Sunderlands MVP award brings interest

Will Sunderland's MVP performance at the Dallas stop of the Rivals Camp Series presented by Under Armour, made news to the people that matter most. Sure, it was publicized and grabbed Sunderland, a 6-foot-2 safety at Oklahoma's Midwest City High School, a few headlines. But it also grabbed the attention of plenty of college coaches.

That was the desired effect, and Sunderland didn't have to wait long to get exactly what he was looking for. Contact came quickly.

"Alabama reached out the day after the camp. They hit my on twitter and congratulated me. I thanked them and they got my defensive back coach's contact info from me. Then my coach sent the film. They said I should hear on an offer in the next two months. Ohio State started recruiting me after the camp, too.

Sunderland lists four scholarship offers as things stand now, and there are probably more on the horizon. He intends to camp at Alabama this summer and has garnered interest from a long list of other top programs. A visit to Arkansas is on the schedule for next month and one to Ohio State will follow.

"I know Ohio State is a top team and I really like all the winning they do," Sunderland said. "And I know Arkansas had kind of a tough season last year, but they really like me and think I can be the kind of player to help turn stuff around. I like the coaches there a lot, too."

Sunderland also has interest in trips to Kansas State, Nebraska and Missouri but has not set dates for such visits. As for Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, both of which have already offered, Sunderland says he is unlikely to take further offseason visits to either.

"I've probably seen them enough already," Sunderland said of the in-state programs. "I have to try to see some of the other schools now."

As a junior last season, Sunderland helped lead Midwest City to a 9-3 record.