Interview: Bastrop Louisiana WR Isaiah Graham is Creating a Recruiting Frenzy throughout the South

Written by Ryan Wright

A small town located between Monroe, Louisiana and the southern Arkansas border has a living tourist attraction running up and down the sidelines every Friday night. Throughout the past two high school football seasons fans have come to see the attraction bobbing and weaving, hustling and grinding, and out working others on his way to local fame.

When the lights go up on the playing field for Bastrop High School during the football season the town of roughly 12,000 people are focused on the Rams and their star wide receiver Isaiah Graham. Graham’s stardom in the area has grown throughout the state and has now reached well beyond the state’s borders.

The tourist attraction that is Graham has helped spike the local economy bringing college coaches to the area seeking to see the 4-star prospect in person with hopes of building that necessary bond leading to a signed letter of intent. To date 20 different college programs have offered the 6’1”, 180 pound, receiver a scholarship.

Teams like Arkansas, Mississippi State, TCU, Cal, Miami, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas Tech, Colorado State, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, Tulsa, Tulane, and South Carolina have all offered with teams like Georgia and LSU showing interest. The recruiting frenzy was initiated after Graham pulled down 48 passes for 1,138 yards with 20 touchdowns.

That frenzy could grow to a fever pitch the longer Graham stays uncommitted and the more cornerbacks and safeties he is sure to burn throughout his senior season in 2015.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview I sat down with Isaiah to go over his recruiting process, what he has been doing in the offseason to improve his game for his senior year, and got a look at what fans can expect on the field from the Rams this season.

Interview
Isaiah, you had an amazing junior season coming up with over 1,100 yards receiving and 20 touchdowns. As a player, what was your take away learning experience from the 2014 season?

“Just being that guy on the field, I learned a lot. Sometimes you have to make plays when your not expected to, stuff like that. Last year was a great experience. I feel like my sophomore year I was young but I had a good year, better than what I thought I could do. This year I’m working as hard as I can to be even better.”

What kind of stats did you post during your sophomore year?

“I think I had 38 catches, 600 yards, with 10 touchdowns or 700 yards with 10 touchdowns.”

What have you been doing in the offseason to prepare for your senior year?

“I workout at this place in West Monroe called Victory Sports Academy. I go down there to work out a lot just to get better. The small things, those are the things that will make you better. I’m really trying to become a college receiver as soon as possible. I want to be more complete when I go to college than I am right now.”

What individual honors did you earn at the end of last season?

“I was first-team All-District, second-team All-Athlete, and first-team All-State.”

How do the Rams look heading into the 2015 season?

“We look great. We got a lot of players coming back. We got like 30 something seniors. Our whole defense came back, which is a big thing. We lost our quarterback, an offensive lineman, and a receiver but I think we can pickup where we left off. I feel like we should have a great year this year. Everybody just has to buy in and work hard and everything will pay off.”

You mentioned that you lost your quarterback from last year, Christian Doaty, have you started working on that bond with the new starting quarterback?

“Yes sir. We have our new starting quarterback, Jared Powell. He was a running back last year. He’s just an athlete that can play anywhere on the field. We’ve been throwing all summer. We’ve been working out together – we have a good bond and we’re just working trying to get better everyday.”

On your highlight reel you have a 99-yard touchdown reception where you took a short screen pass to the house. Please tell me that play was not called back for a hold.

“(Laughs) No sir. We were in the huddle, during the last game I had a screen but I didn’t score. Coach said, “ya’ll ready to score a 99-yard touchdown?” He told Doaty this will be the easiest pass you’ll ever have in your life. He called the play and we scored. It was crazy.”

What are your goals for the 2015 football season?

“My goals are to win the state championship. I haven’t won one since I’ve been in high school. We’ve made it to a couple of playoff games but I want to go to the next level and win a championship but it won’t come easy. We have to work hard and listen to the coaches. We have to do the small things to become a successful team. I just want to be better than I was last year as a player.”

With your speed and athletic abilities, will your role change next year at all? Will you line up at multiple positions, special teams, or on defense?

“My role will change a little bit. Becoming a leader on the team there are different things I can do to help out like play defense for a couple of plays. We have a new offensive coordinator, so my role on offense will probably change a little bit. I’ll move inside and outside, coming from the backfield, and stuff like that.”

Without giving away too much, what is the new offense the Rams are running like?

“We’re slowing it down a little bit. It’s more of a run-run-pass offense. We are opening up some with read options stuff like that to go along with the offense we had before. It’s going to be a big difference. I like the change. It’ll open up things in the passing game. I feel like it’s a great offense.”

Have you had a chance to look at the 2015 schedule yet, and if so what games are you excited to play in 2015?

“We get Parkway High School out of Shreveport, that’s going to be a good game. We also go to Springdale (Arkansas) to play Shiloh Christian. We’re really looking forward to that game.”

I know that you’re a wanted man but just how many offers do you have?

“I have 20 offers.”

Have you narrowed your list down yet weeding out some of the schools?

