St. Paul's wide receiver
Destin Hood will not enroll the first week of June with the majority of Alabama's 2008 signees. In fact, odds are that Hood won't attend UA at all this year.
A standout shortstop, Hood is leaning toward a professional baseball career instead of joining the Crimson Tide.
"If he's drafted right, he's probably going to play baseball," his father Dewayne Hood said earlier tonight.
Hood's status is mentioned in my story for Friday's Press-Register on Alabama coach Nick Saban's wish that all Crimson Tide signees -- if possible -- enroll in time to start summer classes the first week of June.
"It's a tremendous advantage for freshmen to be able to come to summer school," Saban said. "For years I've been an advocate of that. We used to create ways for them to come. They had to pay their own way."
Saban referenced Hood as one who may not be available because of baseball concerns. Dewayne Hood said has spoken with Saban about it. Alabama's first summer session begins June 3. The MLB first-year player draft is June 5-6.
Baseball drafts can be especially hard to forecast. But some projections, such as
this one from a Chicago White Sox site, have Hood among the first 100 prospects selected.
That's big money, folks. And it's mighty tough to turn down for a youngster who has played baseball since age 4.
"If you think he plays football well, you really need to see him play baseball," Dewayne Hood said. "He's always been a baseball player, but of lately, a football player."
Hood's father said the family has looked into the possibility of trying baseball with the option of later returning to school to play football. Among those who have done this are former Georgia quarterback Quincy Carter and former LSU quarterback Matt Mauck, who played for Saban.
"You have to manage every one of these situations relative to what's best for the player," Saban said. "Philosophically, you want to work with the family so you can do this. We've been through these issues many times before. Matt Mauck signed a baseball contract and didn't come to Michigan State. Well, he ended up at LSU and won the national championship."
WR signee Hood 'probably' destined for baseball
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