by Birmingham News

Don't expect the two offspring of former Alabama and NFL stars to make a decision on their future anytime soon, however. Shade, son of Sam Shade, and Castille, the youngest son of Jeremiah Castille, are playing the waiting game.

Shade, a 5-foot-11, 220-pound middle linebacker, already holds offers from Air Force, Louisiana Tech, Arkansas State, Southern Illinois and VMI. He's hoping camp appearances this summer at Auburn, Georgia Tech and Clemson increase his stock with SEC and ACC schools.

''I'm waiting on bigger schools right now,'' said Shade, who said he could commit during the season or wait for National Signing Day.

Castille, a 5-10, 175-pound athlete who plays wide receiver for the Lions, said his size has limited his recruitment.

''It's going kind of slow,'' said Castille, who displayed his raw athleticism last week at Briarwood's annual 7-on-7 camp. ''I'm not the biggest guy. I've just been going to camps and working on my speed.''

Castille said he isn't concerned about a lack of scholarship offers with just over a month left before his senior season begins. He's learned the recruiting process can be unpredictable after watching two older brothers, Tim and Simeon, sign with Alabama.

Castille said his family has been very supportive as he follows in their footsteps. Tim, a fullback for the Arizona Cardinals, and Simeon, a cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals, were both in town to watch Castille at the Lions' 7-on-7 camp.

''They just kind of guide me on certain things that I can improve about myself,'' Castille said. ''They don't put any pressure on me. They just want what's best for me.''

Schools watching Whitfield's knee

Whit Whitfield has participated in camps at UAB, Troy, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt this summer. Whitfield wouldn't mind having scholarship offers from those schools, as well as a few others, pretty soon.

The 6-3, 230-pound middle linebacker had his junior season end quickly when he tore knee ligaments early in the second half of the season opener.

''(The college coaches) want me to come back to see how my knee is doing and see how I'll do my senior year,'' Whitfield said.

''I'm talking to a lot about offers but since I missed my junior season they want to see the first couple of games and then possibly offer.''

The good news for Whitfield is his knee ''is pretty much back to 100 percent.''

His favorites at this point are Vanderbilt and Ole Miss but he said he'd love to get an offer from Alabama or Auburn. UAB is also in his mind.

''(UAB) is really the first school that showed me any interest,'' Whitfield said. ''I've really developed a good relationship with their coaches. They are really cool people.''

Opelika corner catches eyes of AU, Nebraska

Cornerback Jacolby Hardnett, who was one of nine Opelika High players participating in Saturday's Eporro.com Pro-Style Combine Training day, said he has offers from Louisiana Tech and Western Michigan.

That list could grow a bit longer, according to Hardnett. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound cornerback said he thinks Auburn, Tennessee and Nebraska may be close to offering a scholarship.

Hardnett participated in the Rivals.com Ultimate 100 camp in Atlanta recently. He's considering taking an unofficial visit to Nebraska this summer and plans on participating in a summer camp at Auburn.

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Compiled by News staff writers Steve Irvine and Wesley Hallman.

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