Houston sleeper emerging after camp
North Shore (Texas) High School's Mark Orphey had his coming out party at LSU's four-day camp in Baton Rouge, Louisiana this week. While the Tigers would like to keep it on the down-low, recruiting circles will be spinning as soon as this weekend.
North Shore is not a stranger to high profile Division I talent, so it's unusual for a sleeper to emerge from the Houston-area powerhouse.
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"Our defensive backs were so good last year that he played very little," North Shore defensive coordinator John Kay said. "He stayed the course and has waited his turn. He is a late-bloomer but looks great on the football field."
Orphey (6-1, 175-pounds) is a cover corner who is a punishing hitter. He scored the only touchdown on an interception return during the Mustang spring game, and scored well enough on the SAT to already be academically qualified.
"I'm not saying he's the next Chykie Brown," Kay said. "But he's getting close. According to the report I got out of LSU coaches, he was in the top three defensive backs at their camp -- if not No. 1."
Orphey bought his own bus ticket to Baton Rouge and attended the camp, where four of his North Shore coaches worked. He was taken on a tour of campus and impressed at the camp.
"I was blown away at LSU," he said. "I'd go there right now if they asked me. I am getting a lot of calls from Northwestern and UTEP also, but LSU blew my mind."
Orphey continues the Mustangs long lineage of defensive backs, which includes Brown (Texas), Freddie Patton (UTEP), Stephen James (Oklahoma State), Ricky Coxeff (Oklahoma State) and Willie Gaston (Houston) over the past five years.
"It has been hard sitting behind some of these great players," he said. "There were times I just wanted to quit because I never thought I would get my chance. I called my mentor Joe Walker (Texas assistant coach) and he told me just to hang in there. I'm glad I did. "
With the emergence of Orphey, North Shore could have its best defense since the 2003 state championship season.