Recruiting: A Different Perspective

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The Anniston Star

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Page 2 Wednesday, May 18, 2011 The Anniston Star

Just a few reasons we provide innovative rehabilitation services.

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Profiles of the top five recruits from around East Central Alabamaoxford linebacker Kwon alexander .......................................................... 6anniston running back Troymaine Pope ................................................. 8oxford lineman Michael flint ................................................................. 12cleburne county athlete Rocky Hayes.................................................... 18oxford defensive back Trae elston .......................................................... 20

Lists The Top 10 recruits from across the state ...........................................24-25Rising seniors from across east central alabama .............................29-30Rising juniors from across east central alabama .................................. 31

Hal Yeager/Birmingham News/File

Hueytown’s Jameis Winston is the front runner to take home this year’s Ala-bama Sports Writer’s Association Mr. Football award.

Trent Penny/The Anniston Star/File

Anniston running back Troymaine Pope could be the sleeper of this year’s sign-ing class — not for the area, but statewide.

The Anniston Star Wednesday, May 18, 2011 Page 3

REBUILD CALHOUN COUNTYTornado Victims Remember

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Keith Kelley, Realtor 256-236-0377Kimberly Realty Co. 256-236-2173Larry Jones, Realtor 256-310-4050Marsh Properties 256-241-2750McIntosh LLC 256-231-1113REMODELING & RESTORATIONA/C Remodeling Inc. 256-820-5825Freeman’s Apartment Renovation 256-236-0555Kilgore & Company Inc. 256-820-1917Raughton Quality Custom Homes 256-831-0102ServiceMaster by Mimsco 256-236-2446Star Remodeling 256-591-5911T & G Legacy, LLC 678-333-4125RETAIL SALESBobcat of Oxford 256-831-1870T & L Outdoors 256-835-5072Quintard Mall 256-831-4180Western Auto 256-237-0384ROOFING & SIDING CONTRACTORSAAA Roofi ng 256-835-7700Clark Restorations & Roofi ng 256-236-9496Cornelius Siding & Gutter 256-831-5500Edwards Aluminum & Vinyl Products 256-831-7989Reece Roofi ng Company 256-453-2057S & R Siding LLC 256-223-1397Turner Roofi ng 256-237-6137SECURITY SYSTEMSSystems by Design 256-831-9595SEWER INSTALLATIONRaughton Enterprises 256-831-0102SCREEN PRINTINGOpportunity Center Printing & Signs 256-820-9960B & S Sporting Goods 256-237-6986SURVEYINGTaylor Land Surveying Inc. 256-835-4602TILE SUPPLY & INSTALLERSEast & Son Tile Co. 256-237-6971Lucas Tile 256-310-8043S & S 256-310-6440TREE SERVICETree Service of Alabama 256-835-1859TRUCKING COMPANYDouble H Hauling 256-238-8585Miller Trucking, LLC 256-310-0780Two Pops Hauling 256-239-8874TRUSSESJohn Co Truss Inc. 256-396-5006Read Brothers Building 256-492-7678Truss Joist 256-586-6750UTILITIESAlabama Gas Corporation 800-292-4010Alabama Power Company 256-231-3823City of Oxford 256-831-9685Oxford Water & Sewer Board 256-831-5618UTILITIES CONTRACTORSBeck Inc. 256-568-2492C & W Construction Co. 205-513-3133Walker Construction 256-435-8058WASTE-PORTABLE TOILETS/ROLL OFFSEast Alabama Portables 256-236-6830Macs Vacs 256-831-9889WEBSITESWidnet Consulting 256-241-6112

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Stephen Gross/The Anniston Star/File

Just because he plays outside linebacker, teams can’t just run away from Oxford’s Kwon Alexander. He’s known for making highlight-quality tackles chasing backs down from the other side of the field.

Projection: SuperstarYellow Jacket LB Alexander

has projections of all sorts

from positions to awards. The

only thing everybody is solid on is he is a star.

By Bran [email protected]

OXFORD

Recruiting is an inexact science. Much like the NFL draft.

In 2002 — back before the internet got [italics]really [end ital-

ics] crazy — a website projected then Williamson quarterback Jamarcus Rus-sell the No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft.

He went first. And then washed out after a few lackluster years.

But that day at the Mr.

Football banquet before Russell was handed the ultimate trophy, even that projection he’d seen beforehand was baffling to him.

“I thought ‘How in the world do they have this calculated up already?’ That’s looking ahead way too early,” he said that day, the confusion beaming through his eyes.

Well, nearly a decade later, things haven’t gotten less insane.

Edwin Weathersby, a featured col-umnist for The Bleacher Report, writes on Oxford soon-to-be senior Kwon Alexander.

One of the top prospects in Alabama bar none, Alexander claims no favorite schools at the moment. He will win the Butkus trophy as a junior.

This nugget of knowledge Alexan-der didn’t know beforehand and after being fed the news by a reporter, he uttered one word sandwiched between two long pauses.

“Wow.”Barry Every, a national recruit-

ing analyst for Rivals.com, one of the premier recruiting services, had a few more words to describe the projection. ‘Wow’ was not among them.

Every knows what he likes, and doesn’t waiver easily when he sees it. But even he’s got his limitations. Even when he’s as impressed with a prospect as he was with Alexander at the recent Athens (Ga.) Nike Camp.

K W O N A L E x A N d E R F I L E

Height: 6-foot-2Weight: 215

40-time: 4.4 secondsBench: 350 Squat: 550

THe SkinnyAlexander has an outside shot to

become the first linebacker in the history of the state to win the Mr. Football award. While it would be tough with a guy like Hueytown quarterback Jameis Winston getting lots of the limelight, it could hap-pen. He proved as much taking co-MVP honors at the recent Athens (Ga.) Nike Camp. He’s not a lock at outside line-backer in college. Some say because of his abilities he could become a strong safety. That scenario could hinge on two things: his ability to add more bulk and whether there’s need at that position where he signs.

