It's obvious from talent evaluators and coaches alike that Yeager has grown physically as well as skillwise.  Chris Melvin, talent evaluator of the Big Time Football Showcase, held in New Jersey earlier this month mentioned he was impressed with Yeager's physical growth, judgement, arm strength, and his ability to make all the throws. "The transition from last year is tremendous, Melvin says. Yeager was outstanding." Yeager won offensive MVP and QB MVP honors.

  Coming into the spring combines, the major recruiting services have names such as Tom Savage (Pa/Rutgers), Kevin Newsome (Va/Michigan), and Tajh Boyd (Va/West Virginia) ahead of him, so Yeager and his coaches have had to work hard not only to improve his skills but to raise his profile.

  Here are some of Yeager's thoughts on his spring performances, upcoming senior season, and transfers rumors.

  Emmanuel tell me about what you have done since the conclusion of your junior year:

"The first thing I wanted to do is come back bigger, better, stronger, faster and work on my intangibles like reading coverages and such. I've been in the weight room and working out with a personal trainer.  I was about 178 last year, now I'm about 196 but I know thru maturity I'll work my way up to 210. I can bench 275 pounds and squat 425 now."

 Have you received an increase in offers so far this spring?

 "People are just starting to notice my talent.  I've just continued to work hard and stayed focused.  I'm a workaholic. College coaches like my poise and the dual threat option I bring to the table.  I've been able improve my ability to stand strong in the pocket, make reads, dissect defenses, and throw the ball under duress.  What many don't know is I've been preparing myself since little league to be in this position and I feel priviledged but I just want to be the best I can be.  I'm a perfectionist"  "I competed in the Under Armour All American Combine March 30th in Pittsburgh along with 33 other quarterbacks that included Taj Boyd and CJ Brown and was voted first team.  After that the offers started picking up."

  Tell me about some of the offers that have been coming in for you?

  "I starting getting offers in the 10th grade from schools like Richmond. More offers started picking up last year.  Coach Poindexter of Virginia is looking at me.  Pittsburgh offered me in November of last year.  Maryland and Illinois offered me earlier this month as well as schools like Eastern Michigan, and Akron.  So far about 15-20 schools have shown strong interest in me. I want to give every school an opportunity.  I'm used to dealing with the recruiting process from when Marvin Austin was here."   

 How about the transfer rumors?

  "The article that came out was not accurate.  I don't know where their source of information was. I'm still enrolled at Ballou. I'm just weighing my options, that's all.  Nothing is confirmed or certain at all.  I'll answer questions when the opportunity presents itself. I have no deadline as to when I will make a decision.  I'm just considering all of my options.  I feel priviledged to have options but no matter where I play I'll still play with the same intensity and that is going 200 mph on every play."

What about your teammates and coaches?

 "I've been attending Ballou since the 10th grade, won a city title, and have no reason to deliberately want to abandon the program.  My teammates respect my thoughts and feelings concerning my displeasure with certain things but again I'll answer questions when the timing is right but whatever school I attend, I'm going to compete as hard as ever."

After word of the story that broke on the website DCSportsFan.com, Ballou assistant coach Todd Amis mentioned "He wasn't 100% sure of Yeager's intentions but said "The timing is bad and he wasn't sure of the reason that he (Yeager) would want to make a move now."

 DCMetrosports.com will be following Emmanuel this summer as he prepares for his upcoming senior football season.

 For images of high school football around the DC area go to www.dcmetrosports.com/prepsportgallery.