Kentucky WR weighing options
Jacob Tamme has kept one team
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No. 1 on his list even though that program recently pulled a scholarship
offer from the table.
"Kentucky's pretty much still my first choice," said
Tamme, a 6-foot-5, 205-pound wide receiver and a member of the Rivals.com
Top 15 team. "I went to their game against Middle Tennessee,
and they told me to just be patient and wait. I haven't heard from them
since that time, though, so I'm not sure if I'm still in their plans or not.
I hope I am. I'm trying to stay optimistic, but it's hard to tell if they're
interested."
Kentucky withdrew a longstanding offer to Tamme
after one of its open scholarships for a wide receiver was claimed by
another player. The Wildcats, facing scholarship reductions from the NCAA,
can only sign 18 players for the Class of 2003.
"They said they may look at me at another position,"
Tamme said of UK. "They think I may be able to play free safety or tight
end. But I think they've been looking at some other players for those spots,
so they may not have room."
So where does that leave Tamme?
"I still have offers from Northwestern, Purdue and
West Virginia," he said, "so it's not like I won't have some good
opportunities at some other good schools. Cincinnati came to our school
recently, and Michigan has been calling more of late. Notre Dame is still
sending letters. Middle Tennessee has been in touch. There's still a lot of
interest."
Tamme visited Notre Dame, Purdue, Northwestern and
Michigan on a trip through the Midwest this summer. He said each one left a
favorable impression.
"I really like Northwestern's academics," he said.
"They'd probably be next after Kentucky right now. They haven't had a great
year, but I watched them the other night against Ohio State. They held their
own. I think they'll be a good team in the future.
"West Virginia is just slightly behind them. I like
that offense, and I've gotten to know their coaches pretty well.
"Michigan would be next. Things are really starting
to develop there. I had a great time when I went up there to visit. The 'Big
House' is unbelievable and they've got so much tradition. It's just a neat
place."
Tamme was all-state as a junior after helping lead
the Rebels to their third consecutive state championship, two in Class 2A
and the most recent in 3A. He had 45 receptions for 1,014 yards and 16
touchdowns at wideout and 79 tackles, 14 pass break-ups and 10 interceptions
at safety.
Six games into his senior season he's recorded five
touchdown receptions and four interceptions.