Alabama State's on the level for Conant's Graham

When he got face to face with Alabama State football coach Brian Jenkins, Conant's Palmer Graham knew he'd found himself a home.

"Coach Jenkins is a little guy too," said Graham, who stands 5 feet, 8 inches. "That's what compelled me to him, because he played at the University of Cincinnati. He said that guys our size have an advantage because we have a bigger chip on our shoulder."

Graham verbally committed last week to Alabama State and will sign officially, along with other area players, on Wednesday on National Signing Day.

Graham chose Alabama State over Army, North Carolina Central, North Dakota State, Drake and South Dakota State . He also had offers as a preferred walk-on at Illinois, Iowa State and Toledo.

"I really like the coaches and I was attracted to them, "Palmer said. "I went down to the campus and they talked about making me a better man and a better player."

Graham says he's hoping to break into the starting lineup next year. At what position, he isn't certain.

"I think I have a good chance to break through next year as a true freshman," Graham said. "But they still aren't sure what to do with me because they like me as a receiver and they like me as a defensive back."

Graham did both very well last season for Conant. A three-year starter on defense, Graham also played wide receiver the last two years as well and returned kicks.

He was a force for the Cougars on offense especially this year. He caught 55 passes for 1,171 yards and 11 touchdowns. And in the Cougars' game against Barrington, Graham had a game for the ages, catching 11 passes for 224 yards and 3 touchdowns.

"He was impossible to cover, at least it seemed like it at times," Conant coach Bill Modelski said. "Defenses always looked at him as a threat. He matured a lot as a kid and the numbers speak for themselves."

Modelski had two more players that agreed to play at the next level.

Quarterback Kyle Bradley committed to Central Missouri University. Bradley, who is coming off an Achilles' tendon tear after the season ended, threw for 2,276 yards and 18 touchdowns while running for 551 years and 6 TDs.

Linebacker Ross Cayley also committed last week for the Cougars. The linebacker will play for Hillsdale College.

They will join Fremd's Kenny Lyke (Michigan State), Matt McCabe (Yale) and Cordell Finley (Grand Valley State), Palatine's Joey Roy (Wisconsin-Platteville), Elk Grove's Azeez Alabi (St. Ambrose), Barrington's Johnny Davidson (Washington University), Nate King (St. Ambrose) and Alex Serrano (Indiana), Hoffman Estates' Dante Cleveland (Central Michigan), Buffalo Grove's Nolan Fortman (Valparaiso), Hersey's Jordan Edwards (Carthage), Wheeling Dylan Draka (Illinois State) and Prospect's Matt Schultz (San Diego) in officially signing on Wednesday.