Stanley isnt going to rush things

Teresita (Okla.) Tahlequah three-star quarterback Nathan Stanley believes this season will be something special for his team and for his future.

There are monster expectations about how far Tahlequah could go in the state playoffs this season and everybody in Oklahoma already knows Stanley is one of the most heavily recruited quarterbacks in the Heartland.

"I feel like I've worked pretty hard this offseason and it's going pay off," Stanley, who is ranked as the No. 8 player in Oklahoma, said. "I hope to have a great season. I have some great players to throw to. One of my go to guys is Hunter Cunningham, who also plays running back. He has great speed and great hands, so I love hitting him on the field."

When it comes to his future, Stanley has stuck with a pretty consistent list of favorites.

"I have offers from Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Colorado State, Northwestern, Iowa State and Tulsa," Stanley said. "I kind of have a top five set up now – K-State, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, OU, and Florida State.

"Arkansas, OU, and Florida State are all recruiting me. They're showing a lot of interest, but none of them have quite offered me. I'm hoping they do. I'm not real sure, but I get a lot of mail from those schools."

Stanley said if he had to pick one school to offer him, he'd love to get an offer from the Sooners.

"They were my team growing up," Stanley said. "I went to a spring practice and talked to coach Bob Stoops, and he said he really likes the way I play. He looks forward to seeing how my season goes. He said he'll come by my school when he's out recruiting, but they're showing a lot of interest. They stay in touch with my coach a lot, so I'm hoping they offer me."

At this point, Stanley is convinced he wants to take official visits.

"I want to take my official visits, but none of them are set up yet," he said. "I plan on going to watch some games, but I have to look and see what my schedule is going to be like. OU-Texas would be real cool. It's going to be a really big game."

When it comes to making a decision, Stanley said he's got a few important things in mind.

"I'll probably just focus on how the team looks and what my chances are of playing early," he said. "I just want to know how the coaching staff has been lately, how they've developed players and how good they've been to me.

"I feel I'm a playmaker. I feel like I make good decisions and I can run. I get on the edge and throw the football. I'm more of a pro style, where I sit in the pocket and find my receivers, but I have some speed to me and I can make plays with my feet if I need to."