Posted March 9, 2008
Nick Kasa, perhaps the best prep football player from the state of Colorado in the 2009 recruiting cycle, isn't real impressed with the No. 1 recruit in the nation in 2008.
I wrote about Kasa for today's paper. I spent some time with him last week one afternoon at track practice at Legacy High School in Broomfield, and I had some interesting material left over after writing the story about the speedy defensive end. I thought I would share it here.
While talking with Kasa we got on the topic of how best to handle the recruiting process while not letting it take over your life and not allowing yourself to get a big head from the all the attention. He seems like a pretty level-headed, easy going guy to me.
Let's face it, egos can be easily inflated with young men who haven't really fully matured being told over and over again for several years how great they are.
Anyway, Kasa brought up Pryor, the dual-threat quarterback from Jeanette, Pa., who was rated as the No. 1 football recruit in the nation for 2008 but still hasn't picked a school. He is said to be debating between Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State.
A few articles and blogs have been written about ugly incidents Pryor has been involved in during the basketball season. Yes, he's quite a basketball player, too. And some have suggested Pryor is enjoying his status and all the attention that comes with it just a little too much.
I've never met Pryor and don't know how valid any of those criticisms are. I do know plenty of people have defended him and he must be a target for fans in the stands everywhere he goes. That seems to come with the territory these days,which is a shame.
Somethng about Pryor doesn't sit well with Kasa. Most recruits seem to be happy when national signing day arrives and they can put the circus behind them. For whatever reason that isn't the case with Pryor and that rubs Kasa the wrong way. I asked Kasa what his parents have said to him about being so highly recruited and this was his answer:
?Don?t get big-headed like some of these guys,? Kasa said. ?Like, I?m not picking on guys, but this Terrelle Pryor guy, I really don?t like him. I don?t think anyone does right now. He?s being like a little girl about his recruiting. I think that?s just taking it too far. You don?t get that big-headed. You?re not at the top of the world already. He?s in high school.?
