AREA GRID STARS PLAN COLLEGIATE FUTURES

The official early signing period for high school football players is still over a week away, but some local prep stars have already decided where they'll continue their football and academic careers.

Jackson High School all-staters J.P. Hall and Devree Flint, after leading the Indians to an undefeated regular season, plan on keeping their talents in state. According to Jackson head coach Carl Gross, both players have made verbal commitments to Missouri schools.

Hall, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound lineman, has declared his intention to attend the University of Missouri in Columbia. Flint, a 6-1, 200-pound running back, has verbally committed to Southeast Missouri State University.

Both are expected to make their decisions official on Feb. 4, the national signing date for high school football players.

Hall got offers from several Division I colleges, including Iowa and Arkansas State, and he was also pursued by Southeast. Flint, who gained nearly 2,000 yards rushing this season, got offers from schools such as Northwest Missouri and Central Missouri.

But Hall and Flint aren't the only local grid stars expected to sign on the dotted line come Feb 4. Three more Jackson players may also sign letters while a couple of Cape Central Tigers are expected to commit.

According to Gross, quarterback Justin Keen, receiver Travis Wilson and lineman Eric Langston are all getting recruited and may make a decision by Feb. 4. Central stars Tatum Kitchen and Justin Blackmon will also sign on the first day possible.

Blackmon, a 5-8, 175-pound running back, has already made his decision. After gaining over 1,000 yards the past two seasons for the Tigers, Blackmon will continue his education at Evangel Christin College in Springfield.

The NAIA program has reached the national playoffs the last two years.

"It's a real good small-school program," said Cape Central head coach Jerry Dement.

Kitchen's situation is a little more cloudy. The 6-2, 210-pound linebacker has been recruited by some big-time Division I programs, but he may end up staying closer to home.

"A lot of the Division I programs have been tinkering with him," said Tatum's father and Central athletic director Terry Kitchen. "He's what they call a 'comeback player.'"

The elder Kitchen explained if a recruiter doesn't get a certain player they want, they need to have a reserve player to "come back to" as a second-choice.

But make no mistake, Tatum Kitchen will be playing football -- and possibly baseball -- at the collegiate level next season. Local universities vying for his talents have been Southeast, Southern Illinois-Carbondale and Southwest Missouri State in Springfield.

Said Terry Kitchen: "By Friday his decision will be made."

That's not necessarily the case for the three remaining Jackson players. Southeast has recruited all three hard, but other offers have been available.

At 6-5, 190-pounds, Keen has the size to be a collegiate quarterback. But considering the success of the Jackson basketball team, he could also wind up playing hoops.

"Several schools have shown interest in him as a quarterback," said Gross, mentioning Truman State, Central Missouri and Northwest Missouri along with Southeast.

"We all know he's a college football player, it just turns out he might also be a college basketball player."

The 6-foot, 180-pound Wilson may not have the look of a college football player, but that hasn't stopped him from getting recruited. Because of his size, Wilson figured his playing days were through after high school. Getting recruited by Truman State and Southeast appear to have changed his mind.

"When the season was over, Travis didn't know if he was going to play anymore," said Gross. "But as things progressed and people started asking about him, he decided that maybe he could play college football."

Langston, an all-state lineman at 6-2, 215-pounds, may be headed to Kemper Military Junior College in Marshall. But Southeast is still in the hunt.

"I give (Southeast football coach) John (Mumford) and his staff a lot of credit," said Gross. "They've recruited our guys hard and showed great interest. They've treated all five very well."

Other local players being recruited by Southeast are Poplar Bluff quarterback Andy Cisne and running back Jeric Blackmon and Sikeston running back Mark Blissett.

Southeast had previously received an oral commitment from Poplar Bluff lineman Eric Carlson.