STaTS2010: 127 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, nine sacks and five forced fumbles.2009: 147 tackles (91 solo, 57 assists), 51 tackles for loss, nine sacks, seven pass defelections and five forced fumbles.

Please see alexander ❙ Page 15C


7

Bill Wilson/The Anniston Star


Numbers make noise. A year ago, this time, Anniston run-

ning back Troymaine Pope hadn’t heard from any colleges.

However, rushing for 1,895 yards and 30 touchdowns in 11 games while leading your team to a region championship as Pope did in 2010 resonates with coaches both near and far.

Now, the 5-foot-9, 185-pound junior holds offers from Clem-son, Arkansas St. and Jackson-ville St. He has received interest

from several SEC schools, including Ala-bama, Auburn, LSU and Arkansas and has become one of the state’s top recruits.

His emergence from virtual unknown to a national level recruit is one of the state best kept secrets and it shouldn’t be.

“We knew he had the potential,” Anniston coach Eddie Bullock said. “We didn’t figure he’d do 30 touchdowns, but we knew he had the potential to be pretty good.”

NickBirdsong

Feel the noise

C’mon,

Anniston’s Pope brought colleges to his doorstep

Please see PoPe ❙ Page 10

Photo by Bill Wilson/The Anniston Star/File


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Much like the slight crease necessary for him to slip through the line, get to the second level of a defense and more times than not the end zone once he turns on his 4.47 speed in the 40-yard dash, all Pope needed was an oppor-tunity to showcase his immense abilities.

He did this past fall and through-out the spring, performing well at camps, including Nike Football Training Camp at the University of Georgia and the National Under-classmen Combine in Birmingham.

“I look at it as an opportunity to prove myself against these players,” said Pope, who’s back to 100 percent since sustaining a knee injury that cut his 2010 season a couple games shy as the Bulldogs went to the state quarterfinals.

He continued: “They say they’re the best players in the state and in the nation and all this. I feel like I’m one of them. So, I just went up there and played and showed them that I can be up there with them. I just didn’t get noticed earlier like they did.”

He’s not one to get caught up in the hype and hysteria of the soap opera that high school football recruiting has turned into. However, a gesture he received during a spring trip to Clemson let him know just how much he’s come up since Janu-ary when schools first started holler-ing at him.

While on the Tigers’ field with several other recruits, Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney walked up to him, shook his hand and addressed him by name.

“He talked to me like he’d been knowing me forever,” Pope said. “I felt real good about it. I like Clem-son. I felt like I was special or some-thing.”

Beyond his eye-popping stats and impressive speed, there are other numbers to support just how “spe-cial” Pope is. They reveal a lot about his work ethic.

He bench presses 300 pounds and has already scored a 23 on the ACT.

Pope was The Star’s Class 4A-6A Calhoun County Player of the Year and a first-team choice to Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 4A all-state squad.

When asked what he was looking forward to most about the upcoming season, he didn’t mention breaking long

runs, scoring touchdowns or even show-casing his ability catch the ball out of the backfield.

“I can catch and I can run. I need to block more. I need to make more oppor-tunities for my teammates to make plays. If they need me to go to fullback on plays, I’ll go to fullback.”

Bullock said Pope gets “real excited”

whenever football is discussed. He never tries to get out of practice or running. “When he’s at the fieldhouse and at foot-ball practice, he’s 100 percent what you want,” Bullock said.

That’s a number that’s sweet music to any coach’s ears.

Nick Birdsong covers prep sports for The Star. He can be reached at 256-235-3575 or at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @birds_word.

Bill Wilson/The Anniston Star/File

Back from injury, Anniston’s Troymaine Pope looks to improve on a stellar junior season where he scored 30 touchdowns.

PoPeContinued from Page 8

“They say they’re the best players in the state and in the nation and all this.

I feel like I’m one of them.”— Troymaine Pope, Anniston running back

T r o Y M A I N e P o P e F I l e


40-time: 4.47 secondsBench: 300

stats2010: 11 G., 1,895 yds., 30 TDs2009: 9 G., 862 yds., 9 TDs

tHe skInnyWhat made Pope so good

was many times there was lit-tle question who was getting the ball — and he still put up gaudy numbers. If he repeats the feat as a senior, there’s no telling where he’ll land.


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OXFORD — It’s hard to say how long Michael Flint takes to develop into an SEC-ready offensive lineman at Auburn, but bet on sooner rather than later.

The rising senior at Oxford High School is just a get-ahead kind of guy.

Flint committed to Auburn this past October, 16 months ahead of when he’ll sign his national letter of intent as a member of the Class of 2012.

He plans to graduate early at Oxford, enroll at Auburn for the spring 2012 semes-ter and participate in spring practice.

Oh, and with one high school season yet to play, he has already moved from tackle to guard, the position he’s most likely to play in col-lege.

In offensive line lingo, that’s getting a good push.In folksy lingo, opportunity knocks.

HEREnOwA

nd

JoeMedley

Oxford’s Flint on fast track to making impact in college

Please see Flint ❙ Page 13

M I C H A E l F l I n T F I l E

Height: 6-foot-4 Weight: 303Bench: 435 Squat: 585

RankingS ScOut: 3-stars, no. 22 nationally at guard.247sports: 3-stars, no national ranking yet.

tHe Skinnydominant since his sophomore season, Flint displays the rare

ability of good footwork and bend. He’s also got something you can’t coach — a scrappy and tough-as-nails demeanor in the trenches. Starting early should make him a can’t-miss prospect.


