Big 12 rivals enlist Indians

The Jackson Indian running game officially received the Big 12 seal of approval on Wednesday.

Star running back Mario Whitney and offensive tackle Travis Dambach became the first two Jackson football teammates to sign Division I scholarships in the same year.

Whitney and his blazing speed will play for the Missouri Tigers. The quick 6-foot-5 Dambach will join MU rival Kansas.

"This is a big relief -- a tremendous weight off my shoulders," said Whitney, who rushed for 2,782 yards and scored 43 touchdowns in a first-team all-state senior season.

Whitney gave the Tigers an oral commitment last summer, but Tennessee attempted to woo him in the fall.

"In the long run, I think I made the right decision," said Whitney, citing a new Missouri coaching staff that's trying to turn around a team that went 4-7 in 2001.

Whitney was one of 22 players signed by Missouri on Wednesday.

"He can turn on a dime and not lose any speed," said Missouri coach Gary Pinkel. "You don't coach all those things. I think he has a tremendous future."

Whitney said he's been told that he will begin next year in the role of kick and punt returner. He's not planning to see the Tiger backfield the first half of the season.

"It's a slow process and I'm willing to wait," said Whitney.

The Tigers will be getting a 6-foot, 185-pound blur in Whitney, who rushed for a state record 463 yards in a game against Lutheran North.

Dambach simply calls Whitney "unbelievable."

"I only hope to have someone like that to block for at KU," said Dambach, selected second-team all-state his senior season.

"My best lineman is signing at another school, and the weird thing about it is it's my rival school," said Whitney. "It's great for him. He deserves it. I mean he worked so worked hard. He is, in my opinion, one of the most improved players on our team."

The pair were key figures in a 12-1 season and Jackson's first appearance in the Class 5A semifinals.

"One of the things I've said all year long, and one of the things Mario said all year long, the reason why he's been so successful is because of our offensive line," said Jackson coach Carl Gross.

Dambach decided on Kansas a day after returning from a visit to the campus in Lawrence, Kan., a couple weeks ago. The Jayhawks underwent a coaching change in a 3-8 season, and new coach Mark Mangino and his staff began to pursue Dambach in December. Up to that point, he was being pursued by Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois, Arkansas St. and Northwest Missouri.

Dambach will be redshirted next year, giving him the opportunity to bulk up from his current 260 pounds. He said the idea is to get him in the 300-pound range.

It's been quite a rise for Dambach, who didn't start on the varsity as a sophomore and was merely average as a junior starter

"All of a sudden, his senior year he was dominant," said Gross. "Totally dominant."

Marcus Klund of Cape Central signed to play football at Lindenwood College on Friday.

Klund, a first-team all-district safety who tied for a team-high five interceptions this past season, will be a defensive back at Lindenwood.

Klund was also a first-team all-conference running back for the Tigers.

The Associated Press contributed to the story.