They were one of the first ones to offer, so I really wanted to pay respect and get out there, and I loved it, man. It was important for me to get out and see the SEC environment, and it was pretty awesome.
The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Costello said he also stopped at Southern California, Michigan, Notre Dame, Alabama, Florida and Florida State during his lengthy trip before participating in the IMG 7-on-7 national championships in Bradenton, Fla.
He said he enjoyed his first visit with the Vols for multiple reasons.
I really had no idea what to expect, Costello said. Id never been out there. I thought Knoxville was awesome, man. Its definitely a football town. The coaches said the whole town revolves around football. I get it now. I understand that,*seeing the stadium especially. Theyre such a small town to pack that year in and year out.
I really like Coach Jake (Tennessee offensive coordinator*Mike Bajakian) a lot. We kind of sat down and went over their offense and what he sees me doing in their offense, as well as Coach*(Butch) Jones. We really got along well.
Tennessees coaches told Costello that they could envision him being a good fit for their spread offense.
Theyve got some of the top receivers (and)*young, young talent freshmen and sophomores *in their program now, and in two, three years they feel like theyre really going to be loaded out there, and they need someone to distribute the ball to them, Costello said. And with what theyre trying to accomplish offensively, they definitely (need) a pass-first guy.
The only thing missing from Costellos lengthy trip, he said, was the experience of attending a game with a big-time SEC environment. But hes planning to make up for that with another visit to Tennessee.
Actually, before we even went on the trip, my dad and some buddies booked a trip to go to the Florida-Tennessee game (on Oct. 4) to see that SEC environment, Costello said. That actually falls on our bye week, so I believe were going to try and get out there.
Now that he has visited most of the schools hes currently considering, he said its possible that he could make an early decision on where he wants to play in college.
Before I went on this trip, I felt like I wanted to make an educated decision before my senior year, Costello said. And now Ive already seen all these places, and the process truly is speeding up nowadays, seeing kids committing left and right.
It could happen any time soon or before my senior season. Theres a couple schools that really stick out to me, and I feel like I couldnt make a bad decision, if it feels right at a certain time.