“I feel like it’s going to give me a shot to get ahead of the others and get a head start and get an early roll,” Flint said. “As far as Auburn is right now, they’re lacking linemen, and they’re wanting someone to come and play early.

“That’s something I’d like to do, because that’s going to give me a shot to go to the pros.”

Still waiting to take the next step, Flint is already thinking about the next-next step. That’s getting ahead.

Then again, Flint has always been ahead. There aren’t many 6-foot-4, 303-pounders

his age, and those so blessed get attention. Col-lege offers started streaming in during his soph-omore year, and Alabama was among the first.

He took the opportunity to work through his recruiting process early, and he’s even had time to get past his life-long crimson leaning.

“I was an Alabama fan before I ever started getting recruited,” he said. “Once I got to Auburn, it was just different down there. I real-ized what the family atmosphere was like.”

His decision to commit early hasn’t stopped the flow of mail and calls from college coaches. Oral commitments are non-binding, and the most recent recruiting rush showed that pros-pects can switch as late as signing day.

He still plans to take the five official visits the NCAA allows, and his list of possible visits includes UCLA, Southern Cal, Oregon, Notre Dame and/or Texas Tech as well as Auburn.

Flint says “it’s all ‘War Eagle!’ for me,” and committing early gave him the chance to expe-rience recruiting without the same pressure. His call load from recruiting services like Rivals, Scout and 247 Sports has fallen off dramatically, something he welcomes.

“When I wasn’t committed, you know how it goes,” he said. “They’ll hit you up at any time. It don’t matter. They keep calling you, Facebook-ing you or something. It’s crazy.

“… I don’t like all the publicity. That’s not the kind of guy I am.”

Committing so early also means he can come at recruiting from a different perspective. He has become a recruiter, trying to sell Oxford classmates Kwon Alexander and Trae Elston and other prospects on the “family atmo-sphere” he sees at Auburn.

“That means everything,” he said. “When you go off to college, it’s not just football. It’s your education and your everyday life, and you

flintContinued from Page 12

Photos by Bill Wilson/The Anniston Star

Oxford lineman Michael Flint has committed to Auburn, but still plans to take the five visits the NCAA allows.

want to be around an atmosphere that you like.

“Some places you go, you get the feeling that it’s just like a business. It’s just profes-sional, all about football, just football. There’s a lot of other things that go with it.”

Along those lines, Flint has gone about preparing to graduate from Oxford early. A 3.7 student, he was already ahead of the game through honors courses.

“I’ve got all my credits done, and all I have to do is take one summer course in English,” he said. “Then next year, I’m going to double my classes up for my electives and take two histories.”

On the field, he’s making the transition to the position he’s more likely to play in college, working mostly inside of tackle during spring practice. He’s making the move for Oxford reasons.

“Because of the offense we’re going to run, it will be different,” he said. “I don’t know how it’s going to be different as far as what we’re running, but we’re running the big guys inside and the quicker guys outside.”

While he’s making the move now for Oxford reasons, moving inside now will put Flint that much farther ahead when he reports to Auburn in January.

“They’ve talked about center, but really I think I’m going to be a guard when I get there,” he said. “I think I play better at guard.”

Flint is so far ahead of the game that he has committed, arranged to graduate early and begun transitioning to his likely college posi-tion before even being rated by Rivals.

His list of offers says it all. They include defending national champion Auburn, 2009 national champion Alabama, Arkansas, Clem-son, Florida, Florida State, Kentucky, Louis-ville, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Stanford, UCLA and USC.

Flint said he’d like the option to sign early. An early signing period for football has been discussed in NCAA circles but not adopted.

“I still want to take my visits, but if I could sign like right after my season was over (he would),” he said. “My visits are probably going to be done either right before the season ends or right after the season ends.”

Because, after all, Flint is a get-ahead kind of guy.

Joe Medley is The Star’s sports columnist. He can be reached at 256-235-3576 or [email protected]. Follow on Twitter @Jomedstar.

“When i wasn’t committed, you know how it goes. They’ll hit you up at any time. … i don’t like all the publicity. That’s not the kind of guy i am.”

— Michael Flint, Oxford lineman


14

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In Every’s transversing the lower 48 in search of the top 50, he said there’s one drill he likes the best. With cones and sideline, they narrow a field to nothing more than a running lane — a 10-yard box. Inside will reside one linebacker and one running back. It’s up to the running back not to get touched, and the linebacker to break down perfectly and be in the posi-tion to make the play.

“It normally favors the running backs,” Every said, noting the group of linebackers participating as amazingly deep, then went to Alexander “He was able to break down every time … he was by far the best one.”

He’s proved he knows what to do with a running back when he breaks down on him, too. Alexander finished his 2009 cam-paign with 147 tackles (91 solo, 56 assists), 51 tackles for loss and his favorite part of the game, nine sacks.

“It’s exciting; you’re about to get the sack,” he said. “You get adrenaline pump-ing, and you want to do it over and over again.”

Alexander walked away from the Ath-ens Nike camp with co-MVP honors along-side Ukeme Eligwe, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound outside linebacker from Stone Mountain, Ga.

The performance was leaps and bounds from where Every saw Alexander less than a year ago at a Top Gun camp, where the linebacker was one of only a handful of invited underclassmen. “He didn’t show out there, but the Athens camp — that’s another story,” he said.

Alexander said he sees the improve-ment in himself in that short amount of time, noting in particular his pass cover-age and footwork. It’s something he works hard at even away from the practice field, putting in extra time at home.

All for that dream of playing on the next level. One that he’s had for quite a while.

“Ever since I first started playing foot-ball, it’s been my main goal,” he said. “Ever since I was 5 years old.”

