Colorado loaded again in 2005

The state of Colorado generally produces several quality Division I athletes and the Class of 2005 will be no different. While there are no players, like 2004 prospect Jeff Byers, who have piles of scholarship offers before the spring evaluation period, there are three players who have stepped up above the rest of the prospects in the state.

Running back Maurice GreerClick The battle for the honor of being the state’s top player will be a contest between teammates at Denver’s Mullen High School. Here to view this Link. (right) is considered by many to be the top player in the state. He definitely has the numbers from a season ago to back up an argument that he deserves the top billing. The 5-foot-11, 185-pounder rushed for 2.186 yards and 30 touchdowns.

The rushing totals have landed two scholarship offers, Colorado and Kansas State, for Greer. The two Big 12 North Division schools won’t be the last to offer.

“I would imagine we will start to hear more from schools as they start to really get into the evaluation period over the next couple of months,” Mullen coach Dave Logan said. “He is going to get more offers, there is no doubt about that. We’ve sent out quite a bit of film on him to schools. Once they get a look at him, the offers will start to come in.”

Greer’s teammate, offensive lineman, Jesse White has enjoyed blocking and opening holes along the offensive line.

"Maurice just won't quit. He has great instincts. His speed is there, it is just overlooked by a lot of people. there is no doubting his speed or his quickness. He also has the ability to go left and right to make people miss if he has to. Wherever he ends up, those coaches are going to get a really good player."

White (left) is mentioned in any discussion of top players in Colorado and will have chance to help lure Greer to play college ball with him after making a February pledge to play for UCLA.

"I still get quite a bit of mail from schools all over the country," the 6-foot-3, 290-pound White said. "My commitment to UCLA hasn 't slowed them down at all. I look at the stuff they send, but, I have no second thoughts. I am completely solid on my choice of going to UCLA. I'm excited about the program there and the coaches that have recruited me there."

White also could have the chance to turn into a little bit of a recruiter of his own now that his college destination is known.

Aurora Rangeview defensive end Maurice LucasClick "Maurice (Greer) and I have talked about going to school together," White said. "It is something that would be great. If it works out, it works out. I've told him I'll save him a spot at UCLA while he makes up his mind. The coaches are very interested in him coming there too. He knows I'm here to talk to him if he ever wants to talk about UCLA or the recruiting stuff."Here to view this Link. didn’t wait long after his first scholarship offer came in to make a decision.

The 6-foot-6, 225-pound Lucas chose Colorado’s offer over interest from Colorado State, Kansas State, Nebraska, Stanford and Missouri.

"Maurice is very physical and fast. He is also a very intelligent football player,” Rangeview coach Dave Gonzales said. “The main thing he needs to work on is just putting on a little bit more mass. He is a good worker in the weight room so he’ll fill out.”

The offer from Gary Barnett’s squad came in mid-February, but the decision to become a Buffalo was made at Colorado’s junior day at the end of February.

“The junior day event pretty much sealed it for us,” David Lucas, Maurice’s father, told BuffStampede.com. “We were really impressed with the athletic facilities and the campus has one of the best views in the country. We were also pretty impressed with the coaching staff. The whole thing seemed like a perfect fit.”