Wright makes his case to help recruits

Antron Wright isn't going anywhere.

As a matter of fact, Wright's "On Track" program designed to help South Florida high school students is growing, thanks in part to media coverage in response to criticism of his role in the recruiting process.

"I've gotten together with some ex-ballplayers," said Wright, a former high school football coach. "We're all getting together. There's about 10 of us. When they saw the articles, they knew me. They said we all can get together and do this. That was an inspiration.

"I have some people that saw those articles, called me, and brought their sons to me. They've asked my opinion about what camps I think they should go to."

Wright, 29, came under criticism last year as he worked closely with several college coaches, including Tennessee running backs coach Trooper Taylor. UT signee Demetrice Morley called Wright a "father figure" for the part he played in preparing the South Florida defensive back for college.

The criticism continued to mount when it appeared UT had the inside track on another Miami star: safety Kenny Phillips. In mid-January, Phillips seemed close to committing to UT. He eventually signed with Miami. Phillips said Wright was little more than an acquaintance.

"I didn't know there were adults out there that aren't happy when a kid gets a scholarship and goes to college," Wright said. "I didn't know you had to go to a particular college to make people happy."

Wright said the two main ways he helps high school prospects is by providing tutors and transportation to summer football camps.

The long-term prospects may be even better for Wright. He hopes his relationships with South Florida prospects turned college players will benefit his program if the NFL becomes their final football destination.

"It would help," Wright said of the potential for NFL donations. "That would help a great deal in the community."

Wright says helping the community became his mantra after a frustrating end to a promising athletic career. Wright was once a high school prospect from Palmetto, Fla., in 1994. He lived the all too familiar tale of an athlete that was more concerned about football than academics.

Because of academic shortcomings, Wright's collegiate options were limited. He attended junior college before landing at Bethune-Cookman. After that, Wright signed a free agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens. He was cut before the season began. His playing career was officially over after one season in the defunct XFL.

Wright said he gets the most attention from the fewest athletes that he helps. He said the athletes that garner major college attention are a small fraction of whom he helps.

"He's a good guy, he helps a lot of kids in that area," Taylor said. "He never asks for anything, he never got anything. He had a bad experience himself and he tries to make sure the kids don't go through that same situation that he did.

"The things you know about are the superstars that he knows. But you never hear about those kids that he helps go to smaller colleges."

Said Wright: "All of them should get help whether they're going to I-A, Division II, or whatever it is. It makes me feel good when I see a kid smile because he's going to college."

Perhaps the greatest benefit of knowing Wright for a college athlete is being able to utilize his vast connections. Wright knows coaches from Colorado to Rutgers to Auburn to Miami. He said he has helped more than 50 high school students and worked with more than 10 colleges.

He has plenty of reasons to fear the Miami streets where he grew up. Wright said he lived with his mother after his father was killed when he was 8.

"Just seeing your father laying under one of those yellow blankets, that was enough for me," Wright said. "I didn't want to choose that route. I chose another route. The game of football has been a blessing to me.

Tragedy didn't stop there for Wright. One of his brothers was killed when Wright was in eighth grade and another half brother is serving a 20-year prison sentence.

"The environment I grew up in and this environment down here is pretty rough," Wright said. "To keep a kid off the street and on the straight and narrow, it not only gets a kid an opportunity to go to college but it saves his life. That's what made me want to come back and help kids.

"There are two doors you can enter. You can enter the one that says prison or death or you can enter the one that says opportunity."

Wright said he left Killian High School because he was more interested in encouraging kids than coaching football. Wright said he would only consider a college position if he returned to coaching.

Wright said he learned from Morley's recruitment and believes Morley's collegiate options increased after he attended summer football camps in 2004. Wright said the experience has convinced him to take more prospects on more trips this summer.

The future seems bright for Wright and his program, which he said, has been primarily funded by county grants. Wright said he plans to branch out to other sports in order to reach more kids.

No doubt, that will give critics even more to talk about.