As Evan Hailes continues to evaluate his football scholarship opportunities, he's taking into account a list of three characteristics he's looking for in a college. Hailes, a 6-foot-1, 315-pound defensive tackle from Oscar Smith High in Chesapeake, is looking for a program that runs a 4-3 defensive alignment. He's looking for a coaching staff that's going to stay in place for a while. Most importantly, he said, he's seeking a safe haven, a place where he doesn't have to worry about ending up like his late friend Lonnie Andrews.
"I want a place that's safe, where I know nothing crazy is going to happen."
Hailes, who had 81 tackles last season, including 20 for losses and 11 sacks, undoubtedly will find his secure spot. He's willing to take his time to make sure he finds it. He has no timetable set to make his decision.
Last month, he visited Alabama with highly recruited quarterback and teammate Phillip Sims, who committed to the Crimson Tide. Hailes also has visited Georgia, West Virginia and North Carolina State.
"I've been seeing all the real faces of colleges," said Hailes, who is considered by many recruiting analysts to be among the nation's top 20 defensive-tackle recruits. "Some colleges will tell you anything you want to hear, but you have to go and see for yourself."
Though he said he doesn't prefer any school yet, he has scholarship offers from Virginia Tech, West Virginia, N.C. State, Louisiana State, Clemson, Boston College, California, Tennessee and Minnesota.
"When you're at my position, you can't really have a favorite college because it's got to be the right fit," said Hailes, who also played left tackle.
Oscar Smith coach Richard Morgan said Sims and Hailes plan to try to graduate early and enroll in college next January. While Hailes said he and Sims are great friends, Hailes added it doesn't mean he's favoring Alabama.
Morgan said Hailes has a 3.0 grade-point average and already has scored 960 on the SAT, making him a full academic qualifier. Morgan also described Hailes as the strongest player he has had at Oscar Smith, with a bench press of 410 pounds, squat of 550 pounds and power-clean of 300 pounds.
"I've never had a kid that big with that great feet and that much speed," Morgan said. "He's 315 pounds, but he moves around like a 250-pound kid. He's like a defensive end moving around, but he's a defensive tackle. He's just a dominant force in the middle."
