Gabriel Hunter is still looking for the right fit.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound running back from Kingsbury High School in Memphis has received scholarship offers from 12 schools, including Tennessee, Alabama, Ole Miss, Auburn, Kentucky, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.
The News Sentinel's eighth-best prospect in the state said he will begin his college search when he takes his five official visits allowed by the NCAA this fall.
"Do I fit in with their coaches and their players?" Hunter said when asked what he'll look for in a school. "Will I get a chance to play?
"I don't mind redshirting. I just want to know, if I work hard will I get a chance to start?"
It was Hunter's work as a freshman that helped him become Kingsbury's featured running back.
Kingsbury coach Duron Sutton recalled scouting the freshman team in 2005 in search of help at running back.
That's when he found Hunter.
"We brought him up and he was better than anything we had out there," Sutton said. "He made plays for us and I said, 'We have to have this guy on our team.' "
Hunter's future team is still in doubt.
Hunter said he's recently heard the most from Ole Miss and Texas Tech.
Ole Miss is appealing to Hunter because of new coach Houston Nutt.
Hunter said he was impressed by the way Nutt used running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones together at Arkansas.
"He had two running backs that ran the ball a lot," Hunter said. "They said they think they can work with me on that.
"They believe in running the ball. I appreciate that."
Hunter, who rushed for 2,694 yards and 29 touchdowns last year, also appreciates the work ethic of Alabama's coaching staff.
Hunter, who has visited Alabama twice this summer, said he and the Tide have a similar approach to football.
"They live, breathe and sleep football," he said. "I think I'd fit in there."
Where Hunter fits in with UT is unknown.
Hunter said he likes the Vols but hasn't heard from them since the end of his junior school year.
That could be due to UT's logjam of running backs committed for the 2009 signing class.
Jarvis Giles from Gaither High in Tampa, Fla., committed to the Vols last month.
Giles followed pledges from Damien Thigpen of Stonewall Jackson High in Manassas, Va., Toney Williams of Milton High in Alpharetta, Ga., and Dominique Allen from Henry County High in Paris, Tenn., all of whom could play in the offensive backfield.
Hunter could fit in well at Oklahoma State.
Former Kingsbury tight end Jamal Mosley, who Hunter described as his "best friend," signed with the Cowboys in February.
Hunter said they would both like to reunite in Stillwater, but Mosley hasn't forced the issue.
"He's not pressuring me to go where he is," Hunter said. "He just said it's best to make my own decision."
Hunter's decision could come down to distance.
Hunter said he'd like to choose a school close to home.
"I know I probably won't want to go too far," he said.
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
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Comments » 16
BleedOrange writes:
First
BigOrangeVol writes:
Second.
I think we have a slew of RB's & DB's.
Best of luck to you wherever you choose to go Gabriel.
Coyoteuglyvol writes:
Josh should also point out that Thigpen, Williams, and possibly Allen will end up not in the backfield.
GreerVol22 writes:
some times you feel like a Nutt....
vol4gzus writes:
sometimes ya don't......
Brama writes:
Will probably play DB in college
pdhuff#552644 writes:
"I know I probably don't want to go too far"!
He's a natural for Bama and Shreeveport.
givehim6 writes:
He will play for the nutt, sounds like he wants to be there.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Basically,
He fits in about anywhere. His options are open. TN seems to have backed off.
thesavageorange writes:
We just don't need Mr.Hunter at this point.Unfortunately the only 2 offers he has where I think he has a chance to play is Oklahoma St and Kentucky.
By the way VQ has reported that Akiem Hicks, the big 6'6 300lb Juco DT, has us in his top 2 w/ Oregon.
jasvol writes:
Subscription and advertising losses = excellent way to 'tell' KNS they should let JA go. I betcha they would recoup the losses almost overnight!
Jacksonlover75 writes:
William jackson is better
gobigorange writes:
i dont see chavis being that high on the list. i think he has been a big part of UT's problem for several years now. we used too tackle a lot better.used to hit real hard. now its more arm-tackling. and about the recruit i think we will be alright without this guy
gnm53108 writes:
Thanks General.Good article.This should be the year that the Chief gets things back on track.I think our DL will be alot better than last year.Our sec should be one of the better units weve had in a long time.If we can get the usual great play out of our LB's we are going to field a defense to be FEARED.
Now if we could score a few....Championship??
I really need some frost brewed koolaid.
vols1314 writes:
Speaking of cancelling newspapers have any of yall heard about the Tennessean. Everybody west of Dickson County (which i am) wont get it starting July 27 because "fuels and other costs" well if they are delivering a lot of newspapers over here (which they are)that should pay for that phooey. You dont know how pissed i am. How i am i going to read about the Tennessee football game on sunday mornings. Is anybody else suffering like i am on here?
gnm53108 writes:
vols1314..I canceled that pos newspaper years ago.I just get my vols fix from volsxtra and a couple of other sites.
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