GAMECOCKBOY
06-21-2006, 12:33 PM
kentucky.com
By Chip Cosby
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
Pablo Alcalá/Staff
Paul Warford played at running back and cornerback for Madison Central.
More photosIn evaluating high school football players the past two decades, another category was added to the list of traditional positions such as quarterback, running back, defensive back, etc.
The term "athlete" has become commonplace on recruiting lists, and it usually means a guy who's too versatile to be pegged into one position.
Paul Warford fits that bill. He was a three-year starter at running back and cornerback at Madison Central and rushed for 2,429 yards and 27 touchdowns during his career.
Warford also proved himself to be a capable receiver in Madison Central's run-and-shoot offense as he amassed 661 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches.
Warford even puts himself in the "athlete" category.
"It really doesn't matter to me," he said. "I'll play anywhere."
He'll be lining up in the offensive backfield for the Kentucky All-Stars this week as they get ready for the annual border war with Tennessee, Friday night in Chattanooga.
Warford showed off his running skills during a practice session on Tuesday when he took a sweep and broke outside for a 70-yard score. Warford will team up with Henry Clay's Rod Johnson, Owensboro's Tyler Wimsatt and Pleasure Ridge Park's Wes Brown.
"He's a spark plug," Kentucky All-Star Coach Perry Thomas said of Warford. "He's a tough kid who'll hit it up in that hole hard, and once he gets in open space he can bust a big play."
Two of his current and future teammates, fellow University of Kentucky signees Josh Minton and Corey Peters, both named Warford when asked who would be the biggest surprise of this year's freshman class. Warford said he's been timed at 4.43 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
"He's a burner," Minton said. "He's going to give us some serious speed."
But when Warford starts practicing with UK in the fall, he'll start out at cornerback.
The Kentucky All-Stars coaching staff said that the things that serve Warford well at running back -- good field vision, awareness and the ability to shift gears -- will make him a solid corner. At a sturdy 5-foot-10, 205 pounds, he should also be able to hold up in man coverage.
"I like hitting people, so I really don't mind starting out on defense," he said.
UK lost both of its starting cornerbacks from last season (Bo Smith and Antoine Huffman), so Warford could help fill a need there early. But Kentucky is also thin at receiver, and watching what Warford can do with the ball in his hands makes you wonder what he could do at wideout.
"I can catch the ball," Warford said. "If they want me to go over there, I'll go give it a shot."
Warford talked with Western Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, Northwestern and South Carolina before committing to UK. A 3.5 grade-point average student, he cited the proximity to home and UK's medical school as the main reasons he chose the Wildcats.
"Paul's a first-class kid," Thomas said. "Yes sir, no sir. He's the kind of kid you want in your program. He's going to do very well at Kentucky in all areas." Kentucky-Tennessee All-Star football game | When: 6:30 p.m. Friday | Where: Chattanooga
By Chip Cosby
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
Pablo Alcalá/Staff
Paul Warford played at running back and cornerback for Madison Central.
More photosIn evaluating high school football players the past two decades, another category was added to the list of traditional positions such as quarterback, running back, defensive back, etc.
The term "athlete" has become commonplace on recruiting lists, and it usually means a guy who's too versatile to be pegged into one position.
Paul Warford fits that bill. He was a three-year starter at running back and cornerback at Madison Central and rushed for 2,429 yards and 27 touchdowns during his career.
Warford also proved himself to be a capable receiver in Madison Central's run-and-shoot offense as he amassed 661 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches.
Warford even puts himself in the "athlete" category.
"It really doesn't matter to me," he said. "I'll play anywhere."
He'll be lining up in the offensive backfield for the Kentucky All-Stars this week as they get ready for the annual border war with Tennessee, Friday night in Chattanooga.
Warford showed off his running skills during a practice session on Tuesday when he took a sweep and broke outside for a 70-yard score. Warford will team up with Henry Clay's Rod Johnson, Owensboro's Tyler Wimsatt and Pleasure Ridge Park's Wes Brown.
"He's a spark plug," Kentucky All-Star Coach Perry Thomas said of Warford. "He's a tough kid who'll hit it up in that hole hard, and once he gets in open space he can bust a big play."
Two of his current and future teammates, fellow University of Kentucky signees Josh Minton and Corey Peters, both named Warford when asked who would be the biggest surprise of this year's freshman class. Warford said he's been timed at 4.43 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
"He's a burner," Minton said. "He's going to give us some serious speed."
But when Warford starts practicing with UK in the fall, he'll start out at cornerback.
The Kentucky All-Stars coaching staff said that the things that serve Warford well at running back -- good field vision, awareness and the ability to shift gears -- will make him a solid corner. At a sturdy 5-foot-10, 205 pounds, he should also be able to hold up in man coverage.
"I like hitting people, so I really don't mind starting out on defense," he said.
UK lost both of its starting cornerbacks from last season (Bo Smith and Antoine Huffman), so Warford could help fill a need there early. But Kentucky is also thin at receiver, and watching what Warford can do with the ball in his hands makes you wonder what he could do at wideout.
"I can catch the ball," Warford said. "If they want me to go over there, I'll go give it a shot."
Warford talked with Western Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, Northwestern and South Carolina before committing to UK. A 3.5 grade-point average student, he cited the proximity to home and UK's medical school as the main reasons he chose the Wildcats.
"Paul's a first-class kid," Thomas said. "Yes sir, no sir. He's the kind of kid you want in your program. He's going to do very well at Kentucky in all areas." Kentucky-Tennessee All-Star football game | When: 6:30 p.m. Friday | Where: Chattanooga