Alexander said sometimes all the lime-light and accolades seem like a dream.

Upon prompting, he admitted it some-times can feel like a nightmare, as well.

But in the whole recruiting process, which is competitive in itself, Alexander said he’s made friends along the way. And some of the older players have offered up advice — not to commit early is among those that he’s heeding.

If a team has a pump to blow up a foot-ball, it’s likely they’ve offered the outside linebacker, who has four-stars according to Rivals.com’s most recent ratings. He’s also among the Top 100 nation recruits check-ing in at 77.

But with a summer full of camps, that can change in the time it takes him to break down on a running back.

Bran Strickland is the sports editor for The Star. He can be reached at 256-235-3570 or follow him on Twitter @bran_strickland.

AlexAnderContinued from Page 6

“It normally favors the running backs. He was able to break down every time

… he was by far the best one.”— Barry Every, Rivals.com national recruiting analyst

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misterEverything“We say, ‘Rock, go do this,’

and he’ll never question what we’re asking to do. I’d bet

sometimes he thinks what else will they have me to do.”

— Michael Shortt, Cleburne County coach


19

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During an Anniston City Council meeting, the audience reaction to the council’s disagreements can vary from deep sighs and rolling eyes to whis-pered expletives to delighted comments like, “This is better than TV.”

Council members passionately argue and threaten each other. One council member even

admits he avoids going to City Hall because of the arguments he might find himself in.

“It certainly is intimidating,” said Councilman John Spain. “I avoid coming down here to the build-ing altogether just simply because I don’t want a confrontation with the mayor.”

Does council’s infighting hobble Anniston’s progress? From top left: Councilman Ben Little, Mayor Gene Robinson, Vice-Mayor John Spain, Councilman Her-bert Palmore and Councilman David Dawson during last Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

Photos by Trent Penny/The Anniston Star

inSiDE:

Bob Davis: gauging the dysfunction

of Anniston’s city council.

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Please see AnniSTOn ❙ Page 10A

By JAy rEEVES AnD rAy HEnryAssociated Press

ORANGE BEACH — Alabama’s beaches took their worst hit yet from an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday as globs of crude and gooey tar — some the size of pan-cakes — lined the white sands and crews worked to try to keep a giant oil sheen just a few miles away from reaching the shore.

Scientists have estimated that anywhere

between about 40 million gallons to 109 million gallons of oil have gushed into the Gulf since a drilling rig exploded April 20, killing 11 workers and triggering the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

The oil washing up on Alabama’s shores was the heaviest since the rig explosion and came just as the summer beach season was picking up.

During a flight over the Gulf, Sean Brum-ley, an aerial spotter, said he saw an oily

sheen and brown patches of oil floating for miles off the Alabama coast. Boats trying to remove the oil before it hit the coast worked about three miles out.

“The Gulf looks like it has chicken pox,” Brumley said.

The oily sheen covered the pass leading into Perdido Bay near the Alabama-Florida state lines. Globs of brown oil floated in

(USPS 026-440)

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Crude oil from the Deepwater Hori-zon oil spill washes ashore Satur-day in Orange Beach. Please see OiL ❙ Page 11A

LifE, 1D

By DAniEL gADDyStar Staff Writer

Sister Jane O’Connor, the new director of a long-standing charitable organization in Anniston, fires a quick response when asked about her prede-cessor.

“I’m taking her position, but I could never fill her shoes,” she said.

O’Connor recently took over Sister Mary Roy’s duties at the All Saints Inter-faith Center of Concern. The organiza-tion helps Anniston residents in need of food, clothing and financial assistance. Roy served as director of the center for 27 years, earning in that time not just accolades from other civic leaders but also a ceremonial “Key to the City” and The Anniston Star’s 2009 Citizen of the Year Award.

“She [Roy] is the nearest thing to a saint we’re going to find in this lifetime,” said Charles Doster, advisory board member of the Center of Concern. “She is the Mother Teresa of Anniston, but saying that brings out the worst in her.”

Roy left the center after breaking her hip in March. She relocated to the Con-necticut headquarters of her order, the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, where she receives medical care.

O’Connor said she hopes to meet the needs of her clients with the same com-passion and love Roy displayed.

“I feel like I’m treading in the joys

and sorrows of all she experienced here,” she said.

Robin Gladd, office manager of the center, said O’Connor eased into her new job as if it was second nature.

“She just took it and started running with it,” she said. “She’s given them hope and spiritual guidance. I think they’re walking out of here better than when they came in.”

O’Connor said her success is due directly to the work of staff members like Gladd and Sandra Hall, the assis-tant director of the center.

“They’ve been very helpful and very friendly; I couldn’t do it without them,” O’Connor said.

In addition to food and clothing, the nonprofit Center of Concern also pro-vides financial assistance with medical bills, prescriptions, utilities and trans-portation for those in need.

O’Connor transferred to the center from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Prattville, where she served as a pas-toral assistant. However, she was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and reared in Wash-ington, D.C. and Maryland. She has a master’s degree in religious education and has worked in Catholic social ser-vices in Philadelphia as well as parishes in Virginia and Mississippi.

New director fills hole in local charitySister Jane O’Connor assumes leadership of Center of Concern

Stephen Gross/The Anniston Star

Sister Jane O’Connor took over Sister Mary Roy’s responsibilities at the All Saints Interfaith Center of Concern in Anniston.

Please see DirECTOr ❙ Page 11A

I’m boooored!THE SUMMER LIST: 46 things

to do with the kids this summer, besides go to the pool.

