Arizona athlete is a blazer

College football coaches love to recruits players that possess the things you can't teach. You may be able improve quickness a little bit with technique, and you can gain weight with proper nutrition and weight training, but explosiveness, a very important ingredient in a good player you are either born with or your not.

Explosive speed can make up for a lot of mistakes.

Cornerback/wide receiver Allante Battle (5-9, 170, 4.4) from Phoenix (Ariz.) Desert Vista has that type of explosive speed.

It could be all in the genes as Battle comes from outstanding athletic bloodlines. His dad played football for ASU and his mom was an All-American in track at ASU.

Battle's dad, a linebacker, went on to play 11 years in the CFL and was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and was just elected to the CFL hall-of-fame.

Battle earned first-team all-region honors as a fly back. He ended up rushing for 313 yards while averaging 7.1 yards per carry and scored five touchdowns. He had 18 receptions for 496 yards and four touchdowns while averaging an outstanding 27.6 yards per catch. His longest reception of 80 yards broke a school record.

On the defensive side of the ball, he racked up 18 tackles and recovered two fumbles.

Also an outstanding return man, Battle had 252 return yards averaging 25.7 yards per kick return and 12.0 per punt return. He also scored two PAT's.

"Allante is the best cover corner I have ever coached," Desert Vista coach Dan Hinds said. "He has great speed and has the ability to stay with people. No one can lose him.

"Allante has great make up speed," Hinds said. "If he does jump a route, he has the speed to get right back in the position where he needs to be. He will also come up and hit you.

"Allante has the ability to play on either side of the ball on the college level," Hinds said. "He runs great routes and has great hands. He can catch the long ball and is fearless over the middle.

"Where he's really dangerous is he can turn a hitch route into a long gain due to his explosive speed," Hinds said. "He also has good strength. Pound for pound, Allante is one of the strongest guys on the team."

Battle's current hand clean is 275, his bench is 255 and his squat is 335. At Desert Vista they do what is called a full squat meaning you go the floor and then lift.

Off the gridiron, Battle is a standout on the track and was a national qualifier as a sophomore and was second in the state in the 200-meter with a 21.6.

This past weekend Battle ran a 10.71 and is the fastest athlete in the state his junior year.

On the recruiting trail, Battle is getting serious interest from Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, BYU and Michigan.