Top offensive lineman still up for grabs?

After pondering his college future all day Tuesday, Seantrel Henderson, an offensive lineman who is considered by many analysts to be the nation’s top high school football recruit this year, lay in the bed of his hotel room in Midtown Manhattan, reflecting on his options. Dozing off after 9 p.m., he was Southern California dreaming after deciding he would play for the Trojans.

“I just felt the most comfortable there,” Henderson said. “I felt like it was the greatest spot for me with L.A. and everything.”

On Wednesday, national signing day, at a television studio in Chelsea Piers, Henderson, a 6-foot-8, 340-pound left tackle from Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul, announced his decision on the CBS College Sports Network by wearing a white USC jersey and a cardinal Trojans cap. For an offensive lineman to be considered the top recruit is a rare feat.

Henderson and his family provided an inside look at his final week of recruitment. It included updates on Florida coach Urban Meyer’s health, Southern California’s precarious situation with the NCAA and a flurry of text messages.

And it may not be over: According to his father, Sean, Henderson is not signing his letter of intent until USC appears before an NCAA infractions committee later this month. Though any possible sanctions may not come at that time, Sean Henderson said the family would get a sense of where the investigation was heading.

Sean Henderson also thought it was interesting that USC would appear before the NCAA’s committee on infractions from Feb. 19-21 because Seantrel’s two sisters have birthdays on Feb. 20 and Feb. 21.

“It’s just a lot,” he said. “It kind of seems like fate to a certain extent.”

But without Henderson’s signature on a letter of intent, fate could still change.

Excluding Florida and Notre Dame, all of Henderson’s finalists sent him letters of intent. Dan McCarney, the Gators’ assistant head coach, told Henderson’s father Monday that they were sending the documents only to players who were certain that they would sign with them.

The Hendersons never really clicked with Florida.

Last month Meyer was scheduled to make an in-home visit to the Hendersons, but only McCarney made the trip. In an e-mail message to Sean Henderson on Jan. 26, Meyer wrote that his doctor and Athletic Director Jeremy Foley would not let him go.

He wrote that the Gators’ recruiting class was No. 1 this year and that Seantrel was “the last missing piece.”

Meyer wrote that this year’s class reminded him of Florida’s 2006 recruiting class, which featured quarterback Tim Tebow, a Heisman Trophy winner; wide receiver Percy Harvin, an NFL first-round pick; and Brandon Spikes, an all-American linebacker. That class helped the Gators win two national championships.