First offers roll in for Kentucky QB

One of the Bluegrass State’s top performers from the 2003 season has seen his first scholarship offers roll in.

Maysville (Ky.) Mason County quarterback Dustin Grutza has drawn offers from Mississippi State, Cincinnati, UAB, Louisiana Tech and Ball State. He also has a “grayshirt” offer from Kentucky.

“Things kind of developed late for me because my tapes didn’t get out until late,” he said. “But it’s gotten real busy here lately. I’ve been talking to a lot of coaches.”

Asked to break down the situation, Grutza offered the following:

“I like Kentucky, but the grayshirt situation is not a top option for me,” he said. “I’d rather not have to do that. I don’t feel like I’m they’re top priority, which a few other schools are really making me feel that way. Plus, it would put a limit on my education because a grayshirt can’t go to school full time. I learned that you have to take less than 12 hours to do that. I’d just prefer a little better situation than that.

“Mississippi State has become highly involved the last two weeks. I like coach McCorvey a lot and his background coming from Tennessee. He came to my house last week and they made their offer. I’m tentatively going to make my official visit down there on the 23rd if my schedule works out.”

Cincinnati appears to be his second option at this point. He’ll visit the Bearcats this weekend.

“They’ve been on me real hard these last two weeks the same way Mississippi State has,” he said. “There’s a lot of good things about them. It’s close to home, plus they’re going to be moving to the Big East, so that will be some good competition. I think their program has a chance to be pretty good in the near future.”

Grutza (6-3, 195, 4.65) is coming off a senior season which saw him throw for 3,266 yards and 38 touchdowns while rushing for 748 yards and 14 scores. In all, he accounted for 4,014 yards in total offense and 52 touchdowns in leading the Royals to a 12-2 record and the semifinals of the Class 3A playoffs. He was named honorable mention all-state, the district player of the year and was a member of the Lexington Herald-Leader’s “Class of the Commonwealth” Team.

An all-around athlete, he also co-starred with two-sport prospect Chris Lofton on Mason County’s state champion basketball squad.