News - Local

Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009

Recruiting slow for Favre

QB focuses on game at hand

Quarterback Dylan Favre has enjoyed a splendid career at St. Stanislaus. He owns virtually every Mississippi state passing record, throwing for more than 10,000 yards and 100 touchdowns in three years.

Despite those impressive, eye-popping statistics, Division I recruiters have shown only lukewarm interest in the passing prodigy from Hancock County.

No major college football program has extended a scholarship offer to Favre, with only a few showing interest: Southern Miss, Mississippi State, Kansas, Florida International, Memphis and Tulsa.

He’s already visited Memphis and Mississippi State and those schools have attended Rockachaws games for a closer look.

Favre’s drawback is his 5-foot-11 height, which is usually considered too short for a D-I quarterback.

“Size is the biggest issue with Dylan,” said Steve Robertson, who covers Mississippi recruiting for Scout.com. “He has the arm, the attitude and the desire.”

St. Stanislaus coach Forrest Williams disagrees with the recruiters who are quick to knock Favre’s size, or lack thereof.

“It’s not an anomaly to have a short quarterback,” Williams said.

“With Dylan, I draw comparisons to Drew Brees. Brees wanted to play at Baylor, but they said he was too small. He went to Purdue and is now in the NFL.

“I’m not saying Dylan’s an NFL quarterback. Chase Daniels and Todd Reesing are short and (they) played at Missouri and Kansas.”

Daniels is the Saints’ third-team quarterback.

Lanny Mixon, Magnoliapreps .com editor, sees another reason why schools haven’t shown love to Favre.

“I think that the schools that have evaluated him just don’t run the sort of offensive packages that fit his skill set,” Mixon said.

“And the ones that do, are a little gun-shy because none of the local programs have pulled the trigger.”

Mixon feels that Favre has the talent to become a solid college quarterback.

“I believe Favre can play on the FBS level, but not at just any school,” Mixon said. “He can be successful for a program that is willing to cater the entire offense and game plan to his specific skill set.

“He has a big arm and his accuracy is much better this year than a season ago. He’s improved every year and has a great head for football. He’s coachable and has a drive.”

Robertson believes a few offers will come before National Signing Day in February.

“I keep thinking someone will offer him later in the process,” Robertson said. “He is too good of a prospect to ignore. You don’t throw for that many yards without having some ability. I don’t care what system he plays in. He can play.”

Favre, the only state quarterback with three 500-yard passing games, insists he doesn’t care about the recruiting process.

His focus is Purvis, the fourth-ranked Rockachaws’ opponent tonight for the Region 8-4A title at Brother Phillip Stadium.

“I have no control over that,” Favre said.

“My focus is taking this team as far as I can and win championships.”