When I want to get the full story,

I read about it in my paper

my paper

By Al [email protected]

HEFLIN

Rocky Hayes is going places — and he’s probably going to get there a lot faster than some other prospects because he’s unfailingly flex-

ible.When a reporter reached the

versatile Cleburne County junior about his offseason plans late last week, he found Hayes packing for an AAU basketball tournament in Tennessee.

In the coming weeks, it’ll take a GPS to find him.

He already has been to several football showcases and over the next two months has plans to criss-cross the South even more. There’s another AAU invitational at Clem-son, and camps of varied length at Middle Tennessee, UAB, Auburn,

Clemson and LSU.“That’s my life,” he said. “It’s

been a while (since he had a week-end free). I think it was the weekend before I got off for spring break. I’d rather be doing something. I really don’t give myself a break.”

Hayes will be a catch for some-body’s football team next February and to date he lists his front-run-ners as Auburn and Clemson. Sev-eral smaller programs already have offered.

What they’re all looking at is another in a long line of do-it-all Cleburne County players with some impressive particulars — 39-inch vertical leap, 4.45 40, 3.0 GPA — who isn’t stuck on the position he plays to determine his choice.

There are plenty of recruiting season stories about athlete pros-pects who will only go to a school if he can play a certain position. The biggest programs want Hayes as a

Versatility making

Cleburne Co. standout

sought-after commodity

Please see HAyes ❙ Page 22

R o C k y H A y e S F I L e


40-time: 4.45 secondsBench: 275

(repped 185 pounds 17 times)

Squat: 425

THE SkINNyHayes has the build coaches like for

defensive back. He has long arms and big hands, which is key. He’s also got the skills, with explosive hips, finds the ball quickly and runs to it well, and his vertical allows him to get to the ball at its highest point. Auburn will see him on campus this week, and once one big-time offer comes in, the rest will follow. Qualifying won’t be a problem as he has already scored a 21 on the ACT and cur-rently has a 3.3 GPA.


BY NICK BIRDSONG [email protected]

OXFORD

If Oxford’s Trae Elston were the type to believe the hype that came along with being a prized recruit, there’d be plenty of it for him to indulge in hook, line and sinker.

He could type his name into the search box on Google. Upon doing so, some 40,000 results

appear in .26 seconds. He could log onto the football fan message boards of

any of the dozens of Football Bowl Subdivision teams that have offered him scholarships and read how much his services are desired.

Or the 6-foot, 183-pound defensive back could sim-ply show up on campus.

“One time I went down to a campus, I ain’t going to say no names, but this dude came up to me after the game, took off his shirt and he was like ‘Come to our school,’ and he had my name (written) on his chest and

everything. “I was like, ‘This man is crazy. He must be an Inter-

net-searcher or something like that.’” Elston, along with teammate linebacker Kwon Alex-

ander and offensive lineman Michael Flint, an Auburn commit, are among the nation’s most-sought-after play-ers.

While the constant adoration and adulation might make the heads of some as big as the future that lies ahead of them, Elston has retained a level of humility

COvErEd Up

Elston maintains humility through raucous attention

“He’s grown up a whole lot through this process.”

— John Grass, Oxford coach

Please see ElStON ❙ Page 22

T r A E E l S T O n F I l E


40-time: 4.44 secondsBench: 275 Squat: 565

StatS2010: 101 tackles, three InTs

tHe SkinnyElston is a solid corner who does all the little

things well. So when you factor in his size and speed, it’s easy to see why he’s ranked as the no. 22 corner in the nation by Scout. He cur-rently has 25 offers, and the list is growing daily.


21

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cornerback and, after sitting down with the coaches and making an honest assess-ment of his best option to play at the next level, he’s genuinely and refreshingly OK with that.

“I’m just trying to get an opportunity to get there; I’ll figure out what I’m gonna play when I get there,” Hayes said. “I think (unwavering) people like that are stub-born. Not a lot of athletes get to play at the next level as it is. You should seize the opportunity and take what you can get.”

At Heflin next fall he’ll be doing a little bit of everything. The Tigers need him on offense, either as a receiver or a run-ning back — he broke the school rushing record in back-to-back weeks last year — but he’ll also be in their secondary and return kicks.

Tigers coach Michael Shortt has had some coaches tell him they think Hayes is among the top three athletes in the state.

“He’s not a prima donna, and we’ve had a bunch of them,” Shortt said. “In a way, maybe he’s, hopefully, a product of the program. The team comes first and whatever you can do to help the team is what we do. I’m hoping that’s rubbed off on him. That’s the mindset he has.

“We say, ‘Rock, go do this,’ and he’ll never question what we’re asking to do. I’d bet sometimes he thinks, ‘What else will

they have me to do.’”Hayes learned a long time ago the

importance of staying busy and working hard. That idea was reinforced at one of his many workouts last year.

“I went to my first combine and I did well, but not as well as I wanted to,” he said. “I talked to these guys who were there and they said they work out daily. After seeing and hearing that, I said I’ve got to step up my game. I said I’ve got to go hard and every since that, I’ve been going at it.”

Al Muskewitz is a sports writer for The Star. He can be reached at 256-235-3577.

HayesContinued from Page 18

Terry Lamb/The Anniston Star/File

Cleburne County’s Rocky Hayes broke the school rushing record in 2010.

that’s worth noting. Elston began receiving scholarship

offers shortly after his sophomore sea-son. He was a first-team selection to the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 6A all-state squad as a junior after compiling more than 100 tackles and three interceptions. He’s set to play in the Under Armour All-American game after his senior season is complete.

The versatile performer, who also played cornerback, started at receiver and is Devin Hester dangerous in the return game, said he most likely won’t commit early. Instead, he’ll save his ulti-mate decision for national signing day next February.

However, he does have a tentative top three list of school schools that have piqued his interest most. It’s Clemson, Auburn and LSU … in that order.

