It didn’t take Savon Huggins long to realize he had the ability to be a college football athlete.
The Jersey City, N.J., St. Peter’s Prep running back said it was during his freshman year that he started receiving attention from colleges. Rutgers even verbally offered him before his first season was over.
But it wasn’t until he got more varsity playing time during his sophomore year that he knew he’d have a real future in major college football.
“I got the opportunity to play varsity and I scored a lot (of touchdowns) and I started to get the ball more,” Huggins said. “From there, I started to get more verbal offers during my freshman year and more came my sophomore and junior year.”
Now, Huggins is one of the top prospects in the country after registering 1,544 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns as a junior. Rivals.com ranks him as the ninth-best running back in the country, and he claims nearly 20 offers from schools.
He’s closer to his dream, but Huggins said he hasn’t let the overwhelming popularity go to his head.
“It’s been good, but I haven’t tried to focus on all that,” he said. “If I didn’t have the talent, I wouldn’t be where I am, so I just keep trying to work.”
As he prepares for a future at the next level, Huggins has spent a lot of time visiting campuses and getting more familiar with programs. This spring, he visited Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina and spent his summer vacation looking at Wisconsin, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame.
“It was good, I learned a lot about the schools,” Huggins said of his campus tours this year. “It was good getting to hang with the coaches and players.”
One college he’d still like to visit is Florida. He’s being personally recruited by UF coach Urban Meyer and has a strong relationship with former high school teammate, and current Gator safety, Will Hill.
Florida’s ability to continually compete for championships has Huggins giddy about the Gators. He’s trying to get down to Gainesville this summer and could make it to Friday Night Lights, but that’s still up in the air. No matter what, Huggins said he’ll find a way to visit Florida this summer.
No school has emerged as a leader for Huggins and he’s planning a commitment either soon after his season or around National Signing Day in February. No team may have separated itself, but Huggins said it has been an honor to be personally recruited by Meyer.
“I take pride in that I hope I’m what they want,” he said. “It means a lot that they’re interested in me.”
Great article
Savon Huggins sounds like a bright young man. I would think he is the type of young player we are looking for.
I also think Florida’s ability to continually compete for championships would be brighter should he make the right move to Gainesville! GO GATORS!