Sports > Schools
Top Ten Celina Sports Stories of 2012: 5. Sticking with orange: Raulerson hooks ‘em with commitment to UT
BY Chris O’Dell, codell@starlocalnews.com
One thing Celina junior Jake Raulerson won’t have to worry about next season is choosing where to attend college after his senior year.
The Bobcat made a commitment to the University of Texas on Friday after Longhorns head coach Mack Brown made Raulerson an early scholarship offer to join the burnt orange nation.
“I’m excited for him,” said Butch Ford, Celina head coach. “I don’t know what else you’d rather accomplish with a program like that.”
National signing day might be just over a week old at this point, but the Longhorns have already snagged one of the state’s top junior prospects with Raulerson’s commitment.
“I think you start noticing his potential in junior high when he is a foot taller than everyone else,” Ford said.
The junior was a first team all-district selection for District 10-3A and also a first team All-Collin County selection for the 2011 season. Raulerson also ranks as the No. 51 recruit in the country according to Rivals.com’s early 2013 watch list.
A tackle on Celina’s offensive line and a nose guard on defense this past year, Raulerson will likely make a position change after joining the Longhorns. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound lineman was recruited by Texas to play the defensive end position and also play tight end for the Longhorns.
“All I know is that we have him for one more year,” Ford said. “I’m sure he can make any position change he wants though because of his athleticism.”
Although the Longhorns won’t host their junior day until Feb. 12, Brown went ahead and made an offer to Raulerson after the Celina standout dominated multiple Texas recruits at a recent Texas junior camp.
“I’d assume they go after what they think is the best,” Ford said.
Raulerson had 26 other offers from some of the top football programs in the college landscape.
The Bobcat bypassed offers from Michigan, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Arkansas, Florida and defending national champion Alabama, among other schools.
Raulerson’s commitment also comes on the heels of senior Jordan Roos’ signing with Purdue University, making it two starters on Celina’s offensive line to make big-time commitments within a week of each other.
“We’re excited about both of them,” Ford said. “They both get an opportunity to go to one of the best programs in the country. I think that says a lot about them.”
The Bobcat made a commitment to the University of Texas on Friday after Longhorns head coach Mack Brown made Raulerson an early scholarship offer to join the burnt orange nation.
“I’m excited for him,” said Butch Ford, Celina head coach. “I don’t know what else you’d rather accomplish with a program like that.”
National signing day might be just over a week old at this point, but the Longhorns have already snagged one of the state’s top junior prospects with Raulerson’s commitment.
“I think you start noticing his potential in junior high when he is a foot taller than everyone else,” Ford said.
The junior was a first team all-district selection for District 10-3A and also a first team All-Collin County selection for the 2011 season. Raulerson also ranks as the No. 51 recruit in the country according to Rivals.com’s early 2013 watch list.
A tackle on Celina’s offensive line and a nose guard on defense this past year, Raulerson will likely make a position change after joining the Longhorns. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound lineman was recruited by Texas to play the defensive end position and also play tight end for the Longhorns.
“All I know is that we have him for one more year,” Ford said. “I’m sure he can make any position change he wants though because of his athleticism.”
Although the Longhorns won’t host their junior day until Feb. 12, Brown went ahead and made an offer to Raulerson after the Celina standout dominated multiple Texas recruits at a recent Texas junior camp.
“I’d assume they go after what they think is the best,” Ford said.
Raulerson had 26 other offers from some of the top football programs in the college landscape.
The Bobcat bypassed offers from Michigan, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Arkansas, Florida and defending national champion Alabama, among other schools.
Raulerson’s commitment also comes on the heels of senior Jordan Roos’ signing with Purdue University, making it two starters on Celina’s offensive line to make big-time commitments within a week of each other.
“We’re excited about both of them,” Ford said. “They both get an opportunity to go to one of the best programs in the country. I think that says a lot about them.”
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