Top 100 LB has a leader

Is he the best linebacker in Texas? If you think so, it would be hard to argue with you.

Witness his stat line against nationally ranked Shreveport (La.) Evangel Christian Academy last week: 14 tackles, eight solo stops, one interception, four quarterback pressures and one sack.

Not a bad game. Not a bad game at all, especially considering it was his first of the year

But believe it or not, last Friday night was an ordinary day at the office for Longview (Texas) blue-chip linebacker Marvin Byrdsong. Dominating performances are something that Byrdsong makes commonplace.

Byrdsong says he's "pretty much" narrowed his choices down to four schools: Mississippi State, Texas, Texas A&M and LSU.

He has individual reasons for liking each of the schools.

"I like Mississippi State's defense," the 6-foot-3, 235 pounder said. "Their coaches let them run free and blitz however they want to. That's the style you want to play."

"With Texas, it's the school I always liked growing up. It's the one I would buy a cap at the store for. You know what I mean?"

What about Texas A&M and LSU?

"I like Coach (Ken) Rucker at Texas A&M. And I like their fans, they seem real into the game and pump you up and stuff. With LSU, Coach (Gary) Gibbs tells me that LSU is the place for linebackers if they want to make it into the pros and that they're going to be needing linebackers when it comes my time to get to school."

Not surprisingly, Byrdsong says all of the schools involved have already offered a scholarship. But he has yet to schedule any official visits.

Does he have a leader among his choices?

"It's most likely Mississippi State."

Why the Bulldogs?

"Their coaches and people show me much love when I go down there (for games his older brother Shawn plays for the Bulldogs), and it's the defense," Byrdsong said.

Byrdsong was last in Starkville on Monday night watching MSU defeat Memphis.