Lemon overcoming issues
Houston Yates running back Eli Lemon plans on doing his talking on the field.
Lemon, the school's leading returning rusher, has had a roller-coaster of a summer that came to a screeching halt a few weeks ago. He has been quiet since.
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"Eli is back on the team after showing terrific commitment this summer," Yates coach Clarence McKinney said. "He has worked so hard, but his family suffered a loss about a month ago. His older brother, Howard Smallwood, was shot and killed.
"Orie (Lemon) came down from Oklahoma State and they buried his brother. Eli has been going through a lot."
Lemon, an all-district selection as a junior, has a knack for running the football with a collection of moves, fearlessness and speed. He is working on his academics and preparing for the standardized tests to become academically qualified.
"He has some work to do," McKinney said.
Oklahoma State, Houston, Kansas and Florida has sent stacks of mail and have been in contact with McKinney over the past nine months, but he is still waiting for the paperwork on his first offer.