Folston giving little away

AUSTIN, Texas - Cocoa, Fla. Rivals250 running back Tarean Folston has proven to be elusive on the football field over the years, rushing for 1,295 yards and 17 touchdowns on 153 attempts as a junior. He also had 12 receptions for 324 yards and two touchdowns, and recorded six interceptions while playing as a safety on the defensive side of the ball.

His abilities quickly turned the heads of college coaches and the offers began rolling in from across the country. All the college interest has brought a lot of other attention, but when it comes to recruiting, Folston has not had a lot to say.

Notre Dame, Auburn, Nebraska, Stanford, Tennessee - the list could go on and on. Folston is keeping it that way for now.

"My options are still open. All of my options are still open," Folston said.

What are those options?

"All of them, all 30 something offers," he said.

When will he start making some decisions?

The 5-10, 195-pound playmaker does not have a plan just yet. Will it be before the season? How about after? He does not know. Right now he is taking his time and letting it all play out.

"It's the same picture," the standout running back said. "There's a lot of people there and I'm just sitting back and watching and waiting, and making my decision whenever I make it."

Growing up he says he has just been a fan of the game with no individual teams standing out in his mind. This summer he has attended camps at Miami, Tennessee, Florida St., USF, and UCF, and he felt good about each experience.

"They were alright," Folston said. "All the camps, it's a camp they're going to run it the way they want to run it and they're going to run it efficiently. It was a pretty good camp at all the camps. Nice weather."

He was not sure about attending any other camps this summer, and doubted he would take any officials during the season.

"I doubt it," he said. "During the season I'm a busy man."

The one thing he was sure about was that he was keeping an open mind with the recruiting process. He continues to take in all the information he can and it also helps to have a resource like his father James Folston, who was a second round NFL Draft pick and played linebacker for the Oakland Raiders and Arizona Cardinals after his collegiate career at Louisiana-Monroe.

"My dad, he's always been there for me," Folston said. "He says pick a college you can stay at for three or four years. Just pick the right place. Don't rush it and don't let anyone make the decision for you because you are the one that's going to be living in that environment. He pretty much tells me all the right things and helps me out."

Recruiting will have to wait because Folston is focused elsewhere. Currently, he is in Austin, Texas for the IFAF Under-19 World Championships. As a member of Team USA, he is soaking in the experience.

"It's been pretty good. We're in Texas with all the top recruits in the nation," he said. "This is just preparing you for college and giving you a great experience before you go off."

It did not take him long to see how much he could learn from being in such a competitive environment surrounded by such talent.

"Going against this defense, it's a fast defense, so it's kind of like a college," Folston said. "So I think if I can excel on this defense I'll be a little more prepared when I get to college."

Of course it all boils down to one thing, and that one things currently sits at the top of his wish list.

"I'm trying to win a gold for the USA," he said.