after establishing himself as one of Tampa Bay’s top defensive linemen. He racked up 15 sacks, 69 tackles and a fumble recovery during NCT’s 6-4 season. In basketball, the all-North Suncoast forward led the Sharks in scoring (15.4 ppg) and rebounding (11.0 per game) to help carry NCT to the second round of the Class 5A playoffs.
They say: Rivals ranks Blackwood as a three-star recruit and the county’s No. 24 weakside defensive end prospect. 247Sports gives him three stars and ranks him as Florida’s No. 79 prospect. Early in his high school career, ESPN regarded him as one of his class’ top 100 basketball prospects.
We say: Blackwood is one of the North Suncoast’s top recruits for the class of 2014. His recruitment – and Nature Coast’s season – will be one of the more interesting stories of the fall.