Wilson narrowing his list to a top five

Liberal, Kan. running back Kenny Wilson still holds two scholarship offers, but he's focusing on five schools at this point.

"Not much has been going on with schools," the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Wilson said. "It's been pretty quiet most of the summer. The K-State offer was about as big of news as I've had all summer. I've gotten quite a bit of mail, but nothing of real substance other than that."

The offer from the Wildcats made the Big 12 school the second to offer Wilson, following an offer from Kansas earlier in the spring.

"Those two are the only offers I have so far," Wilson said. "I guess the other schools are really wanting to wait until later on before they offer. Several have called my coach and asked for more film. And some have said they were going to wait until this fall to watch some of this year's games before offering."

The four-star rated prospect has begun to watch five schools a little more closely than others already. In addition to the two schools with offers on the table, Wilson is looking at Colorado, Missouri and Oklahoma State. Two of the five are familiar with Liberal High School and the talent the Class 5A school produces

"Missouri and K-State have guys from here on their teams already and have had some in the past," Wilson said. "The guys at those places are telling me to come play with them. But, in a way, I might enjoy going to another school and trying to make my own name, rather than following someone else."

Another factor on Wilson's mind is the depth chart at the school.

"I don't want to get into a situation that has a lot of running backs," the nation's No. 14 rated running back said. "I'm not afraid of going up against other guys at all, but if those guys are there, they are good and the coaches liked them as well. A place with less guys might appeal a little more. A place like K-State has so many running backs to work in. Other schools don't have as many."

Wilson, the No. 3 rated player in the Sunflower State for the Class of 2004, is one of the top sprinters in the Midlands region. Wilson set a state meet record in the 200-meters this spring with a 21.44-second time in the prelims and won the finals with a 21.72. He also brought home the silver in the 100-meters. He capped off his day with a gold in the 4x100-meter relay, the race he said that sticks out the most to him.

"I would guess it probably sticks out the most because we had to come from behind," he said. "We were back quite a bit as I got the baton in the final leg. I managed to catch the guys ahead of me and get out in front of them to get the gold."

Wilson favors the Big 12 Conference schools and doesn't want to get too far from home.

"I plan to stay in the Big 12," he said. "I don't have a favorite among the top five schools. I just want to play in the Big 12. Those schools are far enough away from home that I'm gone from home, yet I'm close enough that I can get home if I needed to."

Wilson does not plan on an early decision and most likely will take all of his visits before making a school choice.

"I want to go see the schools first hand," he said. "Then I'll be able to pick a school that fits me best. I want to find one that will help put me in the right academic environment to get my degree. I want to find a town that I'm comfortable in. And lastly, I want to find a good football program."