Texas TE best that nobodys talked about

Twenty five schools have called in May. Fourteen schools have offered a scholarship. He earned a scholarship was on signing day for the Class of 2003 back in February. Sounds impressive, right? Well, how come nobody has talked about Irving, Texas, tight end Vincent Chase when mentioning the top players for the Class of 2004 in the state of Texas?

In fact, Chase, who is 6-foot-5 and 243-pounds, might be the best player that people aren’t talking about in the Lone Star State. But Chase, who has a 4.7-second 40-yard dash, 295-pound bench-press, 375-pound squat and a 30-inch vertical, has the offers of a major college prospects and both on film and in person he’s impressive.

“I’m a real good blocker and all around tight end,” Chase said. “I can block very well and I can go out and get the ball. I can do both really good. I think that’s why I’m getting recruiting hard. My team’s offense is a four-wide offensive set and I play the slot quite a bit. I never come off the field.”

He’s definitely a warrior.

A warrior that has already earned scholarship offers from SMU, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Florida, LSU, TCU, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Colorado State, Syracuse, Kansas State, Kansas and Louisiana Lafayette. Chase’s climb up the recruiting ladder looks a lot like the one that Colleyville (Texas) Heritage tight end J.B. Phillips made about this time last season, but Phillips didn’t have this many offers this early in the process.

Iowa State was the first to offer Chase back on signing day of last year’s recruiting class. On Thursday night he got calls from Nebraska, Louisiana Lafayette and Kansas. All of them offered him scholarships.

“This is big,” Chase said. “Honestly, this whole thing… I have an older brother, Bobby Chase, and I’ve always kind of been in his shadow. He was the star receiver for us last season, but it’s kind of funny. I’ve come out of his shadow now and it’s my turn to shine. I didn’t think this was going to be this big. I’m so thankful and so blessed.”

Even Chase’s family is getting into the recruiting process.

“They’re overwhelmed,” Chase said. “They’re digging it. My dad is loving it. He’s kind of a well known around Dallas and now everybody is coming up to him asking him about me. He’s really getting a kick out of it.”

Chase said he’s not even close to having a leader and at this point isn’t sure about where he’s going to camp at.

“I’ll probably hit some ones that are closer to home,” he said. “I know I’ll go down to SMU since it is right down the street. I might see Baylor and I might go up to Oklahoma, but I’m not really sure right now.

Chase had 13 receptions for 295 yards and averaged 22.6 yards a catch as a junior. Those stats aren’t shocking but that doesn’t discount that he’s an elite prospects in the Lone Star State. And hopefully now he won’t be known anymore as the best player in Texas that nobody is talking about.