Starks situation shaking out

Click Here to view this video.

Nothing is official as it relates to Nathan Starks. At this point, instability is the norm.

It seems as though Starks will miss two games because of his transfer to Colorado's Cherry Creek High School for Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman. Of course, that's not official. He thinks he'll take a visit to Oklahoma for the game with TCU. That's not official, either.

And while the four-star running back is ready to name a favorite in his recruitment, he follows the larger theme when he does so.

"I'd say Oklahoma is my favorite right now," Starks said. "I'm ready to say that, but I'm still keeping my options open because of my situation. I want to see what happens. But, yeah, Oklahoma is definitely the favorite. I'm not saying anything is set in stone yet, though.

"I'll start setting all my officials once coaches can start calling me, but I talked to Oklahoma about coming out for the TCU game, but that's not official yet, either."

For now, Starks is focused on his senior season -- a season he realizes will be shortened. It's not as bad as it once looked, though. Starks is confident he'll be allowed to play football this fall. His coaches and those around him are keeping him abreast of that.

In the meantime, Starks' daily routine is simple. He goes to school, goes to practice and awaits word from above.

"I haven't gotten the official word, but it's looking like it's going to be me sitting out two games," Starks said. "That's what my coaches and my athletic director are telling me. If I would have stayed in Vegas, it would have been a two-game suspension, so it should be the same out here. I have letters from my school and everything else I need to basically get eligibility in Colorado. My mom is going in for a hearing on Sept, 4."

That's not to say his recruitment is on hold. The Sooners are the frontrunners for the time being. That much is clear. But Notre Dame's current situation has Brian Kelly's program increasing its push. If the Irish were slow playing Starks after he was dismissed from Bishop Gorman in the spring, they aren't now.

"Notre Dame has been contacting me even more than they had been even since the de-commit from Elijah Hood," Starks said. "So I've been talking to them a lot lately."

On top of that, a new school has popped up in the pursuit of Starks. No offer is on the table, but something is brewing.

"Florida State is really turning up the interest," Starks said. "I actually talked to Coach [Tim] Brewster today. They are going to start getting that recruiting process going. He says they are going to start recruiting me really hard come September. He said they want me to be a 'Nole."

Starks says the only official visit he knows he'll take this fall will be to Oklahoma. Notre Dame may receive a trip as well, but the fact that he's seen the Irish's campus makes that less of a priority.

"I took an unofficial to Notre Dame back in April, but I haven't been out to see Norman yet," Starks said. "That's the one place I definitely need to get to."

Starks lists 10 scholarship offers but says he's in frequent contact only with Florida State, Oklahoma and Notre Dame.

Click Here to view this Link.

[rl]