Bluegrass QB draws national interest

Junior to Watch: Cole Draughn

School: Somerset (Ky.) Pulaski Co. HS

Position: Quarterback

Size and speed: Draughn is 6-foot-2, weighs 225 pounds, and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.65 seconds.

Statistics: As a junior, he passed for 1,500 yards and rushed for 1,100. He had 39 touchdown passes and six rushing touchdowns.

Honors: Was named to the all-district and all-conference teams as a junior.

Favorite Schools: Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, Auburn, Clemson, Kansas State.

Skinny: Coming off a junior season which saw him energize Pulaski County’s offense both through the air and on the ground, Cole Draughn has established himself as one of the state’s top prospects for the Class of 2004.

“He’s started every game but one for us since he was a freshman,” said Pulaski County coach John Hines, noting the one exception was due to a minor injury. “We could tell he was going to be pretty special as soon as he came into our program.

“We watched him on the middle school team and saw a kid with an incredible arm and accuracy for his age. Unlike a lot of middle school teams, they throw the ball a lot, and he was making some of the best throws you’ve ever seen for a kid that age. He was so outstanding, we moved our senior quarterback to the fullback position, and Cole’s been in that spot ever since.”

Draughn is on pace to enter the state’s all-time passing leaders list this season. But it’s his play-making ability in the running game that has helped his stock rise.

“That’s been the most pleasant surprise,” Hines said. “He’s really developed physically and gained confidence in his ability to run the football. He didn’t do that much as a freshman and sophomore, but last season he did a lot of damage on the ground. He’s got the good size to be a typical, pro-style, pocket quarterback – he’s almost 6-3 now – but he can do some of the things a dual-threat quarterback does as well.

“He throws the ball extremely well on the run. He’s really accurate.”

Schools showing early interest in Draughn include Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, Auburn, Clemson, Kansas State, Indiana, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Western Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky.

“I think he’d really be interested in Kentucky if they were to offer,” Hines said. “They had him up there for the spring game, and he really enjoyed it. They’re recruiting him for baseball, too. He’s one of the better pitching prospects in the state, and has a strong desire to play both sports.

“Michigan State has also shown a lot of interest where John L. Smith used to be at Louisville. He’s liked Cole going back to the beginning of the last year, and he’s always kept in touch.

“Another school to keep an eye on is Auburn. They invited him to their spring game, but he wasn’t able to make it. I know he’s got some interest, though. Both for football and baseball.”