Stringer talks commitment

Gainesville (Ga.) High linebacker Devan Stringer didn't need much time to think things over Monday morning once Appalachian State assistant coach Scot Sloan offered him a scholarship to become a Mountaineer.

He already knew that if/when an offer came from Appalachian State there wasn't a better fit for him anywhere.

So, once Sloan provided him with a committable offer, the 5-foot-11, 195-pound prospect quickly accepted.

"I told him I wanted to commit and he said he would have the head coach call me later on in the day," Stringer told Mountaineer Illustrated Monday afternoon. "I was definitely expecting to talk to him [Monday]. When we went up to the camp Thursday, before we left he told me to definitely call him today. I wasn't expecting the offer, but I was expecting to hear from him."

Later in the day, Stringer had a chance to speak with head coach Scott Satterfield and officially offer his verbal pledge.

As expected, Sattterfield responded with excitement.

"Yes sir," Stringer said Tuesday morning when asked if he spoke to Satterfield. "He was excited."

Stringer's scholarship offer came from Appalachian after the coaching staff had a chance to see him in action twice in less than a week. He first made the trip to Boone on Sunday, June 16, where he participated in the Mountaineers' one day senior camp.

After impressing the coaches that day, he was asked if he would return to give them another look. He agreed and the result was the offer and opportunity to commit.

"I actually went to Sunday's camp on June 16," he said. "When I came home they called and asked for me to come back. So I went back up and was there for Thursday's camp, also.

"They told me they liked me on Sunday and believed I got to the ball and they wanted me to come back and try me out at outside linebacker and see if I was comfortable at that and see what position I would be best at."

That return trip to ASU obviously secured him the offer, but the visit was not just his second to the High Country.

In fact, he had been there several times before, and because of his familiarity with the area and the program, deciding to commit came easily.

"I had been up there a few times before that," he said. "I saw their spring game and I saw a couple games that they played last year. I just love the campus. It's nice people up there, it's a great town and they love their football team up there. They have a lot of support.

"I really like the coaching staff. I got a chance to hang out with coach (Mark) Ivey, the outside linebacker coach, while I was up there on Thursday. We have a good relationship. I like the rest of the coaching staff, too. I didn't really get a chance to spend a lot of time with them, but I met most of them and they're good guys."

His relationship with the coaches, and their coaching style was something that intrigued Stringer a great deal.

Having had a chance to work with the staff in a coach/athlete setting also helped Stringer make his decision. It provided him with the opportunity see if their style of coaching and his way of learning and being motivated matched up.

And it did perfectly.

"They interacted with me very well," he added. "I like their coaching style - most of the defensive coaches are very fiery and that's what I'm used to down here in Gainesville. That's how much coach is - he coaches very hard and very fiery and he's very intense. He can get you fired up to do just about anything, so that's what I like about them."

In addition to his relationship with the coaches, Appalachian's move to the FBS and Sun Belt Conference also held some weight.

However, it did not hold the most amount of weight when he was making his decision. That goes back to the relationship he spoke of with the coaches, as well as some other aspects of the program.

"Yeah it does, because you definitely want to play on the biggest stage," he stated when asked if the move to the FBS played a part in the decision. "I also had strong looks from Georgia Southern and they are making the same jump as well. It makes a difference, but that's not the only reason. I like their facilities up there and with me graduating in December and being able to go up there in January early, I like that. And the facilities are nice, and like I said my relationship with the coaches."

Prior to choosing Appalachian, Stringer also had offers from Presbyterian and Alcorn State, while also drawing interest from Georgia Southern, Western Carolina and Jacksonville State.

Stringer noted that he is completely done with the recruiting process and is now ready to place his attention on his final high school season.

"That's really what I wanted to do, but you can't rush anything," he said of making an early decision. "I was willing to be patient and figure out what I had to do to get up there. I'm glad they offered me early. Now I'm ready to focus on my senior year.

"I'm not going to go anywhere or make any more visits or anything like that."