Juco OL watches recruitment begin

It's never too early to start thinking about the junior college players and their college recruitment, especially in the powerful Jayhawk conference, where some of the nation's top juco players are present year after year with prospects like offensive tackle Ted Hilgert who is already starting to feel the attention.

Oklahoma, New Mexico State, and South Carolina are the first schools to have shown up on his recruiting radar and the 6-foot-7, 310-pound monster of an offensive lineman has a bit of an early favorite.

"Well the one I favor the most would be Oklahoma, but I'm pretty open about my options," Hilgert said. "New Mexico State talked to my coach and said they wanted more game film on me. They said if I keep playing hard, they would offer."

Hilgert admits there is no list of characteristics he is looking for each school to fit in order for that program to be his choice. He just wants to wait things out and see where it goes.

One thing he will not do is commit early after the first scholarship comes his way.

"I don't see that happeneing," Hilgert said. "I've not redshirted or anything, so I've got three years to play two. I really want to find out who offers and then I'll have some options to look at and go from there with visits and stuff."

Coffeyville Community College is continuing their undefeated streak and seeing their ranking shoot to the top.

"We're doing really well," he said. "We're ranked No. 2 right now in the conference so we're pretty excited about that."

Hilgert is part of a line that has allowed running back Kendrick Smith to carry the No. 13 national ranking with 126 yards per game on the ground. Smith's total yards come to 630 on 78 carries with seven touchdowns.