Three Recruit Updates

[Captain Kangaroo]

Hartung to wait

Nate Hartung, a 6-3, 410-pound offensive lineman at Butler, had scholarship offers this summer from Syracuse, West Virginia, Kansas, Temple and Akron. But colleges have backed off Hartung and he most likely won't go to college for a few years.

Hartung is a Mormon and must complete a two-year mission at some point between ages 19 and 24. He plans to fulfill his mission requirement shortly after graduation from Butler. He then hopes to play college football when he returns.

"It's kind of disappointing," Hartung said. "Everything was looking up after last year, but everyone seems to have pulled out. I know we weren't a very good team this year [1-9 record], but I still played alright. I'm sure my weight is a big deal."

Hartung's father, Dick, said some colleges backed off because of the two-year mission.

"He visited Utah and then their staff went to Florida," Dick Hartung said. "If the right school offered, he would sign. That would be Brigham Young and Utah. We're Mormons and I just think the state of Utah is where Nate should be."

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Duquesne running back Shane Brooks had more than a dozen scholarship offers this summer, but some of those schools are no longer recruiting him. He visited Pitt this past weekend and has January visits planned to Connecticut and Akron.

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Stull calls Kentucky's number

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

Seton-La Salle star Bill Stull was on a return flight Monday from a recruiting visit to Maryland when he received a voice mail on his cell phone.

When the record-setting passer checked his message, he received some good news: Former Ole Miss quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper had accepted a job at Kentucky.

A moment later, Stull's phone rang again. It was Kentucky coach Rich Brooks. This time, Stull delivered the good news by making a verbal commitment to the Wildcats.

"They've been there since Day One; actually, they invented Day One," Stull said. "They were the first ones to send me a letter, and I got that my sophomore year. They were the first everything - first to offer, first official visit - and the thing that separates them is Kentucky's been there, no matter what. They were there from the beginning and they were going to be there until the end."

Stull ultimately chose Kentucky over Maryland, Ole Miss and South Carolina, which had been recruiting him since hiring Steve Spurrier. Akron, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Indiana, Can't State, Florida Atlantic and Wisconsin also offered scholarships.