Stephens earns offers

The crop of running backs in the state of Texas is one of the deepest ever in the class of 2009. However, one player from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex has been largely under the radar – until now.

Mansfield Timberview's Eric Stephens received his first two offers recently. One was somewhat expected while the other came as a surprise.

"I finally got my official offer from Minnesota," said the 5-foot-8, 178 pound junior. "Also, I just got offered by Houston. That one came as a surprise cause I didn't even know they were really recruiting me or anything."

Another school that has been showing him heavy interest is Georgia Tech.

"I've been trying to get in touch with the Georgia Tech coaches because they were pretty close to offering," Stephens said on Tuesday evening. "I kept missing them but I talked to coach (Todd) Spencer tonight.

"He said he figured all kinds of schools were throwing offers my way but he said Georgia Tech doesn't do that. He's coming out here next month to come and watch me during spring ball. He said they really liked me and wanted me to come to their camp and all this. I think he was liking me but he's just not willing to throw that offer out there yet."

Stephens has a legitimate interest in the Gophers, Cougars and Yellowjackets but he has three other schools that are currently standing out in his mind.

"I'm really looking forward to Oklahoma talking to me," he said. "Oklahoma, LSU and Texas are still my top three schools. I really haven't heard that much from LSU or Texas so I don't know how interested either of them are.

"I know the running back from Garland (Jonathan Miller) committed to OU but I think they're gonna take a couple backs. I played against him my sophomore year when I was at Arlington Sam Houston. He's a good player."

Stephens rushed for 1,906 yards and 23 touchdowns, averaging 9.4 yards per carry, in helping lead the Timberwolves to the third round of the playoffs this past season. For his efforts, he was voted the district's Offensive Player of the Year by the coaches.