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Signing Day is for the runners
As a group, running backs tend to hold their college preferences close to the vest. And with less than a week until Signing Day, some of the nation’s finest ballcarriers still haven’t publicly announced their destinations. Here are three of the most confusing cases, all of whom say they won’t divulge their intentions until Feb. 7. De'Arrius Howard, RB, 6-0, 217, 4.45, West Memphis, Ark. Howard, SuperPrep’s No. 5 running back, favors TENNESSEE (Jan. 19 official trip -- "They have great tradition and produce amazing athletes," he said.) slightly over MIAMI (Jan. 26 -- "I don't like cold weather,” said Howard. “It was beautiful there. Plus, it's a nice diverse campus with blacks, whites and Mexicans, we all hung out together.") and ARKANSAS (Dec. 8, "It's my home state."). Howard said his decision will not be affected by Miami coach Butch Davis' defection to the Cleveland Browns. "I had heard rumors that the NFL was trying to get him, so it wasn't a surprise to me," Howard said. "I read it in a newspaper on Monday. During my trip, there was no clue he'd be gone. He was preparing like any other coach for the next season." Final 13-game (9-4) stats: 315 carries, 2,756 yards, 29 TDs. Maurice Hall, RB, 5-10, 185, 4.4, Columbus Brookaven, Ohio Hall favors FLORIDA STATE (Jan. 12 official trip, childhood favorite, "They are always competing for the national championship," he said. "I was born in Miami and lived there three years.") and OHIO STATE (Dec. 1, "They are rebuilding, are close to my house, only 15 minutes away. It's a good atmosphere around the campus and Columbus is a great city."), and both lead big over GEORGIA TECH. "I have moments when I feel like I know where I want to go," said Hall. "Earlier today, I was thinking about FSU a lot, but then I thought OHIO STATE would be the one. All I know is, GEORGIA TECH is definitely behind. I visited PENN STATE on Jan. 19 and liked the coaches, but I didn't feel comfortable there. I'll decide on Signing Day and have a press conference at school." Final 12-game (10-2) stats: 3,050 rushing yards, 51 TDs; eight receptions, 250 yards, 2 TDs. Marques Simmons, RB/DB, 5-9, 175, 4.4, Davenport North, Iowa Excellent speed (10.34 100m and 21.44 200m) and good out of the backfield with the catch. Final nine-game (0-9) stats: 1,788 yards and 14 TDs. Simmons has narrowed his choices to IOWA (childhood favorite), IOWA STATE and NEBRASKA. He has already made his decision and informed the schools and will announce the winner at a Signing Day press conference at his school. This has been a see-saw battle for months between the HAWKEYES and the CYCLONES, but the ‘HUSKERS got Simmons’ final official visit on Jan. 12. For more detailed information on these and other players, visit www.superprep.com. Here are the latest commitments: Jeff Backes, DB/ATH, 5-11, 180, 4.4, Upper Arlington, Ohio -- NORTHWESTERN over VIRGINIA and OHIO STATE Chris Baker, QB, 6-3, 190, 4.5, Bayonne Marist, N.J. -- RUTGERS over CINCINNATI Ratavious Biddle, WR/KR, 6-1, 170, 4.45, Decatur, Ala. -- MISSISSIPPI over ALABAMA and N.C. STATE Shavaskey Brown, OL, 6-3, 285, 5.3, LaGrange, Ga. -- MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE over CLEMSON and UAB Darius Butler, WR, 6-0, 185, 4.5, Plantation, Fla. -- IOWA over GEORGIA Jabari Davis, RB, 5-11, 225, 4.5, Tucker, Ga. -- TENNESSEE over GEORGIA Anthony DeGannes, LB, 6-3, 210, 4.7, Hillside, N.J. -- TEMPLE over HOFSTRA Josh Driscoll, QB, 6-2, 215, 4.8, Fort Smith Southside, Ark. -- ARKANSAS STATE over OKLAHOMA STATE Bernard Fano, DL, 6-2, 270, 4.9, Fountain Valley, Calif. -- UTAH over BYU and NEVADA Jamel Harris, WR, 6-1, 175, 4.4, Red Bank, N.J. -- TEMPLE over RUTGERS Brandon Holley, DL, 6-4, 275, 4.95, Charleston, Ark. -- ARMY over STANFORD and TULSA Derrick Johnson, LB, 6-3, 200, 4.5, Waco, Texas -- TEXAS over TEXAS A&M, OKLAHOMA, FLORIDA ST and ARKANSAS Akeem Lockett, LB, 6-3, 235, 4.6, Ripley, Miss. -- SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI over OKLAHOMA STATE, UAB and TROY STATE Jason Murphy, DL, 6-4, 245, 4.7, Baltimore Edmondson, Md. -- VIRGINIA TECH over PENN STATE Melvin Massey, LB, 6-3, 225, 4.7, Newport News Warwick, Va. -- VIRGINIA over SYRACUSE Mike McCloskey, OL, 6-5, 250, 5.0, Laguna Hills, Calif. -- UCLA over AIR FORCE and MONTANA Charlie Peprah, DB/RB, 6-0, 185, 4.45, Plano East, Texas -- ALABAMA over ARIZONA STATE and KANSAS STATE Brian Pickard, WR, 6-3, 180, 4.6, Dublin Scioto, Ohio -- KENTUCKY over WEST VIRGINIA and OHIO STATE Mark Pierce, RB, 5-11, 210, 4.5, Weatherford, Texas -- Decommitted from TCU to ARKANSAS LaDairus Price, DB/WR, 6-0, 175, 4.4, Memphis East, Tenn. -- MEMPHIS over ARKANSAS and KENTUCKY Cory Proctor, OL, 6-5, 255, 5.3, Gig Harbor, Wash. -- MONTANA over IDAHO and PORTLAND STATE Ronnie Prude, ATH, 6-0, 180, 4.4, Shreveport Fair Park, La. -- LSU over TENNESSEE, TEXAS TECH and COLORADO Guy Whimper, DL, 6-6, 215, 4.6, Havelock, N.C. -- Decommitted from NORTH CAROLINA to EAST CAROLINA Carnell Williams, RB, 6-0, 195, 4.5, Attalla Etowah, Ala. -- Decommitted from TENNESSEE to AUBURN For more from SuperPrep, click here.
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