RECRUITING: New Jersey LB interested in Oklahoma
By James Hale
Date: Jul 6, 2004
Park Ridge, N.J. linebacker Brian Cushing talks about his favorites and interest level in OU.
BRIAN CUSHING, LB, 6’4, 225, 4.48, PARK RIDGE, NEW JERSEY (BERGEN CATHOLIC HS):
Many times in recruiting we run across players that blow you away with their great all-around ability, and Brian Cushing is one of those guys.
Blessed with tremendous athletic ability, Cushing can play a number of positions, and in fact seems to be getting recruited for a number of positions at the collegiate level.
“I guess you can say that I play a bunch of positions at my school,” said Cushing. “I started out at free safety and then moved to outside linebacker last year. This year I will probably play mostly running back on offense, but still play some at outside linebacker. In recruiting, I have been offered at linebacker, safety and running back, but I would say most schools are offering me at linebacker.
"I really don’t care were I play in college. I just want to play where I can, and if playing time early is a good situation then that is definitely going to help with me decision.”
Cushing finished last season with 120 tackles, 10 sacks, 22 tackles for loss and seven interceptions. As a sophomore, Cushing finished with 75 tackles, three interceptions and one sack at safety.
Cushing can bench 245 pounds, squats 480 and he has posted a super 40-inch vertical jump. He is also a starter in baseball at first base and hit a little over .400 last year.
Cushing has been busy this summer traveling to Michigan, Michigan State, Maryland, Penn State, Rutgers and Virginia. He also plans to visit USC, Oklahoma, Miami, Ohio State and Boston College.
Cushing has been offered 50 scholarships thus far.
“I don’t think I have a top five,” said Cushing. “I don’t think I have seen enough schools and I definitely haven’t seen all the schools that I want to see.
"I like Oklahoma pretty well. They offered me after they saw me at the Elite Combine at the Meadowlands. I talk to Coach (Brent) Venables quite a bit, or at least as much as possible. I enjoy talking to him. He loves his program and that he is a great coach. We have talked about me coming out on an unofficial visit and then on an official visit. We also talk about all the great linebackers that come out of there and how good the OU linebacker program is. I definitely have a pretty good interest in OU.”
Rumors have it that Cushing may be leaning to Virginia, especially with his good friend Eugene Monroe committing to the Cavaliers as well Mike Brown, who he knows very well. However, Cushing says he is not leaning to Virginia.
“I know that a lot of people say certain things, and I do know a lot about Virginia,” said Cushing. “I am not leaning to Virginia and I am not close to committing to Virginia, but I do know more about Virginia than any other school.”
Cushing has qualified.