“Clemson is my No. 1 school,” Elston said. “I was born in Augusta, Ga. Clem-

son is pretty close to Augusta. When I was little kid, you’d see Clemson Tiger paws everywhere, and their games would always be on TV. So, they’ve always been at the top of my list.”

Elston has defending national cham-pion Auburn second in the running right now. He said he’s grown an affinity for those Tigers through attending many of their games at Jordan-Hare Stadium. He credits LSU defensive backs coach Ron Cooper, who helped Patrick Peterson become the fifth overall pick in April’s NFL Draft as a main factor in why he could wind up siding with the Bayou Bengals.

“He’s really good,” Elston said of Coo-per. “I know he can get me where I need to go.”

He’ll also travel West during the offi-cial visit period following the season, tak-ing trips to BCS runners-ups Oregon and Southern California.

As long as he’s in Oxford, he’s got his immediate family to keep him from fall-ing prey to the praise.

“My grandpa,” Elston said. “He records all my games. After every game,

he sits me down and tells me what I did wrong. My uncle stays on me, too. When I see myself on film, I see a guy who needs to improve a lot. They always tell me, ‘Don’t act like you’re the No. 1 prospect in the country.’”

Elston has gained six pounds of mus-cle while maintaining his 4.44 speed in the 40-yard dash. He bench presses 275 and squats 565.

Oxford coach John Grass said Elston is the best defensive back he’s coached in 20-plus years in the business and compared his athletic ability to former Hoover great Chad Jackson at receiver.

That’s saying a lot, but it won’t get Elston too puffed up, nor will criticism – such as the rumors he’s heard about him not being as physical since sustain-ing a slight neck injury last season – get him down any.

“He’s grown up a whole lot through this process,” Grass said. “He’s stayed humble.”

Nick Birdsong covers prep sports for The Star. He can be reached at 256-235-3575. Follow him on Twitter @birds_word.

elstonContinued from Page 20


Oxford’s Trae Elston’s top three college choices are Clemson, Auburn and LSU.


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Kwon AlexanderOxfOrd, 6-2, 212, OLB

In my mind, (That’s where all this is coming from by the way) what makes Alexander the state’s top prospect is that the dude is ready right now. Feasibly, he could come in and start or be a major contributor at most schools as soon as he steps foot on campus with his skills and speed. He runs a reported 4.51 in the 40-yard dash. Most everyone is recruiting as an outside linebacker and he could excel there. He also has the ability to be an all-world safety in the mold of Alabama’s Mark Baron. Alexander said he’ll likely dwindle his list of suitors down to 10 by summer’s end but won’t commit before national signing day.

BIRD’S WORD

Top 10rIsIng senIors FroM InsIde THe sTATe

Jameis WinstonHueytOwn, 6-4, 200, QB

Winston has been dubbed by recruiting analysts as a dual-threat quarterback. It’s a moniker I have my suspicions about.

It unfairly penalizes players who have the athleticism to make plays out of the pocket by implying they can’t make plays in it. Winston can do both.

However, I don’t have him at the top slot because of the inherent learning curve everyone quarter-back must handle when making the leap from one level to the next.

He’s got all the tools to be great and is an early favorite to be Mr. Football.

However, he’s just as likely to take his 90-plus mph fastball and five-tool capability to the Major League Baseball draft. Uncom-mitted.

robin Conn / the Huntsville times/file

Bill wilson/the Anniston Star/file

3Reggie RaglandBOB JOneS, 6-4, 245, ILB

If you’re looking for the next rolan-do McClain, reggie ragland (19) is as close as you might get.

He’s a prototypical inside linebacker who possesses all of the physical tools you’d want in an elite level recruit. Already committed to Alabama, rag-land could also find his way at tight end, as well. If he remains with the Tide he might be a coupe for coach nick saban and basketball coach Anthony grant. He’s also a prime time performer on the hardwood.

It seems like you can’t turn around twice without running into somebody who boasts of being a recruit-ing analyst. And what skills do they really have?

The star’s prep writer nick Birdsong has seen his share of games, and, as a voter on the Alabama sports Writers Association All-state panel, he knows all the big-time names.

While he shies away from the term guru, he gave us his Top 10 prospects from the state of Alabama. Tuck this away somewhere and pull it out on national signing day — or in three years — to see just how true Bird’s word really is.


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Daniel Giles/Florence Times-Daily/File

With his skill set and his 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame, the possibility of posi-tions for Beniquez Brown could basi-cally come down to anywhere but in the trenches.


Trae Elston, center, must really like tigers considering his top three are Auburn, Clem-son and LSU.

Stephen Gross/The Anniston Star/File

Troymaine Pope isn’t at the top of every-body’s list, but just wait and see.

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Justin ThomasPrATTviLLE, 5-11, 175, ATH

Early word is the Alabama commit, who plays quarterback, will wind up at defensive back. The possibilities are endless for one of the fastest players in the state, clocked at a sub-4.4 in the 40.

Justin ShanksPrATTviLLE, 6-3, 306, DL

Shanks is a big man and he’s more than a big deal. The massive defensive lineman has virtually every Bowl Championship Series school hot on his trail and remains uncommitted.

Trae ElstonOxFOrD, 6-0, 183, DB/Wr

Elston patterns his game after such NFL stars as Erick Barry, Ed Reed and Bob Sanders. With an athletic build that could stand more weight without compromising his 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash, Elston has all the raw materials to become a fine finished product himself. He’s nearly as gifted wide receiver as he is at defensive back, where he’s comfortable playing cornerback or safety, his natural position. His top three college choices include Clemson, Auburn and LSU. However, he plans to visit Oregon and USC.

