Cowboys team to beat for McLeod

It's starting to look as if it will be a two-team battle for Parker McLeod.

On Thursday, the three-star quarterback from Marietta (Ga.) Walton named a leader, and disclosed who is that program's biggest threat.

"It's probably Oklahoma State [in front]," McLeod told Rivals.com. "They're in the lead. They're recruiting me pretty hard. I call them once a week or so. I'm in pretty good contact with them."

McLeod visited the Cowboys earlier this year.

"It was the first week of March," he said. "I just liked everything. The style of offense, the coaches … and I really liked the campus. I like [offensive coordinator Todd Monken] and Coach [Glenn] Spencer - he's my area recruiter. Coach Monken seems like a good coordinator and a good QB coach. I like him. And he's pretty funny, too. They're definitely a program on the rise. They're going to do some big things in the future. It's kind of exciting to be apart of that."

Who is challenging the Cowboys?

"Alabama is one thing I'm trying to figure

out," McLeod said. "They're interested in me lately. They're taking two quarterbacks and they want me to be that second guy. That's one thing I have to think about if I want to do. They want me at camp, and that's when they'll probably offer."

The Tide recently was at Walton, which also is home to Alabama running back commit Tyren Jones.

"I've heard from [offensive coordinator Doug] Nussmeier and [defensive coordinator Kirby] Smart," McLeod said. Coach Nussmeier came out and saw me in the spring and really liked me. He wants me to be that second guy, but they want to see me throw first at camp for Coach [Nick] Saban."

McLeod plans to visit Oklahoma State again in June. He isn't sure yet if he will travel to Tuscaloosa.

What happens if Alabama offers?

"I'm kind of uncertain whether to pursue that or end things and go to Oklahoma State," McLeod said.

The 6-fet-2, 189-pound McLeod passed for more than 1,800 yards last season while helping Walton reach the state final in Georgia's largest classification.

Keith Niebuhr can be reached at Keithrivals@yahoo.com. You can follow him on Twitter @KeithRIVALS.