Texas juniors making strides
The noise from the Conroe (Texas) Oak Ridge High School mat room was raucous. Iron was slamming in the weight room as the War Eagles went through a spirited offseason workout.
Leading the fire-up squad were brothers Tevin Henderson and Jay Buchanan, who will pace the north Houston school in 2008.
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Henderson was a second-team, all-district selection at defensive tackle last season, while Buchanan played four different positions and earned the same district honors.
"Tevin has great feet for a big man and could play offensive or defensive tackle at the next level," Oak Ridge assistant Lonnie Madison said. "He's got a great motor and is the leader of our defense."
Henderson has been contacted by the likes of Oregon State, Boise State, Houston, TCU, Oklahoma State and Missouri.
The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Buchanan is a versatile talent, who played quarterback, receiver, corner and middle linebacker for Oak Ridge last season.
"He's so talented and really projects as a safety or a receiver," said Madison, who starred at Texas A&M said. "We just have to have him on the field making plays."
He had more than 200 receiving yards and took three kickoffs for touchdowns as a junior. Buchanan showed his speed and physical play at middle linebacker last season, running down ball carriers and breaking up plays behind the line of scrimmage.
"I really like Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Boise State," he said. "I'm going to the Houston Nike Camp and some one-day camps this summer. I play baseball and run track, so that cuts into some of my spring practice."