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Good News On Simmons
McKeesport (Pa.) defensive lineman and Tech signee Delvon Simmons
received some good news this week with regard to his journey to become
academically qualified.
"Depending upon how another grade ends up with a class he's taking, he may
already be eligible after his (ACT) score the other day," McKeesport head coach
Jim Ward said. "We got good news after his latest effort in that regard. As long
as he can continue doing what he's doing in his classes he has to finish this
semester, he'll be good to go.
"I know he's on target to achieve what he needs to get done there so we're fully
expecting him to be qualified. As long as he takes care of business in those
classes he should be eligible with the latest score he got on his ACT."
- Cowan
?
Tech After JUCO WR?
Santa Rosa (Calif.) Santa Rosa J.C. wide receiver Marquis Fruge
has recently hit Texas Tech's radar and has been in touch with inside receivers
coach Sonny Cumbie.
"Coach Cumbie seemed really interested in me," Fruge said. "He knew where I went
to high school and he was talking about getting me back to Texas. I know that if
they offered I'd really like the chance to play in Texas again. I was surprised
and impressed that he knew that much about me."
Fruge grew up in New Orleans, but relocated to Houston after Hurricane Katrina
and played high school ball at Lutheran North H.S.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound prospect is still waiting on his first offer -- he held
a UTEP offer coming out of high school -- but is hearing mostly from the Red
Raiders and an SEC program.
"Really any team that shows interest in me I'll consider visiting. Texas Tech
and Arkansas were both here yesterday to talk with me. They're both great
programs and schools so I'd like to get out and visit both of them sometime in
the next few months."
Fruge has so far been shown interest by Arkansas, Arkansas State, BYU, and Texas
Tech.
- Cowan
? ?
Whigham Wants To Commit
As reported earlier this spring, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons
defensive back Nicco Whigham listed Tech as his number one school
following an unofficialy visit to the South Plains. One month later, it is safe
to say that he still has the same top school.
"Honestly, when they offer me I am going to commit, that is where I want to go.
I want to play with Erick and have developed a pretty good relationship with the
coaches at Tech."
The 6-foot-1, 184-pound prospect has a close relationship to defensive backs
coach Otis Mounds.
"He is from Florida and I feel I can trust his opinion about it because I knew
him before he worked at Tech. I can be honest with him and he is honest with
me."
Hallmon and Mounds are not the only reasons Whigham is interested in the Red
Raiders.
"I really like the environment, the players told us that it is one of the
loudest crowds in the country even though it is not as big as some of the other
ones. We have watched some videos on YouTube and the crowd is crazy, I really
like that," he said. "I also like the new defense they are going to run down
there, from what I understand it puts a lot on the secondary and I want to have
that responsibility to possibly change the outcome of a game for us. They told
me that if I go in there and bust my butt I have a good chance of playing my
freshmen year because the secondary isn't the strongest part of Tech's roster
right now."
At the moment Nicco Whigham is receiving interest from ECU, FAU, Texas Tech, UCF
and Wisconsin. He feels an offer is coming from his from his top school in a
couple of weeks.
"They said they want to see me in action over spring and then if they like what
they see an offer will be coming my way so I am going to come out and prove that
I deserve an offer from Texas Tech."
- Hair
?
Neal Keeps Adding Offers
McKeesport (Pa.) linebacker T.J. Neal has taken a fairly laid
back approach to his recruitment so far, and there doesn't appear to be any
sense of urgency as he and McKeesport head coach Jim Ward begin to figure out
who he might like to visit unofficially in the next few months.
"We've talked the last couple of days about what schools he might like to see
soon, or at least which schools would be feasible for him to get to," Ward said.
"He's getting some offers and interest from across the country. Coaches are
really starting to get excited about him so he's still kind of waiting to see
what his options are going to be before he starts narrowing down his list a
little.
"He hasn't really mentioned any school in particular that he wants to visit for
sure. Nothing specific has been determined and he really hasn't mentioned any
school specifically that he wants to see yet."
One thing is certain at this point, Neal looks to be an athlete who is wanting
to play his college ball away from home.
"The one thing that he's mentioned on a handful of occasions is that he's
looking to leave here. He wants to experience something new and get into some
different environments," Ward said. "T.J. has always told me that even before
Delvon and Branden decided to go to Texas. So, I don't think they really
influenced that too much. He seems like a kid that has wanted to get out and see
what there is beyond Pennsylvania from the beginning. At this point, unless
something changes, he's looking to get away from home."
Neal is up to eleven offers so far, with the latest coming from Tennessee today.
Aside from Tech, he also holds offers from Auburn, Florida, Pitt, USC and West
Virginia among others.
- Cowan
?
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This post was edited on 4/29 1:49 AM by A. Dickens
This post was edited on 5/6 12:58 AM by A. Dickens
