UCF offers top local center
Eric Seidelman got the call he was waiting for.
A week ago, the Orlando (Fla.) Bishop Moore center visited a UCF spring practice and felt confident an offer could be on the way. On Tuesday, the official word was relayed to him by Greg Austin, the Knights' offensive line coach.
"I'm really excited about this offer," Seidelman said. "Coach Austin told me about a week ago, 'Listen, you're one of our top center prospects. I want you. I've got to get the other coaches on board, so I want them to see you in person.' They wanted to see my size. So I went there last Wednesday and met all the coaches. It was awesome there. I had a great time. I met the head coach. He said they had a recruiting meeting next week and that they'd get back to me.
"I got a message from Coach Austin about the recruiting meeting today and he said he would contact me after. About (4 p.m.) I got a message asking for me to call him. He told me I had an offer. He says he wishes he had 1,000 linemen with my mentality. He says I could come in and play and he likes how I would excel in the classroom too. It was a great phone call."
UCF loves Seidelman's toughness.
"I finish the play, no matter what," Seidelman said. "Coach Austin says he loves how I finish, just the smash-mouth style I play with."
Seidelman, who grew up attending UCF games, says the Knights will definitely be one of his top schools.
"It's close to home," he said. "It would be great for my family. It would be cool to have all my family members being able to come to the games instead of just my mom and dad."
Seidelman says he'd love to attend UCF's Junior Day, which is slated for this upcoming Saturday, but he'll be busy competing in a state weightlifting meet. He won a regional competition two weeks ago.
Other offers include Air Force, Ohio, Marshall, Georgia State, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina and Appalachian State. Many more schools are keeping in contact, such as Virginia Tech, NC State, North Carolina and others, planning to watch him during the spring evaluation period.
An early commitment is the goal as Seidelman would like to have his recruitment wrapped up by the Fourth of July. He wants to major in business.
"Family and education are the most important things I'll be looking for," he said.
