California RB already on map

There's no doubt a strong performance at the NIKE Training Camp can put you on the recruiting map. But for Santa Fe Springs (Calif.) St. Paul running back Nicolas Grigsby it sounds like he was already on it.

Grigsby, who is 5-foot-11 and 184 pounds, clocked a 4.63-second time in the 40-yard dash and had a 4.38-second time in the shuttle. To go along with his 30-inch vertical leap and a strong performance in the drills it was clear that Grigsby was one of the top running backs at the event.

College coaches tend to agree that he's something special. Grigsby claims he has scholarship offers already from Washington, Ole Miss, Oregon, UCLA and that he recently picked one up from Miami.

"Washington gave me one a little while ago and I've had the Miami one for a little while now," Grigsby said. "The first time they sent me something they told me they were interested, and then I got something a week or two later telling me they were offering me.

"My favorite school right now is probably Oregon and then Miami, UCLA, Ole Miss, and Kentucky. I don't really know much about the Oregon program, but I've heard they have a great program and it is run well. They want to win and they run a good academic program there."

Grigsby has big goals for the 2006 season. After rushing for 1,813 yards and 22 scores as a junior, he'd like to break the 2,000 yard mark as a senior. He plans to wait things out and take some visits before he makes a decision.

"I'll take a couple visits during the season, but take most of them after the season is over," he said. "I'm going to the Cal camp this summer and Colorado State and Fresno. Those are my plans so far for the summer. I'm not sure if I'll go to any other camps or not.

"I'll be looking for a program that has been successful with good rankings and academics. Then their coaching staff will be important, too. I want good coaches to learn from."

Grigsby said if things don't work out at running back, many schools are also looking at him at defensive back or as an athlete.

"I play running back and defensive back, but I'm being recruiting as just an athlete," he said. "The coaches have been telling me I'm so special I could play on both sides of the ball. They tell me it will be my decision. I enjoy running back the best, but I love defense when I get to hit players on the other side of the ball."