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Luke Stocker
Luke Stocker - 6-6 235 lb. TE/DE
Madison Southern High School - Berea, Kentucky
Berea (Ky.) Madison Southern prospect Luke Stocker holds a number of offers at this point, but his latest offer may shed some light as to where the 6-foot-6, 220-pound tight end/defensive end prospect may be heading come signing day. Stocker posted 38 receptions as a junior for 328 yards and a touchdown as well as 17 tackles for a loss. "He's been down at Tennessee all week for a basketball camp, but received an offer from the Volunteers while he's been there," explained Stocker's father. "The football coaches would like him to stay down there for an extra day after the basketball camp wraps up to get a look at him the first day of their three day camp."
Besides Tennessee, Stocker holds offers from Louisville, Virginia Tech, NC State, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Duke, and Kentucky. Where is the Kentucky standout leaning at this point? "If he had to decide tomorrow, it would likely be between Tennessee and Louisville although we're also looking at
Virginia Tech and NC State," his father stated. "We're also taking a look at Clemson probably."
Stocker had been slated to take an unofficial visit to Blacksburg last weekend, but had to re-schedule the trip due to the timing of departure
for the Tennessee basketball camp being moved up from Sunday afternoon to Sunday morning. "We plan to reschedule that trip, he'd really like to see Virginia Tech," admitted his father. "Tech would like to see him camp if possible to get a better look at him first-hand." Stocker is looking for a number of things in a school such as the post-graduate opportunities a school offers through networking with that schools alumni. Campus life, his relationship with the coaching staff, as well as playing for a winning program will also weigh into his decision. Stocker is being recruited primarily as a defensive end for Virginia Tech and NC State while Tennessee and Louisville would like to see him
play offense.
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Stocker Commits to Tennessee
Madison Southern High School's Luke Stocker won't be playing his football in the bluegrass state anymore. He verbally committed to Tennessee after unofficially visiting the school as a basketball camp attendee. "Yes, Luke did commit to Tennessee," Stocker's mom said on the phone. "Actually, we just got back nearly five minutes ago and had turned on the television."
A native of Berea (Ky.), Stocker is projected to be a tight end or defensive end at the next level according to his step father, Jeff Johnson. "He's 6'6 and he's not even 17 yet," Johnson answered.
"He's about 221-222 pounds already and he was recently timed at 4.71 in the forty yard dash. He bench presses 285 pounds, squats over 300 and hand cleats 265 pounds. He's just a tremendous athlete with good feet and great hand eye coordination."
The versatile Stocker was holding scholarship offers from Clemson, Duke, Cincinnati, NC State, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Indiana and Kentucky before pulling the trigger to Tennessee and coach Phil Fulmer. He is the Volunteers' fourth verbal commitment to date, joining Lee Smith from Powell (Tn.), Jacques McClendon from Chattonooga (Tn.), and Dustin Lindsey of Alcoa (Tn.) as early pledges.
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Luke Stocker
Scholarship Offers: Tennessee (commit), Wake Forest, Duke, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Clemson, Virginia
Tech, Indiana, Louisville, NC State, Georgia Tech, and Vanderbilt. Quotables: "He's 6'6 and he's not even 17 yet. He's just a tremendous athlete with good feet and great hand eye coordination." - stepfather, Jeff Johnson
ITV's Michael McCammon on his potential...Stocker has tremendous upside potential. He throws his body around well, and he just turned 17 years old, so he's got his best days ahead of him. His high school coach suggests that he will most definitely be a better college football player than high school
player. I agree. On his ranking...Luke will most likely be ranked among the top tight ends in the country now that he has committed to Tennessee. He's been a known commodity in the Bluegrass state, however, since he exhibited his talents on the basketball court three years ago at the State tournament. He's definitely deserving of a top five ranking in the state and his scholarship offer to Tennessee.
KSR's Rob Gidel on his potential...I like Luke here, because, while I think his potential is high, he hasn't dominated Kentucky high school football in comparison to those ahead of him. He's got a nice frame and great hands and he gets great positioning. He'll be a solid defensive end prospect at the next level, but I believe he wants his shot at Tight End.
On his ranking...I might have ranked Luke slightly higher than this because I feel Corey Peters is going to be a more sought after recruit when all is said and done, but I believe the physical tools puts Stocker around this area and his upside illustrates why he was so heavily sought after. I like his
athleticism and feel if he finally grows into his frame, he'll be a player at Tennessee.
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Class of 2006 TEs
Craig Haubert (Scouts, Inc.)
Based on our early evaluations, here's a first look at the nation's top tight ends in the Class of 2006.
Player Ht. Wt. City State High School
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Richard Accime 6-5 245 Everett Mass. Everett
Jake Ballard 6-7 248 Springboro Ohio Springboro
Nate Byham 6-5 210 Franklin Pa. Franklin
Ben Cleveland 6-4 230 Springdale Ark. Springdale
Jeff Cumberland 6-6 215 Columbus Ohio Brookhaven
Bradley Dedeaux 6-3 235 Midwest Okla. Midwest City
Richard Dickson 6-3 235 Ocean Springs Miss. Ocean Springs
Dedrick Epps 6-4 227 Richmond Va. Huguenot
Sam Gardner 6-6 239 Lexington Ky. Henry Clay
Jermaine Gresham 6-7 230 Ardmore Okla. Ardmore
Jordan McMichael 6-5 230 Minneapolis Minn. Breck School
Mike McNeill 6-4 215 Kirkwood Mo. Kirkwood
Zach Meagher 6-5 248 Cincinnati Ohio Glen Este
Jeff Minemyer 6-7 234 Edensburg Pa. Bishop Carroll
Britt Mitchell 6-5 245 Kilgore Texas Kilgore
Paddy Mullen 6-5 250 St. Louis Mo. De Smet Jesuit
Rob Overton 6-5 224 Hayward Calif. Moreau Catholic
Caz Piurowski 6-7 235 Land O' Lakes Fla. Land O' Lakes
Konrad Reuland 6-6 240 Mission Viejo Calif. Mission Viejo
Greg Smith 6-4 220 Montgomery Texas Montgomery
Lee Smith 6-6 245 Powell Tenn. Powell
Luke Stocker 6-6 235 Berea Ky. Madison Southern
Joe Torchia 6-5 230 North Arlington N.J. Queen of Peace
NaDerris Ward 6-5 245 Oakland Calif. McClymonds
Brandon Warren 6-3 230 Alcoa Tenn. Alcoa
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