CULBERTSON, FULMER AND MORE FOR RECRUITNIKS

Publication: THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE
Published: 11/18/2005
Page: 1B
Headline: CULBERTSON, FULMER AND MORE FOR RECRUITNIKS
Byline: MITCH VINGLE

INTERNET? WITH apologies to the "Treasure of The Sierra Madre," we don't need no stinkin' Internet.

(Unless, of course, you're reading this on the Gazette's fine Web site. In that case, by all means, enjoy!)

Today is a day to rest your search engine. A day to quiet your mouse. And take in the latest recruiting news in one fell "scoop."

s You'll never guess who called about Nitro High tailback Josh Culbertson the other day.

If you said Todd Ellis, well, you win more points than allowable by law.

Ellis is the program assistant in football operations and recruiting for The Ohio State University. And, yes, the Buckeyes wish to see film on the state's leading candidate for the Kennedy Award.

Major universities have shied away from Culbertson because he's 5-foot-9. But OSU apparently doesn't want to ignore a kid who has rushed for 2,909 yards and 38 touchdowns in 11 games.

"We're putting together the film [Thursday] night and putting it in the mail [Friday] morning," said Nitro coach Scott Tinsley.

s While on the subject of Wildcats and offers, wide receiver Chris Fulmer has given Eastern Kentucky a commitment.

According to Fulmer's father, Bob, the player was going to wait until Nitro's season was over to announce. Bob Fulmer did, however, confirm the decision. (Who, me? Persistent?)

s So far, the only Mountain State players to land Division I scholarships are University High's Corey Jackson, a fullback/linebacker headed to Maryland, and Wayne's Trevor Marcum, a tight end headed to Marshall.

On Thursday, though, South Charleston's Tommy Spurlock said he's probably headed to WVU - as an invited walk-on.

"I've been talking to other schools, but have no other offers," Spurlock said, referring specifically to other Division I schools. "I love everything about WVU. I went up there for a summer camp. Among the group of running backs, I won the footwork drill. The coaches have been in contact ever since."

Spurlock said he's also been talking to Marshall and Eastern Kentucky. But West Virginia has something the others don't: a chance to major in physical therapy.

"Money is always a powerful factor [when making a college choice]," Spurlock said. "But there's not much that can change my mind."

Spurlock has rushed for 749 yards this season after posting 1,014 last year. He admits, though, he'll have to add weight to his 5-9, 175-pound frame.

"I've got time for that, though," Spurlock said.

s As far as scholarship players go, WVU has six commitments, if you count prior signees Jetavious Best, now a running back from Milford Academy, and Ryan Brinson, a defensive back from Hargrave Academy.

We've reported before commitments from offensive lineman Eric Jobe of LaPlata, Md., and linebackers Anthony Leonard of McKeesport, Pa., Recardo Wright of Orlando, Fla., and James Thomas of Pompano Beach, Fla.

Of course, we've known those for a while, right?

Well, the reason there haven't been more commitments is because the Mountaineers are after some big game.

Like Latarrius Thomas of New Smyrna Beach, Fla. Word is, the 6-2, 211-pound muscular receiver is giving WVU a little love. But Thomas also has offers from Florida, South Carolina and Louisville.

The Mountaineers may be close to landing a sweet blue-chipper in defensive back/wide receiver Brandon Heath of Palm Beach Lakes, Fla. Heath has offers from Florida, Louisville, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Tennessee, but likes WVU after attending summer camp in Morgantown.

West Virginia is also in on Elijah "Scoot" Fields, a hard-hitting safety from McKeesport, Pa. Pitt and Connecticut, as well as the Mountaineers, have offered and Ohio State is taking a look.

There's offensive tackle Cruz Barrett, a 6-4, 313-pound standout from Daytona Beach, Fla. The Mountaineers seem to be fighting Florida first and foremost, as well as Nebraska, Oklahoma and North Carolina. All have offered scholarships to Barrett.

West Virginia coaches are seriously targeting cornerbacks and offensive linemen. That's why they are also zeroing in on Jeramy Devane, a 6-4, 291-pound tackle prospect from J.R. House's old baseball school, Daytona Beach's Seabreeze High. Louisville, Wake Forest, South Carolina and Central Florida are also in the hunt.

One more to go on?

WVU is after one of the country's top prep school players in Jacoby Ford, a blazing fast wide receiver/kick returner at Fork Union Military Academy. Ford is 5-9 and 175 pounds. Most of the ACC schools are also in on Ford.

s Marshall?

The Thundering Herd has six commitments in cornerback David Gibson of Tallahassee, Fla., quarterback Brian Anderson of Louisville, Ky., offensive lineman Chad Schofield of Strongsville, Ohio, running back Darius Lewis of Ironton, Ohio, the aforementioned Marcum of Wayne and defensive end Josh Tillman of Dayton, Ohio's Colonial White High.

Tillman's story is particularly interesting. Growing up, his friends told him he was so strong he should play sports. So he did.

Basketball.

Now 6-3, 280 pounds, Tillman played basketball until his freshman year, averaging 13 points and 15 rebounds in his final season. (He once had 28 rebounds in a middle-school championship.)

Finally, Tillman switched to football and found his niche. Both Marshall and Minnesota offered scholarships. The Gopher coaches saw him play fullback and loved what they saw. In a Colonial White game against Cincinnati Withrow, the beefy Tillman was told, after playing a half at defensive end, he'd also have to play fullback the remainder of the game.

His Cougars were losing 16-7. In the second half, though, Tillman scored 24 points himself. His team won 31-23. (He also recovered a fumble.)

Which is part of the reason Minnesota offered him a scholarship as a fullback. Much to Marshall's delight.

"Minnesota was recruiting me as a fullback," Tillman said. "I don't want to play that at the next level."

So next summer MU will welcome Josh Tillman, defensive end.

To contact sports editor Mitch Vingle, send e-mail to mitchvingle@wvgazette.com or call 348-4827.