Recruit's Diary: Justin Parker

Beaufort High School linebacker Justin Parker has emerged as one of the nation's top recruiting prospects, earning more than a dozen scholarship offers from Division I schools and cracking Sporting News Today's list of top 100 football recruits for the 2010 class. As Parker approaches his much-anticipated decision, the senior agreed to give readers a glimpse into the recruiting process with a diary every Wednesday, as told to Beaufort Gazette/Island Packet sports reporter Brandon Parker.

Last weekend, I took my first official recruiting visit to South Carolina with three other recruits, and it was a good experience.

I got there Friday night and we had our own rooms at the USC hotel, where they brought us a pizza each night. On Saturday morning, we got to see the academic buildings and meet some of the advisors and professors, who seemed really helpful.

After that, we went to the game, and that was the most intense college game I've ever seen. People there said it hasn't been that loud since the Ole Miss game. USC didn't come out with the win, but the team put out a good effort to be able to hang with Florida.

When the game was over, we went downtown with some of the players. I thought we would be on our own as recruits, but I was glad we got to hang out with some of the guys and get the honest truth about what it's like being a football player at USC.

Before I left on Sunday, I talked one-on-one with coach Steve Spurrier. He told me how much he wanted to get me here and that he hoped all of us would come help them win a SEC title. I also talked to defensive coach Ellis Johnson and he went to the board to show me how most of the linebackers were graduating, so he hoped I'd come in to play the role of Eric Norwood.

I've talked to Clemson about possibly taking my official visit this weekend, but my brother might have to work, and if so, I'll probably visit there in January. I haven't thought about if or when I would visit LSU. I'm glad they offered, but it might be harder to make a name for myself there than at a place like USC or Clemson.

I know that I want to take my visit to Clemson before I make a decision, which could be at the end of this month or in January, so there's no telling yet.

Last week, we saw our season come to an end with the playoff loss to Greenwood. Some people said it was the long bus ride, but I don't think it was that, because the coaches had us prepared. We just gave up some big plays and weren't fully in it. Of course, I was a little mad and my feelings were down. But I enjoyed my career at Beaufort High and I look at it as one chapter closing before I open another one in college.

My top five schools (in order): South Carolina, Clemson, LSU, N.C. State, Virginia Tech.