BURTONSVILLE, Md. -- Joshua Paschal, the No. 28 defensive end in the nation, said he is speaking with five schools the most.
After Joshua Paschal competes in The Opening Finals in two weeks, he will make one of the most enlightening trips of his young life.
Not to a school, though. The No. 28 defensive end prospect in the nation is heading to El Salvador on a Christian mission with his school, Olney (Md.) Good Counsel.
"I'm excited. At my school, it's a big thing," Paschal said. "The stories I heard about it are amazing. It's supposed to be eye-opening."
That will encompass much of July, and Good Counsel will move into training camp mode shortly after he returns from the mission, so recruiting could get sorted out ater that.
The 6-foot-3, 253-pound Paschal is speaking regulary with a number of schools.
"The schools I talk to the most are Maryland, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Michigan State and Virginia Tech," Paschal said while watching the Sound Mind Sound Body camp Friday at Paint Branch High. "I will come out with a top five before the season.
"I don't have any leaders, but I really liked Notre Dame when I went there. It's because the visit I just took, how nice it was and the academics they have, plus football. They have both there."
Maryland's pitch to Paschal is familiar, and he does not mind.
"It's nothing new," Paschal said. "I've been there so much, I am just building a relationship with the coaches. I'm building a strong relationship with them. I think (prospects) like the new staff because they're bringing an atmosphere of intensity at practice, and you can see it in the way they talk to you, so I think that is why everyone likes them."
Oklahoma continues to sell Paschal on being the next Charles Tapper, a one-time Maryland prep standout who had a strong career with the Sooners.
"That is who they are comparing me to," Paschal said. "They are saying they need to get me down there to campus and how I need to take an official visit."
Paschal added knowing the Sooners are giving coach Bob Stoops an enhanced contract is a plus.
"That does mean something," Paschal said. "Just to know he would still be there, that is a good thing."
The Irish continue to speak to Paschal about his fit into the defense.
"They are not really pressuring me to commit or anything like that," he said. "I really liked it there. They talked about the connections you make while you're at Notre Dame, and the academic All-Americans you are sitting with when you're in class."
Paschal said he knows Michigan State defensive line coach Ron Burton well.
"I started talking to him my sophomore year, so I built a relationship with him," Paschal said. "He's a good dude."
Virginia Tech increased its pursuit of Paschal a few months ago.
"They came to a workout in the spring and saw me run and do drills," he said. "They told me how they really need me down there. I've been there a couple of times."
However, Paschal is yet to visit Blacksburg, Va., with the new staff in place.
"When I went down there, I don't think there were many students on campus," he said. "I just remember the campus. I really like the scenary on the campus. I saw the indoor facility, and I liked that."
