From the Enid Paper
Box gets offer from Sooners during history class
By Mark Rountree
Sports Editor
Smack in the middle of his U.S. history class Friday, Enid junior quarterback Austin Box was handed a letter marked “Urgent.”
Box quickly opened the package, which featured a University of Oklahoma letterhead, and was stunned.
Sooners coach Bob Stoops had written lots of words on the type-written page, but three stood out — full scholarship offer.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said the 17-year-old Box. “I leaned over to Corbin (Bigheart), and I think at first he was more excited than I was.”
Box cannot sign a binding written commitment until February, 2007, but he said Oklahoma is No. 1 on his list of several top NCAA Division I programs recruiting him.
Box said he is not ready to give a non-binding oral commitment to the Sooners.
“Not yet. Not this early,” he said. “There are three or four other schools that have shown interest in me.”
Box said his oral commitment will not come until the end of the school year.
Notre Dame, Florida State, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Kansas have written many letters to Box, although none have offered yet.
Box also is being recruited by several big-time baseball programs, including Michigan State, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas State.
Box said he would not rule out playing both sports in college.
“I don’t want to give up either sport,” said Box. “Playing (baseball) in college is still an option.”
Box, who is being recruited at Oklahoma as an outside linebacker or strong safety, has set several Enid High School football records and is closing in on several more this season.
On Friday at Ponca City, he passed Lydell Carr’s 1983 record for total yards in a season.
Carr contacted Box on his cell phone on the bus en route to Ponca City.
“That (call) came out of the blue,” said Box. “At first I thought it was a prank by somebody on the bus. But I quickly found out I was talking to Mr. Carr. He complimented me, said he was proud of me, wished me good luck. It was great.”
Originally Posted by Widescreen
