The St. Louis metropolitan area has long been a recruiting destination for the football programs from the Big Ten Conference. This year is no exception as several players from the metro area are beginning to make their collective mark at various Big Ten schools.
The Wisconsin Badgers are currently 5-0. The Badgers feature former area standouts in defensive tackle Dan Moore (O’Fallon, Ill.), defensive back Niles Brinkley (Beaumont), and freshmen tailback Montee Ball (Timberland) and wide receiver Kraig Appleton (East St. Louis).
Iowa is currently 4-1 with former area players such as defensive end Adrian Clayborn (Webster Groves), wide receiver Marvin McNutt (Hazelwood Central) and wide receiver Paul Chaney (SLUH).
Marvin McNutt enjoyed a breakout performance last weekend during Iowa’s 24-21 victory over Arkansas State. McNutt caught four passes for 121 yards and scored the first two touchdowns of his collegiate career to help the Hawkeyes avoid an upset from the Indians. McNutt caught touchdown passes of 41 and 43 yards. Clayborn scored the big touchdown on a blocked punt and return in the Hawkeyes’ victory at Penn State the previous weekend.
The University of Minnesota has several area players, including leading rusher Duane Bennett (O’Fallon, Ill.). The Gophers also have defensive tackle Brandon Kirksey (Hazelwood East), receiver/return specialist Bryant Allen (Maplewood), and linebacker Aaron Hill (Lutheran St. Charles).
Northwestern features top rusher Stephen Simmons (SLUH) and linebacker Quentin Davie (Cardinal Ritter). Sophomore Jared Van Slyke (John Burroghs) has seen action in four games for 4-1 Michigan while A.J. Jimmerson (Hazelwood Central) is a senior at Michigan State.
The Fighting Illini feature several former metro east standouts, including tailback Jason Ford (Belleville Althoff), receiver Terry Hawthorne (East St. Louis), tight end London Davis (Cahokia) and defensive back Tommie Hopkins (East St. Louis).
There are more area players on the way with the early commitments of such players as Belleville East’s Warren Herring (Wisconsin), the Hazelwood East duo of Don Shumpert and Robert Kirksey (Iowa), Trinity’s Marquise Hill (Minnesota), O’Fallon’s DeRon Flood (Purdue),
Touchdown, Wingo
Former SLUH standout Ronnie Wingo reached paydirt for the first time in his college career on Saturday night in Arkansas’ 47-19 victory over Texas A&M. Wingo, a freshman, scored on an exciting 62-yard run in the fourth quarter of the Hogs’ rout of the Aggies in Fayetteville.
Praying for D.J.
My condolences to my friend Demetrious Johnson on the loss of his mother, Eddie Mae Binion, over the weekend. Ms. Binion was a special lady. Her son’s love and dedication to the African-American community comes from the example that she set for him. We are all praying for you D.J.
McCall commits
The Saint Louis University men’s basketball program received its second verbal commitment this fall when point guard Mike McCall from Chicago announced that he was going to be a Billiken next season. The 6’1” McCall is a senior at Foreman High in Chicago and one of the top-rated guards in the state of Illinois. McCall will join fellow Chicago-area prep standout Dwayne Evans as part of SLU’s current recruiting class. Evans is a 6’6” small forward from Neaqua Valley, Ill.
Earl thanks you
I would like to thank those good folks who turned out at AfroWorld for my first book signing for my new book, You Might Need a Jacket: Hilarious Stories of Wacky Sports Parents. We had a good time telling straitjacket parents sports stories. The book is now available at Afro World. You can also purchase the book at every Borders Bookstores location in the St. Louis metro area, all six Johnny Mac’s Sporting Goods locations in town, World News (Clayton and West Port Plaza) and the St. Louis American (4242 Lindell Blvd.). You can also buy the book on line by going to earlaustinjr.com, Amazon, Prioritybooks.com and Barnes and Noble.com. This Sunday, I will be on the Demetrious Johnson Show on 104.1 to promote the book.
