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News Sentinel Top 10 in Tennessee, No. 8: Gabriel Hunter of Memphis Kingsbury

Runner's goal: A chance to start

By Josh Ward (Contact)
Originally published 11:00 p.m., July 7, 2008
Updated 11:00 p.m., July 7, 2008

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.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

       28 Comments

Posted by BigOrangeVol on July 7, 2008 at 11:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Second.

I think we have a slew of RB's & DB's.
Best of luck to you wherever you choose to go Gabriel.

Posted by Kosmo on July 8, 2008 at 12:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

4th Thank God for a Kentucky edumacation.

Posted by Coyoteuglyvol on July 8, 2008 at 3:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Josh should also point out that Thigpen, Williams, and possibly Allen will end up not in the backfield.

Posted by GreerVol22 on July 8, 2008 at 7:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

some times you feel like a Nutt....

Posted by vol4gzus on July 8, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

sometimes ya don't......

Posted by Brama on July 8, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Will probably play DB in college

Posted by pdhuff on July 8, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"I know I probably don't want to go too far"!

He's a natural for Bama and Shreeveport.

Posted by givehim6 on July 8, 2008 at 10:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

He will play for the nutt, sounds like he wants to be there.

Posted by awhill00 on July 8, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

We should have wrapped this guy up already.

Posted by nicksjuzunk on July 8, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Basically,

He fits in about anywhere. His options are open. TN seems to have backed off.

Posted by marc_ash on July 8, 2008 at 12:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Probably won't come to Knoxville. Sounds like he has better options elsewhere. We shall see.

Posted by thesavageorange on July 8, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

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.

Posted by vols0073 on July 8, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Does the KNS really think anyone cares who they think the top rated players are....hell they can even evaluate their own writers let alone a football player. KNS is full of Want-to-B's who will never go any where but the little cubical they share in the new building they cant pay for!...everyone keep canceling your paper subscription. I know for a fact they have lost 15% if there subscribers and 18% of the business advertisers since they allowed JA to spew his hate for the UT football program.

Posted by jasvol on July 8, 2008 at 5:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Subscription and advertising losses = excellent way to 'tell' KNS they should let JA go. I betcha they would recoup the losses almost overnight!

Posted by Jacksonlover75 on July 8, 2008 at 5:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

William jackson is better

Posted by Kosmo on July 8, 2008 at 6:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hahaha his name is Gabriel.

Posted by RichRollin on July 8, 2008 at 10:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey Watermelon, keep it coming with the KILLER info!!

Posted by gobigorange on July 8, 2008 at 11:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

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

Posted by gnm53108 on July 9, 2008 at 1:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

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.

Posted by vols1314 on July 9, 2008 at 1:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

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 crap. 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?

Posted by gnm53108 on July 9, 2008 at 1:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

vols1314..I canceled that pos newspaper years ago.I just get my vols fix from volsxtra and a couple of other sites.

Posted by marc_ash on July 9, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

vols1314,

I don't buy the excuse of fuel costs. Now, I do understand they are insane...but that isn't the only reason papers are failing.

http://www.mediapost.com/publications...

Too bad the predictions from this article haven't been true.

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