Recruiting Wrap

The next Larry English?

Posted by: Jeremy Werner

Friday, November 13, 2009 8:42 AM

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Waubonsie Valley coach Paul Murphy knows a good pass rusher when he sees one. He coached former Northern Illinois standout Larry English, the 16th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, at Aurora (Ill.) Marmion Academy.

Now the head coach at Aurora (Ill.) Waubonsie Valley, Murphy thinks he might have a speed rusher just as talented as the San Diego Chargers linebacker.

Rickey Simpson, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound defensive end/outside linebacker, was named the Upstate 8 Conference Defensive Player of the Year after registering 50 tackles, nine sacks, nine tackles for loss and four quarterback hurries during his senior season.

"Larry weighed about 235 as a senior, and Rickey's about 215, but Rickey's faster and I think more athletic," Murphy said. "They're work ethic is about the same. It's just going to be a question if Rickey can fill out."

Simpson has received recruiting interest from several BCS programs, including Illinois, Arizona, Cal, Kansas State, Oregon, Purdue, UCLA and Washington State. But non-BCS teams like Ball State, Central Michigan and Western Michigan have shown more interest.

"All the MAC schools like him," Murphy said. "I'd say that's where he's going to go - mid-major."

Illinois took a hard look at Simpson during a summer camp at Chicago Lane Tech but have since cooled on him.

But another state school continues to heavily recruit the Waubonsie Valley standout. It's no surprise that Northern Illinois, English's alma mater, is also in hot pursuit of Simpson.

"Northern likes him a lot," Murphy said. "They want him strictly as another pass-rush defensive end. They told me straight-up, 'We want another Larry English.' I know Coach Kill asked me, 'Can he get up to 230.' I told him he's only 15 pounds away so he should easily get to 230."

"You want speed coming off the end with all these spread offenses. That's his forte is rushing the quarterback."

 

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