Four-star OT may visit soon
Tarpon Springs (Fla.) offensive tackle Zach Debell is still getting used to the move to the offensive side of the ball after playing defense last season for Tarpon Springs High School.
The 6-foot-7, 265-pound prospect that hails from a Greek town near Tampa, is enjoying the move so far as he's seen his recruitment take off with over 24 scholarship offers from across the country.
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Debell says he has already visited Tennessee, South Florida, Georgia, and Florida this summer, and is seeing the move to offensive tackle pay off in growing interest from schools.
"I played defensive line before switching to left tackle, it's been a crazy ride," Debell said. "It's great having all these colleges wanting you at their school"
One school that hasn't offered yet, but is keeping a close eye on Debell is Auburn.
Debell spoke to Auburn offensive line coach Jeff Grimes recently, and has set tentative plans to visit the Plains before the season starts.
"I talked to coach Grimes a couple of weeks ago," Debell said. "We were talking for a little while, and they want me to come up there and check out the campus. I do have some plans to go up there in July before the season, but they aren't concrete."
It was the first time Debell had spoken to Grimes, and came away with a good first impression.
"I think he's a pretty cool guy, easy to talk to," Debell said. "I think he's a pretty good recruiter so I'd like to know more about Auburn."
Debell says he's had a busy summer. Staying busy with 6:30 a.m. workouts and ACT prep courses. He also says he doesn't know a lot about Auburn, but is eager to learn more about the Tigers program.
"I don't know much," Debell said. "I don't know anything about the big majors they offer, things like that, but I'd like to learn."
Debell says he plans on majoring in media broadcasting and communications.
Even though Debell grew up in Florida, he said he wasn't a fan of the big three in-state schools growing up. It wasn't Florida, Florida State, or Miami that had the attention of Debell, it was perennial Division I FCS national champion Appalachian State that Debell grew up rooting for.
"I actually grew up a big fan of Appalachian State," Debell said. "My mother and father both went there, my uncle taught there, and my aunt attended school there as well."
When it comes to schools that stand out though, Debell has his sights set on some more high profile programs early on.
"Of the schools that have offered me, South Florida, Georgia, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Ole Miss, and UCLA. Those are some schools that have offered that stand out to me," Debell said.
Rivals awarded Debell as Second Team All-Nike camp on offense this summer, earning the honor as one of the top offensive lineman in the country.