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One of the fastest kids in the state of Texas changed his commitment from Tulsa to Georgia Tech yesterday - Marcus Wright. Marcus will certainly be a "slotback", one of those two backs that line up typically just outside the OT's in the triple option. Wright is actually from the Atlanta area, but lives and plays in 5A ball in Texas. Was all-state 1st team and the state 5A offensive player-of-the-year. He's also a participant in the US Army All-American Bowl. As a sophomore at a Nike camp, he was electronically timed at 4.36 in the 40. Not bad. Not bad at all. He also runs track.
Now, as a junior he racked up 3,374 yards rushing and 45 TD's (including 8 rushing TD's in one game), which was good enough for the 7th best season ever in the state of Texas by a tailback.
So if he's all-that-and-a-bag-of-chips, then why did he commit to Tulsa? No major powers? It appears that after his committment to Tulsa he did receive offers from some of the major BCS schools in-state, but he decided not to change......... until now..
There's another issue that probably scares off some - he's 5'7", 170lb (listed at 5'6" by Rivals.com). No doubt the size-police blew the whistle for a lot of schools. However, a quick, shifty, speedster makes for a nice slotback if you ask me. I believe you generally want fast, cut-back, smaller guys in this role. In his videos you could see the speed, but I was just as impressed with his vision and cutback ability. Seems like a nice get for PJ.
Here are some links from around the web (some taken from posters at the Hive):
Bio 1Bio 2 with vids
Texas InsideA look at his 06 season
All-State RB in Texas and Offensive POTY, 2007
On San Antonio's all-time rush list
HS stats
(San Antonio link)
One last side note - Wright was Tulsa's first commitment in their class and Wright's father indicated that Tulsa coaches were pretty upset at the switch. So the next time we go bashing Spurrier or Saban for stealing our guys, I guess we have to remember those ole standby lines - "All's fair in love and war", or maybe "what comes around goes around", or "don't count your chickens" or maybe "that's just life in the big city". Not sure, but the shoe sure is on the other foot now.
In fact, the Rival article after his commit to Tulsa ended with this:
I put that here not to cast negative light on a good day. Just that until ink is to paper, nothing is certain, and these kids are making life decisions. I don't fault Chris Jackson or AJ Jenkins or the other de-commits. It hurts to see them go, but only from the standpoint that they could have helped and represented GT football.
Anyhow, welcome aboard Marcus. You did make the right choice.
Now, as a junior he racked up 3,374 yards rushing and 45 TD's (including 8 rushing TD's in one game), which was good enough for the 7th best season ever in the state of Texas by a tailback.
So if he's all-that-and-a-bag-of-chips, then why did he commit to Tulsa? No major powers? It appears that after his committment to Tulsa he did receive offers from some of the major BCS schools in-state, but he decided not to change......... until now..
There's another issue that probably scares off some - he's 5'7", 170lb (listed at 5'6" by Rivals.com). No doubt the size-police blew the whistle for a lot of schools. However, a quick, shifty, speedster makes for a nice slotback if you ask me. I believe you generally want fast, cut-back, smaller guys in this role. In his videos you could see the speed, but I was just as impressed with his vision and cutback ability. Seems like a nice get for PJ.
Here are some links from around the web (some taken from posters at the Hive):
Bio 1Bio 2 with vids
Texas InsideA look at his 06 season
All-State RB in Texas and Offensive POTY, 2007
On San Antonio's all-time rush list
HS stats
(San Antonio link)
One last side note - Wright was Tulsa's first commitment in their class and Wright's father indicated that Tulsa coaches were pretty upset at the switch. So the next time we go bashing Spurrier or Saban for stealing our guys, I guess we have to remember those ole standby lines - "All's fair in love and war", or maybe "what comes around goes around", or "don't count your chickens" or maybe "that's just life in the big city". Not sure, but the shoe sure is on the other foot now.
In fact, the Rival article after his commit to Tulsa ended with this:
When asked what he's going to tell other college programs that try to change his decision, the speedster who once ran back five kickoffs in a Pop Warner game responded, "I'm going to tell them I'm committed to Tulsa, and I'm going to be a Golden Hurricane."
I put that here not to cast negative light on a good day. Just that until ink is to paper, nothing is certain, and these kids are making life decisions. I don't fault Chris Jackson or AJ Jenkins or the other de-commits. It hurts to see them go, but only from the standpoint that they could have helped and represented GT football.
Anyhow, welcome aboard Marcus. You did make the right choice.