Weather forces Leilon Willingham to wait

The weather has ruined Colorado's most intriguing National Signing Day storyline: the decision of Mullen linebacker Leilon Willingham.

Because nearly every school in the Denver metro area shut its doors Tuesday and Wednesday – apparently for cold only, because only a few inches of snow accumulated and all major roads are clear – several school-based signings have been postponed.

Willingham, who initially chose Texas A&M in late December but backed off and since has narrowed his list down to five different schools, was to announce his decision Wednesday at Mullen. Because school is closed, that decision has been pushed to Thursday morning at the school.

Willingham, rated the No. 13 outside linebacker by MaxPreps, will choose among Arizona State, Central Florida, Colorado, Michigan and Washington. The senior was part of a fierce Mullen linebacker trio that also included Brady Daigh (Colorado) and Conor Healy (Air Force).

WILLIAMS FOLLOWS MARSHALL'S FOOTSTEPS
Like his guardian, Miami Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall, Mullen wide receiver Rayshon Williams will be a Central Florida Knight.

The state's most dynamic receiver nearly played his senior season at St. Thomas Aquinas after following Marshall to Miami when the receiver was traded to the Dolphins, but soon returned to Colorado to spend his senior season with the Mustangs. It turned out to be a good decision, as Mullen steamrolled its way to another Class 5A championship and Williams caught 70 passes for 891 yards and eight touchdowns.

ONE DECISION MADE FOR OSSELLO
Before the football season, Wheat Ridge quarterback Nick Ossello had verbally committed to play lacrosse. Then Ossello's senior campaign on the gridiron was so stellar (1,563 rushing yards, 34 combined rushing and passing TDs) that he started to get looks in football too.

He had considered Air Force, where he would be afforded the opportunity to do both, but now has indicated his football days are over. Despite a torn meniscus suffered in a preseason lacrosse tournament, Ossello will concentrate on that sport only. Maryland is still in consideration, as is Notre Dame. He will announce his decision next week.

TOP TALENT FLEEING
The question persists every signing day: How much of the state's top talent stayed home? The answer in 2011 is not much.

Of the five in-state players in MaxPreps' Top 25 nationally at their positions, only one is staying in Colorado (that could shift to two if Willingham chooses Colorado). The one staying is Thompson Valley running back Dorian Brown, who will play at Colorado State. Brown, who missed his senior season because of a knee injury, is rated the No. 10 big back.

Otherwise, No. 8 big back Adonis Ameen Moore of Mullen chose Syracuse; No. 14 combo passer Brock Berglund of Valor Christian backed off of a long verbal commitment with Colorado in December and chose Kansas; and No. 20 offensive lineman Brendon Austin of Chaparral is Stanford-bound.

Additional key misses by in-state programs include Williams (UCF), Denver East cornerback Ezekiel Bishop (Arizona), Grandview linebacker Eddie Yarbrough (Wyoming) and Regis Jesuit wide receiver Casey Young (North Dakota).

SOME STAYING HOME
While local college programs missed out on much of the blue-chip talent, not everyone got away.

Colorado State nabbed five in-state players, including Brown, Valor Christian fullback George Talanoa, Monarch defensive end Joe Kawulok and offensive linemen Justin Hansen (Longmont) and Sam Carlson (Poudre).

Colorado signed Daigh, Arvada West offensive lineman Marc Mustoe and will keep its fingers crossed for Willingham.

Air Force often is put on the back burner, although the Falcons clearly have been the state's most successful college program over the past decade. Included in the Falcons' class is Healy (one of the Mullen linebackers), Chaparral wide receiver Christian Gann and Regis Jesuit tight end Drew Dyer.

"Air Force isn't always regarded as one who lands the big recruits, but if you look at the players they got from Colorado, there's some big-time talent and versatility," Regis Jesuit coach Mark Nolan said.

Paul Willis is a regular sports freelancer for The Denver Post and covered high school, college and pro sports for the Rocky Mountain News from 2000-09. You can reach him at gdpdub@aol.com.