State's Top 10 prospects: (No. 4) Memphis' Malone cool on praise

Keiwone Malone

Keiwone Malone's ego won't likely be affected by his latest accolade.

The 6-foot, 165-pound wide receiver from Memphis Mitchell High School is the News Sentinel's fourth-best college football prospect in the state.

Many athletes would congratulate themselves if they were to receive such recognition.

Mitchell coach Nathan Cole said Malone, who's committed to Alabama, doesn't pay attention to his own press clippings.

"He's just a team player," Cole said. "He's not one of those types of guys that has their head swollen. He's a normal guy."

Malone has also developed into a leader.

Cole said Malone's playful personality off the field has helped him bring his teammates together on it.

"He's a jokester," Cole said. "He makes people comfortable even though he has the status that he does. He doesn't take it for granted."

Cole tries not to take Malone's talent for granted.

Cole pointed to Mitchell's win against Dyersburg in a state quarterfinal game last November.

Malone set a state record for receiving yards in a game with his 358-yard, three-touchdown performance.

"You talk about it being 20-something degrees outside," Cole said. "I was frozen from my ankle to my hip but this kid was catching the ball like it was 95 degrees outside."

Malone decided in February to end his recruitment early and commit to Alabama.

He made the decision nearly a year before National Signing Day to limit his distractions.

"I just wanted to get all the pressure off my back and just focus on all my academics," Malone told the Memphis Commercial Appeal after his commitment.

He has since decided to visit other schools, according to Cole, who said Malone plans to visit Miami and Georgia.

He said Malone has received a scholarship offer from Miami as well as LSU, Ole Miss, North Carolina and Kansas, but not Georgia.

Missing from the offer list is Tennessee.

Cole said UT's coaching staff showed interest early and asked Malone to visit one of Tennessee's camps this summer, but he wasn't able to make the trip.

Cole said he expected UT to show more interest in Malone.

"It really surprised me because Tennessee was one of the schools on his list," Cole said. "It was kind of surprising they weren't more aggressive trying to get him to sign."

Cole believes Malone's best football will come after he signs with Alabama in February.

Cole, referring to Malone's light frame, said a college weight program should help him blossom into a college star.

"The sky's the limit for this kid," Cole said. "The knowledge for football is already there. Once they put what he needs on him, he's one of these types of kids that's going to play (in the NFL) on Sundays."

Josh Ward is a freelance contributor.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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