Talented Tampa Plant players choose Alabama, Michigan

Tampa Plant QB Phillip Ely verbally commits to Alabama while offensive lineman Tony Posada picks Michigan. Wilder still undeclared.

For Plant (Tampa, Fla.) quarterback Phillip Ely, it came down to the Southeast Conference. For teammate and offensive tackle Tony Posada, it was about tradition.

The Plant duo announced their highly-anticipated college verbal commitments Wednesday afternoon with Ely verbally committing to Alabama and Posada choosing Michigan.

James Wilder

Photo by Tom Lemming

The verbal commitments come after lengthy recruiting processes for both athletes. Ely (19-0 as a starter for Plant and the owner of two state championships) and Posada (a dominating 6-foot-5, 320-pound tackle) have been key players for a Plant team set to start a quest for a third straight state championship.

Both players had 30-plus scholarship offers.

Ely (6-foot-1, 180 pounds) had offers from Vanderbilt, Mississippi, LSU and Clemson, among others.

Posada, meanwhile, had been rumored to be torn between Michigan and hometown school South Florida.  

With Ely and Posada making their choices, that leaves teammate James Wilder set to announce his college plans. Considered the no. 1 college prospect in the nation by many, Wilder is scheduled to announce his plans Aug. 18.

A running back and linebacker, Wilder has narrowed his favorites down from more than 60 schools to Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, LSU and Miami. Wilder, who ran for nearly 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior in 2009, has said he wants to play running back in college.