Battles wants to be a QB

Youngstown (Ohio) Rayen dual-threat quarterback Sal Battles has had a busy spring. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound has been at several camps, combines and events where he's tested himself and worked on getting better.

His No. 1 goal at these camps - prove to the coaches that he's a college quarterback and not an athlete.

"I want to play quarterback," he said. "I definitely want to play that position. If it comes down to having an offer from Bowling Green that wants me to play quarterback, and I have an offer from OSU that wants me to play safety, then I probably would take the Bowling Green offer. I really want to play quarterback in college.

"But a lot of schools are recruiting me as an athlete. They've talked about quarterback, running back, receiver, safety, pretty much anything."

At this point, he has offers from Bowling Green, Kent and Miami University, but he said he's getting the most attention lately from Michigan State and Indiana.

"Michigan State and Indiana have both talked to me about offering soon," he said. "Michigan State, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio State are at the top. I want to make my decision before the season, but if I don't get the offers I want then I will just wait until after the season."

Battles, who threw for 780 yards and rushed for 750 yards, admits he grew up a big Buckeye fan.

"I watched all their games," he said. "They've been recruiting me ever since my freshman year."

Battles wants to help his team have a successful 2007 season.

"My first goal is to try to make the playoffs," he said. "We've missed the playoffs the last three years by just one game. So that's definitely a goal we want to accomplish. I want to work on reading the defense and throwing the ball more. Everyone knows I can run the ball, but I want to show everyone I can throw the ball too."