T.J. YeldonDAPHnE, 6-1, 200, rB

As the starting running back on the defending Class 6A state champions, Yeldon knows a thing or two about winning. He’s got grown-man size and ridiculous 4.43 speed and a nearly 40-inch vertical leap. He’s rated in the top 100 in the country by virtually everyone. Uncommited.

Beniquez BrownFLOrEnCE, 6-2, 210, ATH

Every school in the SEC is looking to secure a pledge from pos-sibly northwest Alabama’s finest prep player. He rushed for at least 1,200 yards each of the past two seasons, but his future seems brightest on defense. Uncommitted.

Chris CasherFAiTH ACADEmy, 6-4, 225, DL

Casher is the long-lean type of defensive end made popular by Jason Taylor back in the day. He holds offers from Alabama, Auburn and Georgia but committed to Florida State back in January. Cash-er, a raw talent with huge potential, could also project as a tight end.

Troymaine PopeAnniSTOn, 5-9, 185, rB

This isn’t a homer pick by any stretch of the imagination. I just want you to remember where you heard it first. Pope should be a national-level recruit after a stellar junior season. He rushed for 1,895 yards and 30 touchdowns in just 11 games in his first year as a full-time starter. Jacksonville St., Clemson and Ark. State have already ponied up offers. Uncommited.

Lloyd Gallman/montgomery Advertiser

if Justin Thomas remains committed to Alabama, the Prattville quarterback will likely move to defensive back.


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T h e b e s T o f T h e r e s TA look at the college football recruits from across East Central Alabama

AlExAndriATyler Burr, 6-1, 165, DB

Has heard from Georgia St. and Wofford, according to coach Frank Tucker.

AnniSTonTroymaine PoPe, 5-9, 185, rB

Put up video game type numbers as a junior with 1,895 yards rushing and 30 touchdowns. Holds offers from JSU, Clemson and Arkansas St. DonTavious Blair, 6-6, 260, oT

Big Blair has yet to be offered but has a slew of SEC schools keeping tabs on him. Denzel roBerTs, 6-1, 170, DB/lBlafayeTTe raglanD, 6-2, 225, lB/Teisaiah riggins, 6-3, 255, g/TChaD anDerson, 6-1, 240, C/gshaquille ashforD, 5-10, 150, DB/rB

ClAy CoUnTy shawnCey simmons, 6-0, 178, aTh

The versatile and gifted athlete has played defen-sive back, wide receiver and quarterback, during his time as a Panther. South Alabama, West Alabama and Birmingham Southern have taken interest in him.

ClEBUrnE CoUnTy roCky hayes, 5-11, 168, rB/DB

Hayes was a dynamic performer in both the offen-sive and defensive backfield. He rushed for more than 1,500 yards and nearly 20 touchdowns. Could be a division i signee when it’s all said and done.

oxFord kwon alexanDer, 6-2, 212, lB

What more needs to be said about Alexander, he’s rated as the top player in the nation at his position by some and one of the two highest-ranked players in the state alongside Hueytown quarterback Jameis Win-ston. Everyone in the country wants him, including your favorite team. Trae elsTon, 6-0, 183, DB/wr

With his list tentatively dwindled down to three, including Clemson, Auburn and lSU, Elston is anoth-er hot commodity. He’ll also take visits to oregon and USC but won’t make anything official until signing day. miChael flinT, 6-4, 303, ol

Already com-mitted to Auburn. Flint’s biggest prob-lem this year won’t be any of the defen-sive linemen who step in front of him, but rather convinc-ing Alexander and Elston to join him on The Plains. JaCkson sTePhens, 6-2, 195, qB

The three-sport star also holds a football offer from South Alabama. Also, a prized recruit as a pitcher on the baseball diamond. CoTy sPurling, 6-0, 176, DB/rB

Spurling has taken a back seat the past two sea-sons, playing on a team that has produced several high-level signees. However, his talents are becoming hard to ignore with offers from Memphis and South Alabama.

linEvillEDemeTrius linDsey, 5-10, 160, qB

Has started to receive interest from FCS schools. Would project as defensive back or wide receiver.

linColnsharroD CoChran, 5-9, 180, wr/DB

Cochran plays quarterback for the Golden Bears but is being recruited at both wide receiver and defen-sive back. He’s drawn interest from Alabama, Clem-son, Arkansas State, South Alabama, north Alabama, Kentucky and Jacksonville State roD green, 5-8, 235, rB

The stocky back has caught the attention of Jack-sonville State, South Alabama and Memphis.Jeffrey roBerTs, 6-0, 200, De

roberts could sign an athletic or academic scholar-ship from Birmingham Southern, rutgers, Harvard, duke or Samford among others.

JACKSonvillE CorDero liTTle, 6-0, 205, rB

ole Miss, UAB and JSU have all inquired about the Golden Eagles feature back. if he can qualify, he could sign with an FBS school. if not, he’ll make some junior college coach a very happy man.

PICTURED: Tyler Burr, Alexandria; PHOTO BY: Trent Penny/The Anniston Star/File

PICTURED: Dontavious Blair, Anniston;

PHOTO BY: Stephen Gross/The Anniston Star/File

PICTURED: Jackson Stephens, Oxford;

PHOTO BY: Bill Wilson /The Anniston Star

PICTURED: Sharrod Cochran, Lincoln; PHOTO BY: Stephen Gross/The Anniston Star/File

PICTURED: Cordero Little, Jacksonville (right); PHOTO BY: Bill Wilson/The Anniston Star


T h e b e s T o f T h e r e s TA look at the college football recruits from across East Central Alabama

JACksonvillE ChristiAnJohn Averette, 6-3, 275, DL/oL

Averette has heard from Wofford and several Divi-sion ii schools.

