A Little MAC?

More and more the Washington area's top players are making college commitments, a trend that is not limited to the top prospects and continues with Ballou running back Dwan Thornton accepting a scholarship offer from Akron, according to Ballou Coach Moses Ware.

Undersized at 5 feet 7 and 165 pounds, there was some thought that Thornton could use his excellent speed to play cornerback at a high level in college. However, it is believed that Akron recruited Thornton to play running back.

Thornton played at Coolidge last season, but joined several players in transferring to Ballou for this season. He rushed for 1,596 yards and 20 touchdowns last season as the Colts reached the DCIAA Turkey Bowl.

All told, 22 Washington-area rising seniors have made verbal commitments for football scholarships, including three to the Mid-American Conference: Thornton and Friendly wide receiver Vincent Hill to Akron and Douglass linebacker Jerrell Wedge to Miami of Ohio. Those schools normally get most of their recruits later in the cycle as players often wait to see how things shake out with schools in the power conferences.

As for other Coolidge-turned-Ballou players, Ware said that linebacker Romale Tucker is considering Syracuse, Illinois, Virginia and North Carolina, holding offers from the first three schools. All-Met lineman Marvin Austin is expected to narrow his choices to five next week, Ware said.