Top RB Has BC Connection

Josh Haden (Friendly High, Maryland) is one of the best running back recruits in the East. He already has 15 scholarship offers, several of which have come from some of the top collegiate programs in the country (Ohio State, Florida, and Tennessee to name a few).

Last summer, Haden went to the NIKE Camp at Penn State and put up the highest SPARQ Rating (a combined measurement of athleticism) in the nation. And he hadn’t even begun his junior year.

A week ago, Haden told Scout.com that he has four early favorites. Predictably, three of the four are recruiting powerhouses: Florida, Ohio State, and Virginia Tech. So what’s Boston College doing on his shortlist?

“The coaches are real easy to talk to,” Haden said over the phone. “Especially [because of] their situation right now at running back, they have two seniors leaving. So I have a chance to go in as a freshman, really work hard, and try to get a lot of time.”

Playing time as a freshman sounds nice, but that can’t be the only factor for considering BC. Haden is one of the best athletes in his class and although he is short (5’8” by his account, 5’7” by NIKE Camp measurements), he takes pride in his strength and power.

How impressive is his strength? The SPARQ Rating is an aggregate score that factors in a player’s performance in the 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle, vertical jump, and bench press. The all-time record (114.05) was set last month by Spencer Pybus, a linebacker from Alabama who did 39 reps of 185 pounds on the bench. Haden, who posted a score of 111.52, did 45.

A 5-foot-8”, 190-pound back who runs a 4.35 40 and out-benches elite linebackers won’t have too many problems competing for playing time as a freshman, even at BCS-caliber schools. So again, why BC?

“Anywhere I go I’m going to have to fight for a position,” Haden said modestly. “But [BC] just has a really good situation. The school is nice, they have really good facilities, they’re going to be running a whole new, NFL-style offense this year and that will really give me a head up. It’s just a really good situation.”

That kind of response is fine, but still doesn’t completely explain why BC is in the running. So here’s the kicker: Haden already has strong ties to Florida. That’s both the reason why BC is involved and the reason why BC probably won’t get him.

Haden’s older brother, Joe, who just barely lost out to Josh in the SPARQ Ratings (110.22), will be a freshman at Florida next year. Josh said that, because of his involvement in Joe’s high-profile recruiting process last year, he already knows Florida – and Urban Meyer – very well. And BC’s latest addition to the coaching staff has ties to the Gators’ head coach.

Meyer’s graduate assistant in 2005 was Ryan Day, whom BC head coach Jeff Jagodzinski recently named as his wide receivers coach. Day is the one who has been in contact with Haden, mostly through text messaging. And although Day is not allowed to make a phone call to Haden yet, Haden called Day to discuss his situation.

Day’s connections to the reigning national champs are seemingly already being put to use. Day has been able to get his foot in the door with Haden, but unfortunately, that might be as far as he gets. Haden wasn’t shy about the fact that the chances are good that he will follow in his brother’s footsteps.

“He tells me a lot of good stuff about Florida that I already know,” Haden said, “I’ve already been there three times [laughs]. Florida is a great school. The coaching is great, the school is great, nice big stadium. I can’t say anything bad about Florida.

“Every [school] is on an equal playing field, but then again, you have to say that Florida has an edge over any other school…It feels like I already went through the recruiting process with Joe. I mean I like a lot of the stuff he likes, so that really gives Florida a head up.”

Nothing, though, is set in stone. Haden’s goal is to make unofficial visits to the schools he hasn’t seen yet, with BC and Virginia Tech his top priorities. He hasn’t figured out when he’ll go, but said that his April and summer vacations might provide a good opportunity. Once he has seen all his favorites, Haden won’t hesitate to finalize the process. An early graduation from Friendly (December) will likely push his decision up to the early part of next season.

Meanwhile, Haden has another goal in mind: break the SPARQ record. Under the training of his father, Joe, a former track star and bodybuilder, Haden’s goal is certainly within reach.