PiEDmont JAmeson trAmmeLL, 6-1, 250, oL

JsU, samford, middle tennessee, Arkansas state, southern miss. and Ut-Chattanooga all plan to take a hard look at trammell this spring. CLAy Dent, 5-10, 185, oL

several small schools have con-tacted Piedmont coach steve smith about Dent. however, the multiple-time state wrestling champion is likely to sign a scholarship with a big-time program in that sport.

sAks Quinton thomAs, 6-3, 323, DL Justin Grier, 6-0, 170, DB

Grier has shined at several camps throughout the southeast. the honorable mention All-Calhoun County choice has caught the attention of a wide range of schools. the list includes south Alabama, Prairie view A&m (texas), occidental (Calif.), and Amherst (mass.)

WEllbornDeJuAn trAyLor, 6-2, 255, DL/De

the all-county performer is being touted due to his prototypical size and 4.8 40 speed. has received inter-est from Jacksonville state, UAb, troy, Chattanooga and Arkansas state.

BoBBy White, 6-1, 205, LBAlready academically qualified, White has drawn

interest from many of the same schools as traylor. he posted 100-plus tackles as a sophomore. DALton sCreWs, 5-11, 160 DB

ChErokEE CoUnty PAtriCk LoWe, 6-1, 210, LB

lowe has received interest from JsU, UAb, south Alabama and memphis.

hAnDlEyBreyon DeBerry, hAnDLey, 5-8, 185, rB

Coaches from UAb, samford and middle tennes-see state have all made their way to roanoke to pay the dynamic running back a personal visit.

PEll CityJustin morGAn, 5-11, 170, Wr

mississippi state and tennessee are among the top-level programs showing interest in the former quarterback. After being moved to wide receiver after sixth game, he had five touchdown receptions. Good speed and explosiveness are among his strong suits. BrADy isBeLL, 6-2, 270, C

Projects as a possible mid-major signee. his 4.0 GPA is a plus.ethAn Fisher, 6-2, 270 G

Also a 4.0 student, is receiving interest from ivy league schools.skyLAr smith, 5-11, 220, De/Dt

built more like a linebacker, he led the team in tackles from his defensive end position. Carries a 3.5 GPA and could sign mid-major or Division ii.

rAGlAnDJohnmArk mintz, 6-2, 230, FB/te/De

has received interest from mississippi state, ten-nessee, louisiana tech, UAb, south Alabama and middle tennessee state. CoLe BeArDen, 6-1, 245, DL/C

interest from huntingdon, birmingham southern and maryville (tenn.)

tAllADEGA CoUnty CEntrAlkenDArious sWAin, 6-2, 200, Wr/DB

UAb, southern miss, mississippi state, tennessee state, Arkansas state and south Alabama are among the most interested suitors.

dent

PICTURED: Justin Grier, Saks; PHOTO BY: Bill Wilson/The Anniston Star/File

PICTURED: Bobby White, Wellborn (right); PHOTO BY: Trent Penny/The Anniston Star/File

PICTURED: Justin Morgan, Pell City (left); PHOTO BY: Jerry Martin/Consolidated News Service/File


3030

T h e b e s T o f T h e r e s TA look at the rising juniors from across East Central Alabama

PiEdmont Jamie maJor, 6-1, 275, LB

things are just heating up for major, a first-team all-state performer and max Preps All-American as a sophomore. Auburn, Alabama, tennessee, Ga. tech and Florida State all have expressed interest and plan to make their way to Piedmont to see him live and in color.marquez GamBLe, 6-0, 275 DL

Gamble played a supporting role alongside UAB signee mickey Jack-son a year ago; however, he should be the main attraction this season on the Bulldogs’ offensive line. He’s already on the recruiting radars of many schools including JSU, Sam-ford and Ut-Chattanooga to name a few. austin Bishop, 6-3, 250, oL

WEAvEr BranDeLL massey, 5-10, 200, LB

CHErokEE CoUntytanner younG, 6-3, 200, qBD.J. mcaLLister, 5-11, 185, rBtae Brooks, 5-10, 185, rB/LB

HAndlEy BraDLey Bozeman, hanDLey, 6-4, 320, oL

likely the state’s top prospect at his position in his class, Auburn has already offered the massive lineman and as the season goes on, expect offers from virtually ever school in the Southeastern Conference.

linColnpatrick WeeD, 6-1, 265, Dt

Jacksonville St., South Alabama and Central Arkan-sas have all inquired about the big lineman.timerick truss, 6-0, 200, s

truss already has prototypical size to be a big-time college defensive back. Alabama, Clemson and Jack-sonville St. have all taken notice.

linEvillEranDaLL BroWn, 6-3, 190, LB/te

interest hasn’t been heavy yet, but Brown is among the top prospects in the Aggies’ soon-to-be junior class.

PEll City austin martin, 5-11, 200, qB

Possibly a mid-major quarterback, but currently lacks the size — which coach noted he could grow into his size 14 and change the recruiting outlook dramati-cally. mid major.

rAnBUrnE DaviD Drake, 6-0, 210 LB

Has started to receive interest.

WoodlAndaL Davis, 6-4, 235, ot

no offers yet, but tennessee and UAB are among the main schools showing interest.

Trent Penny/The Anniston Star/File

At his current rate, Piedmont linebacker Jamie Major projects to be the top recruit for the graduating class of 2013. At 6-foot-1, 275 pounds, Major has the size and he already has the accolades, too.

gamble

haute homemaDe tHE CrAFtEr’S CornEr in SUndAy’S liFE SECtion▶

bozeman

PICTURED: Timerick Truss, Lincoln (left); PHOTO BY: Bob Crisp/Consolidated News Service/File


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