“Yeah, I have a Top 9.”

What are your Top 9 schools?

“I have Mississippi State, Arkansas, TCU, Tennessee, Arizona State, Nebraska, Texas Tech, Miami, and South Carolina.”

I know LSU is showing interest in you but what other schools are showing heavy interest but have not offered yet?

“Georgia – I’m supposed to go down there this weekend on the 18th. Coach told me they really – really want to offer me they just want me to show some interest in them and then they’ll offer me. I think I’ll have a Georgia offer by this weekend.”

Congratulations on that soon to be offer No. 21.

“Thank you.”

Of the nine schools on your list are any of the schools showing a little more love and attention than the others?

“Right now it’s Tennessee, Arkansas, TCU, and Miami. They’re constantly talking to me. South Carolina is talking to me a lot. I’m supposed to get up there around the 24th or 25th. Those are the schools that are showing a lot of love. With those schools I feel like I could go there and compete and play early. Even if I don’t play early I can play young.”

I know you’ve been on a few unofficial visits like Arkansas a couple of times and LSU, what are some of the other schools you’ve taken unofficial visits to so far?

“I’ve also been to Mississippi State and TCU.”

How did the Arkansas visit go for you?

“The Arkansas visit went well. Those visits are real good. I like sitting down talking to Coach B (head coach Bret Bielema). We always have a great conversation. I always enjoy my visit when I go to Arkansas.”

What about your TCU visit, how did that go?

“TCU is a great program. It’s a program that is on the rise. A lot of people don’t realize it, I feel like TCU will be one of the top programs in a couple of years. They have a great offense. That’s going to be a big school coming up.”

What about your visit to Mississippi State? What was cool about Starkville?

“It was really fast but it was crazy. It was a great experience. Their fan base is great. Their coaching staff – they have a great coaching staff. I feel like – they stay on me a lot. I feel like that would be a great – great program.”

Once you get a couple of more offers like one coming up from Georgia and if LSU were to offer, does some of the schools in your current Top 9 get bumped out or are you locked in with your top schools, or do you now have 10 or 11 top schools?

“I feel like every school we’re talking about has a chance right now. I’ll break it down, probably before the season starts go down to five or six of those schools. I’ll go from there and then I’ll start the recruiting process. Then I’ll take a couple of official visits. I feel like giving them (LSU) a chance if they offer me. With LSU I’ve been talking to the wide receivers coach a lot. I think it would change a couple of things but then again you never know.”

When you talk to the different college coaches what are they telling you they like about your skill set?

“They like the way I can play inside and outside. I have an outside mentality but I can go inside. They like the way that I compete. The way I release, how I can go deep and catch the ball, you know stuff like that. Most people see me as a deep receiver.”

What in your opinion makes you a good wide receiver?

“My ability to play the receiver spot, coming off the ball, and stuff like that. I feel like I’m a better receiver now than I was a couple of years ago because I know more about the game. I feel like I am better receiver than most because of the way I run my routes. That’s the small thing people don’t pay attention to that make a difference as a receiver.”

What is your time frame on making a decision? Do you have an idea of when you will verbally commit?

“You know, I think I want to make at the end of September. That’s my plan right now. I think I’m going to leave in January. Right now my date is end of September, but anything can change. I want to get in a couple of official dates.”

Do you have an idea of which schools will get your official visits?

“Right now I have only set Miami and Tennessee. Those are two schools I know for sure that I will get an official visit to.”

What are the main factors you will consider in choosing a college?

“The coaching staff is one. Just the school itself and also the way I fit around the school. Is it a great school for me? How do I like the school and how does the school feel? How does it fit for me and somewhere that feels like home?”

Did you go to any camps this summer?

“I haven’t been to any this summer. My first camp will be this weekend.”

When you go to Georgia will you actually camp or are you just going up there for a visit?

“I’ll camp.”

Are you excited about heading to Athens?

“I’m excited about the camp. I plan on hanging around the, camp a little bit, and just get a vibe about Georgia. See how it feels to be at Georgia – stuff like that.”

When you watch football during the season is there a player out there you like to watch to learn more about your position?

“I like A.J. Green as a receiver. He shows me a lot with his game. I watch him the most and try to pick up some things from him. I like how he attacks the ball. When the ball is thrown to him he always attacks it at the highest point. That’s one of the things I focus on. I like him at the line, he has some sweet releases. I try to work on that in practice too.”

Do you play any other sports for Bastrop?

“Yes sir. I also ran track.”

Which events?

“The 4×1, 4×2, and the 100.”

What is your best time in the 100?

“10.6.”

What is your favorite part of playing football?

“Really just being out there, being able to have fun and have contact at the same time. You can’t do that with other sports, you’re going to injury somebody.”

Who has made the biggest impact on your football career?

“My family, they had the big impact. They’re making sure I’m happy.”

 

Photo credit: 247sports.com; No. 2 Isaiah Graham
Photo credit: scout.com; Isaiah Graham