By Jerry Hill

Tribune-Herald assistant sports editor

Going back to LaDainian Tomlinson’s decision 11 years ago to pack his bags for TCU, Baylor has struggled to keep Central Texas’ best at home.

Even this year, Waco High defensive end Andrew Weaver has already picked Texas A&M over an offer from the Bears.

But if Friday’s camp is any indication, first-year coach Art Briles is trying to do something that Dave Roberts, Kevin Steele and Guy Morriss couldn’t.

Notable among the 406 players who showed up for the three-hour mini-camp — including nearly 200 that registered Friday — was a healthy number of Central Texas prospects.

“You darn right,” said Briles, when asked about emphasizing the recruiting pipeline in Central Texas. “If they’re good players and they’re right here in Central Texas, we’re going to get after them. Because it makes sense. Mom and daddy, aunts and uncles, grandma and grandpa, they don’t have to drive far. That’s the greatest thing about Waco is it’s location. If they can play, they’re going to have a chance to be a Baylor Bear.”

Temple wide receiver Tevin Reese (5-11, 160) didn’t have to wait too long to fulfill that philosophy.

Within minutes after the camp was completed, Reese got his long-awaited scholarship offer and accepted immediately.

“My coach kind of told me they were thinking about it, but I didn’t know they were going to do it today,” Reese said.

Somehow, in a deep sea of bodies, Reese made enough of an impression to seal the deal.

“Tevin, in my opinion is good enough to play anywhere in college football,” said Temple High School coach Bryce Monsen. “He’s one of the best I’ve ever had. So I knew if he could get somewhere where the people could watch him, he would shine.”

Reese didn’t catch a ton of passes in the Wildcats’ Wing-T offense last year, but he sparkled on the track. A state meet qualifier in the triple jump and long jump, he was a bronze medalist in the 300-meter hurdles in 37.65 seconds.

“I don’t know about other schools, but we don’t get them like that in Temple very often,” Monsen said of Reese. “You don’t have kids like Tevin Reese every year in high school football. So if you don’t use him, you’re probably going to get fired. You’re not very smart. So I assure you, he is going to touch the football.”

The Central Texas contingent also included defensive end Ryan Boutwell, center Daric Gorton and quarterback Brian Bell from China Spring; Belton receiver Jarrett Crowell; and University High School’s quartet of defensive back Rikko Harris and receivers DeMarcus Hicks, Vencent Finley and Jordan Richardson.

“I came to the camp the first time they had it (in June), and there wasn’t this many people,” said the 6-3, 200-pound Finley, who lists Baylor, Oklahoma State and Kansas as his top three choices. “So I had a lot more reps. But I can deal with it, though, as long as I know that they saw me on the opportunities that I had.”

Harris, who already holds an offer from Colorado State, said Baylor is “where I want to go.”

“I’m loving (defensive coordinator Brian Norwood and Briles),” he said. “There’s been a lot of interest. And if I have a good year, I might get offered.”

Hicks said the number of players at Friday’s camp “motivated me to come harder.”

“It is (hard to be seen),” Hicks said, “because there’s lot of people around and everybody’s trying to watch every position. But I felt pretty good about today.”

Beau Trahan, Baylor’s director of high school relations, is hoping the Bears can tap into a Central Texas pipeline that’s produced Oklahoma State cornerback/kick returner Perrish Cox from University, former Oklahoma cornerback Marcus Walker and Texas linebacker Derrick Johnson from Waco High and Tomlinson.

“Those guys that are 5-star guys, they need to stay at home,” said Trahan, who played at Texas. “Now it’s our job to get them interested. Show them we’re going to win football games and get them excited about being in Waco. But those guys down in Austin are dealing with the same issues we’re having. Their guys leave, too. We’ve just got to keep our best ones here and playing in the Big 12.”

The Bears, off to a slow start in the recruiting race, picked up the pace on Friday.

In addition to Reese, Baylor picked up pledges from 3-star offensive linemen Jeramie Roberts (6-4, 305) from South Garland and Stefan Huber (6-5, 272) from Nederland.

Roberts had offers from Miami, Colorado, Arizona and Kansas, but said he picked the Bears because “it’s close to home . . . my parents can come see my games.”

After switching from defensive line to offensive guard, Roberts could get a chance to block for former South Garland quarterback Nick Florence instead of tackling him.

Florence signed with the Bears in February and will join the team as a grayshirt in January.

“I love Nick. He’s a great guy,” Roberts said. “When he comes here, he’s going to win. I know he’s going to do good.”

Roberts also praised the coaching staff and particularly offensive line coach Randy Clements.

“Wherever you go, the coaches are going to be good guys,” he said. “I just think that here they’re better.”

Although Huber was not as highly sought, he had offers from SMU and Army.

“It really was between SMU and Baylor, and I wasn’t too sure until I got to see the campus yesterday,” Huber said. “This was my first time in Waco, and I really enjoy the small-town atmosphere. I’m from a small town. I hate traffic.”

Obviously firm in his commitment, Huber said he believes the Baylor program is “going in the right direction, and we’re going to be great.”

“Our coaches are going to lead us there,” he said, “and it’s going to be a great time. It’s going to be fun bringing back the Baylor program.”

Ultimately, that’s what it could take to keep the area’s best players at home. Win, and they’ll stay.

But Briles was encouraged by the response at Friday’s camp.

“The thing that impresses me is that there’s excitement about Baylor football,” he said. “It’s Friday, it’s hot in the afternoon, it’s July 25th, and we’ve got over 400 high school juniors and seniors here in Waco, Texas, getting ready to play football.”

“These kids are hungry,” Trahan said. “There’s interest in Baylor. And now it’s our job to find the 23 best ones we can find out of the people who are interested in us.”

jhill@wacotrib.com

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