DePriest not ready to make college decision

Springfield junior ranked 35th in the country

Trey Depriest of Springfield is ranked No. 35 in the ESPNU 150 national recruiting ranking list. Staff file photo by Barbara J. Perenic

Barbara J. Perenic Trey Depriest of Springfield is ranked No. 35 in the ESPNU 150 national recruiting ranking list. Staff file photo by Barbara J. Perenic

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By Brian Plasters, Staff Writer 9:35 PM Saturday, June 12, 2010

SPRINGFIELD — Trey DePriest won’t be rushed and he’s going to make his college choice when he’s ready — not before.

In the past few weeks Wayne quarterback Braxton Miller and Centerville defensive lineman Michael Bennett verbally committed to play college football at Ohio State.

DePriest, Springfield High School’s much sought-after senior linebacker, resides on the same ESPNU 150 national recruiting ranking list with Miller and Bennett. Miller is ranked No. 16, DePriest is No. 35 and Bennett is No. 126.

At last count, DePriest had nearly 30 scholarship offers from colleges across the country.

Included in that mix are national powers Ohio State, Alabama and Florida. DePriest could unofficially end his recruitment with a similar decision to attend one of those big-time programs, but he’s taking his time.

“I feel like whenever I need to commit, I’m going to go ahead and do it,” DePriest said. “As of right now, I don’t feel like I’m ready to commit yet.”

DePriest said he wants to have his decision by the end of the football season, but he’s not firm on that, either. “If I feel like I need to commit before then, I’ll do it,” he said.

One motivating factor to give a verbal commitment (seniors don’t officially sign a National Letter of Intent until February 2011) is to stop the phone calls and unwanted attention that follows high profile recruits.

“Its gets old, man, but this is what I always wanted,” DePriest said. “I just didn’t know it was going to be like that. Everybody knows who you are. It has positives and negatives, but that’s everything you do.”

DePriest returned Wednesday, June 9, from a football camp at Alabama. He traveled with several family members and Springfield assistant coach John Cupps. He has tentative plans to visit Ohio State and Florida, as well.

For now, DePriest is training with his teammates in preparation for the 2010 season. The first game is Aug. 27 at Hamilton.

“This is really his last summer of being a high school kid. Go be a high school kid,” Cupps said.

ontact this reporter at (937) 328-0366 or bplasters@coxohio.com.

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