Manalapan Football Star Reconsiders College Choice After Visit to Alabama

A Manalapan High School senior now finds himself in the middle of one of the hottest rivalries in college football.

Highly ranked wide receiver Saeed Blacknall had limited his college choices to Louisiana State University (LSU) Ohio State University and the University of Florida, with LSU serving as the frontrunner. Following a visit to the University of Alabama, Blacknall's decision is up in the air once again, according to al.com.

He has also added Notre Dame to his list, according to al.com, which reports Blacknall will make his decision before the 2013 football season begins.

Blacknall is ranked No. 15 among receivers by Rivals.com, and No. 16 by 247Sports.

According to al.com, he caught 40 passes for 743 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, and ran a 10.9 100 meter race as a member of the track and field team this past spring.

Manalapan was 11-1 in 2012, with its only loss coming to South Brunswick in the Central Jersey Group 5 championship game, according to MaxPreps.com.

In seemingly expanding his decision to include both LSU and Alabama, Blacknell becomes a focus of one the most heated rivalries in college football in recent years. LSU and Alabama played twice in 2011, both times as the top two teams in the country. The teams split the games, with Alabama winning the BCS National Championship Game, 21-0. The teams met once last year, with Alabama winning, 21-17.

Manalapan's first game of the 2013 season is Sept. 13, at home against Jackson Memorial.