Dorial Green-Beckham is still uncommitted. His Missouri roots certainly lend credence to rumors that he will choose the Tigers.
Photo by Sam Soliday
What if the greatest passer in high school history would hook up with the greatest receiver in high school history on the same college football team?
It could happen.
Maty Mauk, who set
four national career passing records this year at
Kenton (Ohio), already has made a commitment to the University of Missouri.
Dorial Green-Beckham, the
national record holder for most career receiving yardage, has grown up in Missouri and may want to stay close to home.
Maty Mauk is already committed tothe University of Missouri.
Photo courtesy of Kenton Times
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Mauk now holds national career records for most passing attempts (2,110), completions (1,353), yards (18,932) and touchdowns (219). He also holds the national total offense record (22,681). Three of those records were held by his older brother, Ben,
who was his quarterback coach the past two years.
This year Maty led the Wildcats to a 14-1 record and Division IV state runner-up honors by passing for 5,413 yards and 68 touchdowns and running for 1,768 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Green-Beckham, a 6-6, 225-pound wide receiver from
Hillcrest (Springfield, Mo.), has been ranked
No. 1 in the MaxPreps/Tom Lemming Class of 2012 Top 100 player rankings throughout the year. He caught 119 passes as a senior for 2,233 yards and 24 touchdowns, closing out his storied career with a national record for receiving yardage (6,356).
The Beckham family has been tight-lipped about their son's college destination, but CBS/MaxPreps recruiting analyst Tom Lemming says, "It (Missouri) would be a great choice and there's some chance it might happen. When I sat down with him (in the offseason), I got a feeling that they wanted him close to home. It would really add excitement for the Tigers over the next four years. Missouri could become a BCS contender with those two guys."
Lemming's guess is that Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State - schools within driving distance - could be in the picture.
"The spread is perfect for Maty Mauk," he continued. "He will set records at Missouri and be an instant star. Beckham can play in any offense."
Mike Mauk, Maty's coach and father, added fuel to the fire when he told MaxPreps, "There's a good chance that will happen. They met last summer and got along well. They would make each other better. They've communicated (this fall). We want him (Green-Beckham) to make the decision that's right for him. Missouri is moving to the SEC and they've got good talent there."
The Kenton coach, who won his 200th game during the playoffs, recalled his youngest son's first game as a freshman.
"He waited his whole childhood and teenage life (to play varsity football). His first game he was sacked and really pounded. He came back and threw three touchdown passes. We lost our first three games, but then we won seven in a row. He did a great job leading our team. Not having him around, it just won't be the same."
Lemming had several comments on records that were set around the country last week.
* On
Sheldon Wilson, who set a state career rushing record at
Anadarko (Okla.): "That's a big deal, because there have been a lot of great running backs to come out of Oklahoma."
* On
Conner Manning, a junior who broke current USC star Matt Barkley's single-season Orange County passing record at
El Toro (Lake Forest, Calif.): "He has decent height (6-2), so he'll be on the radar and be recruited next year. Probably every school in the country will stop by to check him out."
* On
Joseph Sadler, who scored 451 points this year - two short of tying the national record - for
Devine (Texas): "He must be a high school version of Paul Hornung. He's obviously a remarkable athlete and deserves to get a look at the Division I level as a running back or kicker."
* On
Austin Sheehan, who averaged an eye-popping 34.93 yards per catch for
Highlands (Fort Thomas, Ky.): "That's a great accomplishment, because they play great competition."
* Lemming held his annual All-Area banquet Wednesday to honor the top 60 football players in the Chicago area. The banquet is sponsored by Chris Krause of the National Collegiate Scouting Association.
* He revealed that
Gunner Kiel of
Columbus East (Ind.) will be making an official visit this weekend to the University of Notre Dame. He is the nation's top-ranked quarterback and the kind of player who could lead the Fighting Irish to the "Promised Land," according to Lemming. Also visiting will be talented offensive lineman
Josh Garnett of
Puyallup (Wash.).
* Due to lack of turn-around time, Lemming's taped TV show from
St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City, N.J.) was postponed from last week to this Friday (7 p.m., EST, CBS Sports Network). His special guest will be Garrett Shea, who runs the USA vs. the World game, which will be held in Austin, Tex., on Feb. 1.
