Scouts eye Wasilla player

WASILLA — David Green is not spending his summer down by the lake. The Wasilla High School multi-sport athlete is not inside playing video games, staying up late watching movies and sleeping until the afternoon. Green’s spending his final summer as a high school student-athlete in the weight room, eager to work as hard as it takes to catch the attention of a Division I football scout.

And the 6-foot-4, 255-pound incoming senior has already been noticed.

The Wasilla football standout was recently interviewed by famed super scout Tom Lemming and nominated for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He’s also been in contact with coaches from Division I programs University of Washington and Army. Jeff Mills, an assistant on the UW staff made the trip last month to see Green.

“It’s nice that he’s getting some national recognition,” Wasilla head coach Glenn Nelson said. “To get noticed from Alaska, especially on a team that didn’t exactly win state (is a big deal). It’s tough to get some of that recognition.”

Mills contacted Green earlier in the year and was at a Wasilla baseball game to watch Green in early May.

“Not a lot of people fly to Alaska,” Nelson said. “Not only fly to Alaska, but fly to Alaska and come to a baseball game to see a football player.”

Baseball and football are among five sports Green competed in during his senior season at Wasilla.

Green, who could only have limited contact with Mills at the baseball game due to NCAA recruiting rules, said he was surprised to see Mills at his baseball game.

“It was neat to have a DI coach up here, not only at our high school but other high schools,” Green said. “Alaska’s getting some exposure.”

Green is excited about the attention he is receiving from scouts and Division I coaches as he works toward his goal of earning a Division I football scholarship.

“My focus is DI, getting into college,” Green said. “My ultimate goal is to get to the level after that.”

Green was also excited when he learned he’d be interviewed by Lemming and nominated for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, a high school all-star event slated for Jan. 8 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Lemming, who has written for a handful of major publications, is recognized as one of the leading experts on college football recruiting. His Top 100 list is often seen as a college football recruiting bible.

When he met Lemming, Green said it was very informal, more of a casual conversation than an interview.

“It was real relaxed,” Green said. “He talked to me about Alaska football and Alaska.”

Green is one of four Alaska players among 400 athletes nominated for the US Army All-American Bowl. Former East Anchorage wide receiver Casey Flair is the only Alaska player to be selected to play in the all-star game. Final selections for the 2011 game will be released in the fall, according to the game’s website.

Nelson said Green certainly has the skill, work ethic and physical attributes to warrant national recognition.

“He’s just such a great talent for a big guy,” Nelson said. “He’ so skillful.”

Green spent the first three years of his prep career as a tight end and defensive lineman. He will continue to play tight end as a senior, but will move to middle linebacker for his final high school season.

“We want him to be a focal point on defense,” Nelson said. “He can make more of an impact.”

At the college level, Green said he can see himself at either tight end or on the defensive line. But at this point, he said, it doesn’t matter what side of the ball, he just wants to play football at a high level.

Green said he’s eager to build a relationship with as many programs as possible before he makes his choice. He and his father are avid University of Alabama fans, and it’d be a dream for Green to play for the defending national champions. Playing for a Pac-10 school would be nice, he said, or even Boise State, which has become a college football power.

Nelson said he sees the potential for Green to land on the roster of a solid Division I program.

Nelson said Green’s work in a variety of sports at WHS has been attractive to scouts. In addition to football and baseball, Green is also on the varsity basketball, wrestling and track and field squads. Green wrestled for the first time as a junior and quickly became captivated by the sport.

“I just love playing, I can’t get enough sports,” Green said.

Green plans to participate in all five sports as a senior, and he has major goals set for his final year at Wasilla.

“In football, I’m really looking at winning at least a (Railbelt Conference) championship,” Green said. “I really think that would solidify me as a player at Wasilla, if I could help hang a banner.”

Green would also like to win a state title in wrestling.

As he works toward those goals, Green has been busy working out.

“I’ve been lifting weights like crazy,” Green said.

Green makes the trip into Anchorage in the mornings to train at Acceleration Alaska and lifts with is teammates in the afternoons.

Next week, Green will travel with a group of his teammates to attend a team camp at the University of Montana. Then it’s off to the Rising Stars Camp at the University of Washington.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.