Verbal 'Commit'

One of the seven definitions of the word 'commit' in The American Heritage Dictionary is "to bind or obligate, as by pledge". When a high school athlete feels the pressures from both home and a college that is recruiting him, this is what he does - he commits. It is commonly known as a 'verbal commit.' Prep stars make verbal commitments often months and, occasionally, more than a year before they can sign a national letter of intent - which officially binds him to a specific collegiate program. With the news earlier this week that Dodge City quarterback Kale Pick has switched his commitment from the University of Arkansas to the University of Kansas, questions arise again about these non-binding pledges. Pick was the sixth-ranked football player in the state of Kansas by Rivals.com for the class of 2008. Bob Hovey, publisher of Hovpensports.com which is a Rivals affiliate, weighed in on what he feels some players are thinking. "I believe the KU interest comes from the fact that the head coach, Mark Mangino, started the season off more stable than in the past. Since they started winning, the high school players think he will be there for a while," said Hovey. Two prep players from south central Kansas are committed to second-year coach Ron Prince at Kansas State. The eighth-ranked player on Rivals' list is Garden Plain running back Logan Dold who has posted gaudy numbers over the last four seasons, with over 5,000 yards rushing, and at least 20 touchdowns each season. Dold committed to K-State in January. Offensive lineman Brayden Burris of Bishop Carroll, No. 10 on Rivals' list, shut out all other colleges from recruiting him when he committed to K-State in September of 2006. Arthur Brown, senior Wichita East linebacker, is the No. 1-ranked player in Kansas by Rivals. Brown has yet to announce his plans, although he has made gradual cuts to his large list of schools that he has expressed interest in since his junior year. He will hold a press conference on Dec. 17 at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame to name his choice. Brown will promptly enroll at the school in January so that he will be able to participate in spring drills in 2008. "I think it makes sense for the high school players to wait until later in the recruiting process," Hovey said. "Especially in the case of Arthur Brown, since the longer he waits to commit, the more looks other area kids get and benefit from his exposure." (As was evidenced on the evening of October 25 at East High's season finale against Wichita South. Coaches from Oklahoma, LSU and Miami were in attendance, though Brown did not play.) With only a month between commitment and enrollment for Brown, his commitment may be as close to a binding agreement as we can get.