Interest picks up for Alabama WR
A qualifying test score and a recent state record
have led to increased recruiting attention for Cedar Bluff (Ala.) standout
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Josh Moten.
Moten (5-11, 170, 4.5) broke the state's all-time
career record for receiving yards last week in the Tigers' final regular
season game, surpassing 4,100 for his career. That came within a couple of
weeks of receiving an 18 back on his ACT, causing his stock to rise
considerably.
"People have been looking at him all along, but now
that he's a full-qualifier, the intensity on his recruiting has really
picked up," said Cedar Bluff coach Steve Smith. "Vanderbilt, Mississippi
State, Iowa, UAB and Middle Tennessee are very interested in him, and I
assume a few others will be as well because there's been quite a bit of
publicity surrounding his state record down here.
"He's going to make someone an awfully good player
and a nice student-athlete (3.5 GPA)."
Moten, a four-year starter and team captain since
his freshman year, has caught 55 passes for 1,088 yards and 12 touchdowns in
helping lead the Tigers to a 10-1 record.
"Had Jason Swain and Chad Jackson not
been coming out this year, Josh would have been considered a top five kid,"
Smith said. "That's not to take anything from them because they're the real
deal, probably the best we've seen around here in 10 years. But they're the
guys who have some things Josh doesn't -- the 6-2 frames and 4.4 speed -- so
he kind of gets overshadowed. You can't just go on his size, though. He's a
player.
"He's also as a good a kid as I've been around. He's
never missed a day of school, never missed a workout, never missed a
practice, never missed a game... nothing. He's like clockwork. It's been
pretty amazing. He's got the work ethic and the desire to be the best he can
be at everything. He plays every sport for us -- football, basketball,
baseball and runs track -- and he is a key player for each team. That's just
the type of kid he is."