Three Kowboys sign with colleges

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Three Kowboys sign with colleges

Sports

Friday, 06 February 2009 12:38

By Rick Pedone
Staff Writer
Three Osceola Kowboys determined their college football destinations Wednesday afternoon on National Signing Day.
And, two OHS underclassmen already are garnering offers for Signing Day 2010.
Defensive back Jansen Watson (Iowa State) and offensive linemen James Walker-Brown (Langston University, Okla.) and Ricky Archer (New Hampshire) signed Wednesday before a gathering of family and friends at OHS’ performing arts center.
Watson switched late in the recruiting cycle from Colorado State, where his cousin, defensive back Momo Thomas had an outstanding freshman year, to the Cyclones and Coach Paul Rhoads.
“I was committed to Colorado State, but it seemed like Iowa State had more of the things I was looking for as far as what I was interested in (business) academically,” he said.
Watson feels comfortable with his decision because he knew Rhoads as the defensive coordinator at Auburn before Rhoads took the Iowa State head coaching position.
“Coach Rhoads, I know him well, we have a good relationship,” Watson said.
Watson, 5-9, 170, is one of the fastest Kowboys, clocked in the 4.2s in the 40-yard dash. He will play free safety at Iowa State, 2-10 in the Big 12 Conference.
Watson joins St. Cloud receiver Donnie Jennert at Iowa State. Jennert signed with the Cyclones earlier Wednesday morning.
Kowboys Coach Jeff Rolson said Watson has the ability to become a solid performer in the Big 12.
“I don’t think any freshman knows what he’s getting into with a big program like that until he gets in there, but he has a shot to play as a freshman,” Rolson said. “And, if he doesn’t, there’s nothing wrong with red-shirting and getting a year to get your academics in order.”
Walker-Brown (6-4, 295) has played football for just two seasons after transferring from Liberty for his senior year.
But, coaches at Langston, a NAIA program in Langston, Okla., saw enough on tape to recruit him.
“The thing that I probably need to work on the most is conditioning,” said Walker-Brown, who plans to become a broadcaster.
OHS offensive line coach Kevin Farkas said Walker-Brown, a center for the basketball team, has excellent agility.
Farkas, who played for the Denver Broncos, is convinced that both Walker-Brown and Archer can step in and play as college freshmen.
“There’s absolutely no question about it skill-wise,” Farkas said. “The only thing with James was his conditioning. He’d have a few good plays, but then he’d get tired and he couldn’t stay out there and go-go-go like you wanted him to. But, there’s no question about his ability.”
Rolson said Walker-Brown, who was pursued by Florida International, Florida Atlantic and Florida A&M, just needs experience.
“He’s a raw talent. There’s no doubt that he has a long way to go because he just played football for two years, but he moves well and he’s a very intelligent kid who is going to develop into a very good player for Langston,” Rolson said.
Langston was 10-3 in the Red River Athletic Conference and reached the Central States Football League playoffs under Coach Greg Johnson.
Archer, 6-3, 275, selected New Hampshire in large part because of the school’s success. The Wildcats were 10-3 last season under Coach Sean McDonnell and have reached the NCAA Division I Football Championship Series playoffs five consecutive seasons.
“I was thinking about Maine, but New Hampshire beat them pretty good,” said Archer, who will study business. “I think I’ll like it up there.”
Rolson said Archer, a guard, was key to the Kowboys offensive lines the past two seasons, when OHS was a combined 22-5.
“Ricky is the kind of kid every coach wants to have in his program. He never has a bad practice, he never has a bad game,” Rolson said.
Next year, OHS juniors B.J. Butler and Marc Deas should be at center stage. Butler, 6-3, 240, said that he has been offered scholarships from Florida and Kentucky.
Deas, 6-0, 180, a first-team Class 5A all-state selection at linebacker, has been offered by Kentucky.
“It’s going to be a real bonanza around here next year,” Rolson said. “We also have probably three or four more who are going to sign this year.”