RB Cooley is on the verge of offers
Recruiting is picking up at Hope Mills (N.C.) Gray's Creek. Head coach David Lovette has a star tailback that is on the verge of pulling in his first scholarship offer.
"Recruiting is coming along," Lovette said of running back Devonte Cooley. "He's received mail from Illinois, Marshall, NC State, East Carolina, Maryland, Wake Forest, Duke, Tennessee and Clemson.
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"ECU actually offered under the old staff. The new staff wants to eyeball him. I think NC State is very close to an offer too."
Cooley plans to head to NC State and East Carolina for their spring games on Saturday.
Lovette went on about his 6-foot-0, 185-pounder.
"He's just real explosive and a really good athlete," he said. "He's run for over 3,000-yards and had about 1,800-yards last season. He was all-region and all-conference. He's got real good hands, can catch and doesn't look as heavy as he is. He's a very good defensive player too, very physical.
"He's also a real good kid, and pretty good in the classroom too."
Cooley isn't the only prospect to watch at Gray's Creek though.
"We've got another player to watch in 6-foot-4, 250-pound offensive lineman Derrick Evans," he said. "He's pretty quick and has great feet. He's very coachable and does anything you ask.
"He's been a three year starter for us and is very consistent. He's explosive too and his lower body hasn't caught up with his upper body yet. He is already qualified with a 3.0 GPA and over 1,000 on the SAT."
Rounding out the talent is a player to watch in 2012, defensive end Mike Keck.
"He is 6-foot-4, 220-pounds and one of the hardest workers in the weight room," he said. "He had about 10 sacks last year and returned a fumble for a touchdown. He is very coachable and a very physical player. He's a great technician and a great athlete too.
"Colleges don't know about him yet, but he's going to go to some camps this summer."