Dumas’s Griswold Has Football, Basketball Recruiting Interest

Dumas junior Darion Griswold has double the recruiting pressure. Not only are Division I football schools interested in the 6-5, 230-pound quarterback, basketball programs are also vying for his services as a small forward.

“People are asking me what I’m going to do, and I don’t really know,” Griswold said. “It is a hard decision.”

Luckily, Griswold doesn’t need to choose just yet. He still has two more years of high school, but he landed on college coaches’ radars with impressive seasons in both sports last year.

Arkansas, Louisiana Tech and Texas A&M have showed interest in football and UA, Oklahoma and Wichita State in basketball.

Griswold helps make two recruiting classes compare among the best in history. Little Rock Parkview forward Aaron Ross, who has already committed to Arkansas. Westside (Jonesboro) Hunter Mickleson (6-foot-9 center) and East Poinsett County’s Ky Madden (6-4 forward (are being pursued by several Davison I schools, including Arkansas and Kentucky. Van Buren center Hooper Vint (6-9) is also a D-I prospect along with Griswold.

Griswold is one of three quarterbacks from the Class of 2011 to be highly recruited. Shiloh Christian signal caller Kiehl Frazier already has offers from Auburn, Tulsa and Western Michigan. Fayetteville’s Brandon Allen, the son of UA assistant Bobby Allen, is also receiving Davison-I recruiting interest despite his dad’s position on the UA staff.

 “There are some good quarterbacks around the state,” Griswold said. “There is some good competition. I like that, it pushes you to be the best you can be. I haven’t played against them, but I’ve heard a lot about them. We all want to be the best.”

Griswold is trying his best not to think about college or the decision of what sport to play. He is busy with AAU basketball and preparing for the upcoming football season on the state’s 7-on-7 circuit. The Bobcats play at the VYPE Select 7-on-7 tournament on the UA campus on July 17 and 18.

“We should be good this year,” Griswold said. “We’ve been working hard.”