12/8/2009 football Edit

Gibson stars in state title game

Josh Helmholdt

Recruiting Analyst

Florissant (Mo.) Hazelwood Central athlete Kerry Gibson capped off his senior season by leading his team to a 35-24 win in the Class 6 Show-Me Bowl State Championship game at the Edwards Jones Dome in St. Louis last month. Gibson threw a 55-yard touchdown pass and ran in another score from the quarterback position while leading the Hawks' to 321 yards of total offense.

"We played Blue Springs and they were supposed to be the dominant team. They had a pretty good defense and their offense was decent," Gibson said. "My stats were good and we marched the ball down the field pretty good."

On the season, the 6-2, 185-pound Gibson threw for 2,100 yards and 18 touchdowns against just eight interceptions. He rushed for another 900 yards and 13 rushing scores for a Hazelwood Central team that finished 13-1 on the year. Now, Gibson is hoping his senior year numbers and title game performance will lead to increased attention from college coaches.

"No teams have offered yet because I take my ACT this weekend," Gibson said. "Right now, Southern Illinois, Missouri State and Iowa for receiver [are showing the most interest]. Those three teams right there are the top three so far."

Other schools that are showing interest include Northern Iowa, Tennessee-Martin, Tennessee State and SE. Missouri State.

Gibson attended a one-day camp at Iowa this past summer and he has stayed in touch with Hawkeye's assistant coach Eric Johnson throughout the fall.

"I talk to him a lot and I've been talking to him since last year about receiver. I talk to him every other week almost," Gibson said. "Last week he came in and got my film. When he talked to me, he said if it was his choice they would have already offered me, but he wanted to take the film to his head coach and see how it goes from there. They know I am an athlete and feel I've got the skills to be a receiver."

Gibson plans to start setting official visits soon after taking his ACT. He already has an official visit set up with Tennessee State for the weekend of Jan. 29.