Defensive player of year wants to stay in Wyoming

Green River's Andrew Meredith hopes to continue his football career at the University of Wyoming next fall.

By Robert Gagliardi
rgagliardi@wyomingnews.com

CHEYENNE -- Andrew Meredith said he would like to stay in Wyoming to play college football.

That means the Green River safety would play at the University of Wyoming, and the 2008 Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year said he will make an official visit to the Laramie campus this week.

"It would be nice to stay close to home and have all the hometown Wyoming fans there," said the 5-foot-11, 176-pound Meredith, who was in Cheyenne last weekend as a member of the Green River boys basketball team.

Meredith is a safety and recorded 346 tackles in his four-year high school career. As a senior he had 237 defensive points, which included 91 assisted tackles, 45 solo stops, six tackles for loss, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

He is a two-time Class 5A all-state selection.

However, Meredith said UW

told him that it has no scholarship openings for safeties. The Cowboys already have verbal commitments from three high school safeties.

Meredith said he has been in contact with new UW football coach Dave Christensen and his staff about once a week since Christensen was hired early last month.

Verbal commitments are non-binding. NCAA rules prohibit college coaches from talking to the media about recruits until they have signed their national letters of intent. Signing day is Feb. 4.

Meredith said he has scholarship offers from two Football Championship Subdivision schools in Southern Utah and Weber State, as well as from NAIA member Carroll College in Helena, Mont.

NAIA schools usually don't offer full-ride scholarships, and FCS schools can split or offer full scholarships.

Football Bowl Subdivision schools like UW can only offer full-ride scholarships.

Meredith said he has not been offered by a FBS school, but Utah has offered him a chance to walk-on.

When asked if he would be interested in UW if it asked him to walk-on, Meredith said: "I would be interested in that. It's always good to stay in Wyoming."

Only one high school senior in Wyoming has committed to a FBS school. Gavin Mills (6-3, 187) of Powell committed to the Air Force Academy. He was offered a scholarship by UW and also was recruited by FCSS member Montana.

Running back Tommy Earl of Casper's Natrona County High also was offered by UW, but he signed to play basketball at Division II Metro State in Denver.

Gillette's Spencer Bruce (6-5, 205) appears to be drawing interest from several schools. Bruce played defensive and receiver for the Class 5A state champions. According to Rivals.com, he is being recruited by UW, Colorado, Colorado State, New Mexico, Southern Mississippi, UNLV, Utah and Boise State.

However, he has yet to receive any scholarship offers.

UW update

The Cowboys had nearly 20 recruits visit last weekend, and got verbal commitments from defensive lineman Mike Purcell (6-3, 260) from Highlands Ranch High in Highlands Ranch, Colo., and from tight end David Tooley (6-5, 200) from Moberly, Mo.

Purcell received a 5.4 grade from Rivals.com, and also played offensive guard. Rivals.com reported Purcell also was recruited by Colorado State, Utah, Boise State, New Mexico, Brigham Young, Hawaii and Utah State.

Moberly reportedly runs between a 4.5 and 4.6-second 40-yard dash.

UW also got verbal commitments recently from two prospects from Booker T. Washington High in Tulsa, Okla.: tight end T.J. Smith (6-3, 220) and safety Shamiel Gary (6-1, 205).

Others who were scheduled to visit last weekend include: running back Tim Flanders (5-9, 191) and cornerback Kevin Gaddis (5-8, 152) from Midwest City, Okla., athlete Ghaali Muhammed (5-11, 200) from St. Joseph's, Mo., running back Chris Nwoke (5-11, 205) from Highlands Ranch, Colo., receiver Andre Gautreaux (6-0, 180) from Friendswood, Texas, receiver Fritz Rock (6-0, 205) from Armstrong, Minn., quarterback Austin Carta-Samuels (6-11/2, 195) from San Jose, Calif., and Phoenix College safety Santonyo Jones (5-101/2, 190), who was a teammate quarterback Robert Benjamin, who signed with the Cowboys and is enrolled in school.

2009 UW Football recruiting

Signees

-- Robert Benjamin, QB, 6-2, 205, Phoenix, Ariz. (Phoenix CC)

Verbal commitments

-- Shamiel Gary, S, 6-1, 205, Tulsa, Okla. (Booker T. Washington HS)

-- Devyn Harris, LB, 6-3, 195, Fountain, Colo. (Fountain-Fort Carson HS)

-- Todd Knight, LB, 6-2, 200, Aurora, Colo. (Grandview HS)

-- Trendt Marsom, S, 6-0, 195, Mililani, Hawaii (Kaimuki HS)

-- Jeff Roueche, LB, 6-3, 205, Niwot, Colo. (Niwot HS)

-- Luke Ruff, S, 5-11, 190, Castle Rock, Colo. (Douglas County HS)

-- T.J. Smith, TE, 6-3, 220, Tulsa, Okla. (Booker T. Washington HS)

-- David Tooley, TE, 6-5, 200, Moberly, Mo. (Moberly HS)