Big Blue's Gilbert attracting interest from college programs

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By Jay Morrison, Staff Writer 11:55 AM Thursday, July 2, 2009

HAMILTON — Hamilton High School senior Darius Gilbert is getting more than just looks from college programs.

The 260-pound defensive end already has six scholarship offers, and coach Jim Place said he is expecting another one from the University of Connecticut any day.

“All of the (Mid-American Conference) schools are looking at him,” Place said

“He’s got a very good highlight tape. He’s just so quick for a 260-pounder, and they think he call fill out to 280 or 290 and still have that quickness.”

Place said Gilbert isn’t ready to make a decision yet, but he is doing his homework.

“He came in (Wednesday) morning after weights and said coach, I want to talk to you about academics,” Place said. “He’s looking at these schools for more than just football, which I thought was really perceptive on his part.”

Two other Big Blue seniors who no doubt will have academics play a role in their collegiate decisions are quarterback Drew Townsend and defensive back Todd Dockery.

Neither has any offers yet, but both players have 3.8 GPAs, which will make them attractive to many schools.

“Drew has had some really good camps,” Place said. “He’s been to four or five of them and come away from all of them with people talking about him.”

Place said New Miami transfer Jerrad Faulkner, a running back, also is getting some looks.

Other than that, things have been pretty quiet on the recruiting front. But Place said he doesn’t expect that to be the case this time next year.

“Our junior class is absolutely loaded,” he said. “We’ll probably have anywhere from eight to 15 of those kids playing in college in a couple of years. We’ve already got people calling about them.”

Contact this reporter at (

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jmorrison@coxohio.com.

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GO BANGO!!!! ITS BEEN A PLEASURE WATCHING YOU ALL THESE YEARS!! MAKE US PROUD! DONT FORGET YOUR ROOTS KIDDO!

hamfb
3:45 PM, 8/20/2009

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It's really great to hear Darius is gonna get a scholarship, his skills came from little blue though not big blue! Coach Place is only out for his own name. As for the Junior class being loaded, dont you mean sophmores! The seniors are really screwed this year with all the broken promises from Place! He wont give them any PT!! way to go Place, glad your in hamilton now!

Disgusted
4:38 PM, 8/19/2009

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