| Melvin Gordon is the best Wisconsin has to offer... at least
according to Rivals.com, which ranks the Kenosha Bradford standout as the
state's top high school football prospect for the 2011 recruiting class.
The 6' and 185-pound running back's stock jumped after his
performance at a NIKE camp held in Columbus, Ohio this spring. But Gordon's number one mission for this fall has nothing to do with recruiting; Gordon admits to IWS
that his focus is solely on helping his team to avenge last season's 35-28 loss
to eventual champion Milwaukee Marquette in Level 3 of the WIAA Playoffs.
Q: Talk about how the
recruiting process has gone so far.
A: Right after my junior season, all of the scouts starting
coming in and calling my coaches. After a while you have to cut down some
schools and get ready to make the decision ... It means a lot to have my family's
support. Whatever decision I make, they're OK with [and] that makes this a lot
easier.
A: And where are you at,
in terms of schools still on that list?
A: Tennessee, Michigan State, Iowa, Wisconsin, and I'm still
open to some other schools.
Q: Talk about the effect
last year's loss to Marquette has had on you and your teammates.
A: Losing that game was hard on us, but it just motivated us
even more to come back at it this year. A lot of people are thinking because we
have 17 returning starters that Bradford is going to be full of themselves and
not work hard. Because of that loss, we've been busting our tails off.
Q: You're a year away
from big-time college football. What are the things that need to improve in
your game between now and then?
A: I'm working on my forward lean... working my legs and my
shoulders so I can lay down that shoulder. Most of the offers I've received are
from the Big Ten, and those are powerhouse schools that like to run the rock.
So they just want to see me lay down the shoulder a little bit more.
Q: What do you listen to
during pre-game to get yourself going?
A: I listen to rap. Lil Wayne... a variety of people. Whatever
sounds good and can get me pumped up, that's what I listen to.
Q: The perfect finish to
your career at Bradford...
A: Going undefeated and winning State. That's my main focus and
my main goal, and it's the team's main focus and main goal.
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