Texas junior working hard

Austin (Texas) Lake Travis quarterback Garrett Gilbert is one of the nation's top junior quarterbacks. The 6-foot-3, 186-pounder looked great at the Fort Worth NIKE Training Camp earlier this spring and has had a successful start to his senior season.

He's now focused on making the most out of his junior season and along the way he knows the recruiting attention will take care of itself.

"We're doing pretty well," he said. 'We're 2-1 so far and we've had a slow start, but we're playing pretty well now. We played three pretty good teams. I've been making some mistakes, but the other night I played pretty well the first of the game. Then I kind of forced the ball too much. I just need to be making sure I relax and know who my reads are and stuff.

"We had a bye week then we open up district with Burnett. They're a pretty good team this year."

Gilbert said he's worked hard at improving his game. He also has worked hard on becoming a better field general both on and off of it.

"I want to lead the team as best I can and do what it takes to win the game," he said. "Even if we run it every play, it doesn't matter to me as long as we win. We had a goal of taking it one game at a time through district and have that same philosophy throughout the playoffs. We've got a lot of good tools. A great defense, some good receivers and a real good running back, too.

"I think if everyone keeps on working, I think we have a good shot of going a long way in the playoffs."

Gilbert said he's still looking for his first official offer. But since schools have been able to start sending juniors mail, his mailbox has been pretty full.

"There's been a bunch of different schools from all over," he said. "I'm just trying to take it as it comes, but I'm mostly focusing on what's going on with our team this year. I'm thinking about taking some visits, but I don't know yet.

"I went to the UT camp, I went up to the Tennessee camp and the Sam Houston State camp this past summer. They were all real good camps. I learned a lot, mostly footwork stuff. We did a bunch of different drills and stuff like that, drop back and stuff.

"I'm pretty open to go anywhere. I haven't really thought about it much yet. Whenever the season is over I'll be talking about it, but I'm not thinking about it at all right now."

Gilbert has also been linked with California and Texas Tech.