CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Quarterback Christian LeMay (Butler, N.C./Matthews) is looking for the right fit at the next level. The 6-foot-3, 188-pounder spends hours in the film room each week and is one of the true students of the game at his position nationally. So it's not a big surprise that he knows what's going to fit him best.
"I would say that a pro style is pretty much the one offense that I fit best in," said LeMay on Saturday at the VTO Sports Elite 100 combine. "I drop back in the pocket most of the time. When I do run, it's because of improvisation, and not because of a called play or something like that. I would say an I-formation or a split shotgun would be good for me."
Former Gators QB Chris Leak signed with Florida out of Independence High in Charlotte in the Class of 2003. He played for the Gators when LeMay's father, Stacy, was the team chaplain. So obviously there are comparisons between the two.
"[Leak] is somebody I really copy my game after, and my release and throwing motion after," LeMay said. "A lot of people say that I remind them of Vince Young a little bit when I am outside the pocket. I also remind people a little bit of Randall Cunningham. That's somebody that I watched play a little bit during the latter stages of his career [with the Vikings]. I really admired the way he played and [went back and] watched a lot of film of his days with the Eagles and was just really impressed with him."
Though Cunningham and Young are valid comparisons, LeMay does not think what he can do with his legs is necessarily what makes him potentially special.
"Some people take it that I am a better runner, but I am definitely a better passer," said LeMay, who threw 44 touchdown passes and only two interceptions last season. "Me being able to run is just an added facet to the game that I have."
Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Texas A&M are all in LeMay's working top 10 at the moment. But he does not plan to give a verbal commitment. Instead, the plan is to name a leader.
The Gators are obviously in the mix, because LeMay and his family used to live in Gainesville and Florida has a need at quarterback in this year's class. However, it's not as easy a sell as it may seem. LeMay knows the Gators' offensive system -- with Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow at the controls -- was not exactly what you would call "pro-style" in recent years. In fact, coach Urban Meyer is perhaps best known for the spread-option system, which he implemented with great success at Bowling Green, Utah and now Florida. It is important to note that the Gators do plan to use more pro-style formations this season as John Brantley takes over for Tebow.
"I will be watching [the Gators' offense] very, very closely," LeMay said. "I talk to [Florida quarterbacks coach] Scot Loeffler every once in a while and he tells me about it. He knows that I want to run a pro-style system and that's what he talks to me about, mainly -- how they are changing their system. I saw a little bit in [Brantley's] ESPN interview how he's taking more under-center snaps and not just straight-up spread offense, but some pro-style Peyton Manning-looking shotgun snaps."
Recently, LeMay accepted an invite to the Under Armour All-America Game.
"It's something I've been dreaming about ever since the Under Armour All-America Game was possible," LeMay said. "I have some goals on a list in my room and that was the last goal I needed to accomplish [overall in high school, excluding next season's team goals], so it was good to look at that thing and cross it off. I am really looking forward to going back to pretty much my second home in Orlando. It's going to be awesome."
South Lake stars check out Miami
Under Armour All-American cornerback Nick Waisome (Groveland, Fla./South Lake) and his teammate, linebacker Jordan Montgomery, both made an unofficial visit to Miami on Monday.
"It was a great trip," Waisome said. "I got to hang out with some of the players and continue to build those relationships with them. I am looking into [Miami] a little harder after going down there."
Waisome got the chance to talk one-on-one with Canes secondary coach Wesley McGriff.
"He was telling me that I am being coached correctly at my high school in terms of the techniques in press coverage that they use," he said.
Montgomery, who was one of the emerging sleepers at the Miami Nike Football Training Camp on March 28 in Coral Gables, also enjoyed the trip.
"It was a good, new experience for me," he said. "I got the chance to get a feel for the college campus and that environment. They said that they are going to start evaluating me more closely and recruiting me harder."
Waisome holds an offer from the Canes, along with Florida, Florida State, Georgia and others. Montgomery has not been offered by Miami, but has offers from Ole Miss, Arkansas, Maryland and others.
The pair will make an unofficial visit to Florida on Wednesday.
Happy to be a Longhorn
Offensive tackle Christian Westerman (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton) committed to Texas on Tuesday, picking the Longhorns over USC and Alabama, among dozens of others.
Westerman recently made an unofficial visit to Los Angeles to check out the Trojans. He got an up-close look at new head coach Lane Kiffin and his staff and once again took a hard look at the school where he emerged on to the national scene with a dominant performance last summer at the USC Rising Stars Camp. He also got the chance to spend time with other Arizona prospects like offensive lineman Kristofer O'Dowd and linebacker Devon Kennard while he was on campus.
Westerman got home, met with his family during Easter weekend and they came to a decision that he would commit to Texas. Westerman said getting the final look at the Trojans, who were believed to be the Longhorns' stiffest competition, definitely aided him in making the early decision.
A trip to Austin for Texas' junior day and an offer from the Longhorns sold Westerman. He and his family informed Longhorns coach Mack Brown of his decision Tuesday evening.
"It's like a big family there," Westerman said. "I made a family decision."
His father, Christian Westerman Sr., says that he and his family will likely look to move to Austin at some point during his son's freshman year at UT.
"We are looking forward to becoming part of the Longhorn nation," said the elder Westerman, who played college football for California. "We are happy to be Longhorns."
The younger Westerman also made a commitment to play in the 2011 Under Armour All-America Game on Tuesday.
"The Under Armour All-America Game just seemed like it would be a good time for both myself and my family," he said. "I am looking forward to playing in the game."
Lupoi strikes again
The top recruiter in the Pac-10 for the 2010 recruiting cycle, California defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi, reeled in another big commitment when he landed Mustafa Jalil (San Diego/Cathedral Catholic), who had been committed to San Diego State. Jalil told ESPN's Greg Biggins he couldn't wait to play for Lupoi.
This will not be the last prospect Lupoi signs in the 2011 recruiting cycle. We expect him to bring another big haul to Berkeley on national signing day, approximately 10 months from now.
Short stuff
Penn State is a huge offer for offensive lineman Angelo Mangiro (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury). During an interview a few weeks ago, Mangiro praised the Nittany Lions' program and was optimistic that they would offer in the near future. College coaches love Mangiro's athleticism and upside. Penn State very likely became the team to beat.
Since Sunday's Miami Nike Football Training Camp, defensive tackle Deon Green (Orlando, Fla./Olympia) has added scholarship offers from Ole Miss, Duke and Connecticut.
Offensive tackle Keith Lumpkin (Jersey City, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep) will make an unofficial visit to South Carolina this weekend. Rutgers and Pittsburgh also have gotten visits this spring so far from the 6-9, 260-pounder.
JC Shurburtt covers recruiting for ESPN.com. He can be reached at jcsespn@aol.com.