Tailback Honored by SI Leaning Toward Dartmouth

As they like to say in this part of the world, it's "way wicked" early in the process, but Dartmouth's getting some recruiting love from a high-profile high school prospect. Jared Turcotte is a 6-1, 220 tailback who has been called the best player in his state by Sports Illustrated. Of course, the state happens to be Maine -- not Texas or Florida -- hardly a football factory. Still, Turcotte is an intriguing prospect who rushed for 1,900 yards and 21 touchdowns in just eight games last year despite battling injuries.

The Lewiston, Maine, paper says Turcotte, "has a rare combination of speed, quickness and power." The paper also said: "Though he is still undecided, he said he is leaning toward Dartmouth because he was impressed with head coach Buddy Teevens and the small-town atmosphere in Hanover, N.H. reminded him of home." Find that story here. ... Said Turcotte's high school football coach in Maine Today: ""Statistically, Jared looks great on paper. He's got an A-average, he's looking at Ivy League schools and it rounds into a nice package for a football player."

To see who SI picked as the best teams and players in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, click here and run your mouse over the U.S. map.

Jim Fennell of the Manchester Union Leader knows why a player like Turcotte might be won over by Buddy Teevens and it's simple: Because it's hard not to be. Here's what Jim wrote about Teevens after Dartmouth's media day:

Sit in a room with the man for 20 minutes and you’ll come out singing the Dartmouth fight song, wearing a green sweater with a big letter “D” stitched in front and begging to join the football team. He is, if nothing else, infectious.

Few who have listened to Buddy paint his picture of Dartmouth's football future would disagree. For the full Union Leader story, click here.

Now for today's public service announcement: Visit the full Green Alert site tonight for a full report on this afternoon's practice.

... That's it for this morning. I'm headed out shortly to take my son to 7th-8th grade football practice. He's a tough little fullback and corner. ... The only down side to Green Alert is that I don't often get a chance to see my own kids play. So I don't want to miss this morning's practice. ... My daughter, a gifted runner, is playing field hockey at Hanover High this fall and has been one of just two freshmen splitting time between the varsity and the junior varsity. She's at a jamboree today in Keene, about 60 miles south of Hanover. ... Hopefully I'll get a chance to see each kid play at least once this year. It may mean a practice report or two is filed a little later than normal, but I'll let you know in advance not to keep hitting that "refresh" button.