By ART LAWLER
July 03, 2008 12:20 pm
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MABANK— Kolton Browning, star quarterback and pitcher for the Mabank Panthers, has agreed verbally to play his college football and baseball for the University of Louisiana Monroe.
Browning, who led the Panthers to the area-round of the state playoffs with his passing and running last year, returns to Mabank High School for his senior year in the fall.
According to a ULM newsletter, Browning ranks among the nation’s top 100 quarterbacks going into the fall, 67th, to be specific.
“This is where I want to be,” said Browning. “I like everything about the school. The campus was top notch, the dorms were brand new, and the coaching staff here is awesome.
“I like the fact that it has a small town feel an the campus is lad out where you can walk to all of your classes.”
Browning threw for 3,004 yards last season and 26 touchdowns.
He also had nearly a thousand yards rushing (939).
“I’m very excited and so are my parents,” Browning was quoted as saying in the Warhawk Nation publication.
“I initially told Coach Weatherbie I would need a couple of days to think about it but after I toured the campus and met all of the people I told my mom and dad this is the school for me.
“I went back to Coach Weatherbie and told him I wanted to commit.”
Browning said he also met with a business professor at the school and decided that would be his major.
Verbally committing should reduce much of the pressure top name quarterbacks get from recruiters during their senior years.
But it won’t keep some major colleges from calling on him if they truly believe he can help the program.
The official signing date won’t come until next year.
Charles Stiff contributed to this story.
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