Interest picking up for Meador

Whiteland (Ind.) offensive tackle Jake Meador's performance at the U.S. Army Junior Combine last month earned him honorable mention accolades and a spot on the 250 to watch list. The 6-6, 280-pound prospect is also seeing results in the form of scholarship offers and college interest.

Kentucky was the first, and still the only, school to offer Meador a scholarship, but teams throughout the Midwest stopped through Whiteland High during the month of January.

"I had a lot of teams come to my school during that time period like Ohio State, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kentucky, Purdue, IU and Notre Dame," Meador reported.

The offer from Kentucky came before his junior season and after a performance at the Wildcat's summer camp. He was recently in Lexington to check out their campus.

"I took a trip about three weeks ago to Kentucky," Meador said. "They were having official visits, but I had some one-on-one time with Coach [Joker] Phillips for about 30 minutes. I really like the location because I can always come home if I want. The campus really surprised me and it seems like they have a good environment."

Meador is in the midst of his high school basketball season, but he plans to take time out to visit Wisconsin later this month. The Badgers have been one of the most consistent schools showing him interest.

"I plan on taking a trip up to Wisconsin on Feb. 26," Meador said. "The o-line coach said he was very impressed with the highlight film they got when he came up. They really like my size, I fit what they're looking for on the o-line and he's real impressed with my footwork."

Meador's basketball schedule will likely force a postponement of other campus visits this winter. He will pick up visits again in the spring and has a few teams in mind he hopes to visit.

"I followed Tennessee [growing up], and they've been sending me stuff so I'm kind of happy about that," Meador said.

As a junior, Meador earned all-conference, all-area and all-state accolades for his play on the gridiron. He also starts at center on his high school basketball team.