ESPN Midwest recruiting Blog

Posted by Bill Kurelic

Andre' Dawson (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington) is one of the top running back prospects in the Midwest. After rushing for 1,387 yards and 13 touchdowns his sophomore year, Dawson gained 1,483 yards and scored 28 times during his junior season.

The 6-foot-1 and 210-pound Dawson combines speed with strength and power. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds, bench presses 280 pounds and can squat 425.

Recruiters are beating a path to Dawson's school and a number of them don't need to see anymore. Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin were the first three schools to extend a scholarship offer to Dawson. Two more offers have arrived in the past week, and more are likely on the way.

"I just got offers from Kansas and Cincinnati," Dawson said. "My coach said Nebraska might be offering. I'm also getting a lot of mail from Oregon and North Carolina."

Dawson has visited a number of schools and more stops are on the horizon.

"I was at a Kansas junior day over the weekend," Dawson said. "That went really well. I also went to an Iowa junior day. Florida State, Alabama and Michigan want me to come to junior days. I'm scheduled to go to Nebraska's spring game."

Two to watch at Fox Chapel

Miles Dieffenbach (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) is drawing plenty of interest from recruiters. The 6-foot-4 and 285-pounder Dieffenbach was a varsity starter at center his freshman and sophomore years. He moved to tackle his junior season. "He is very versatile," Fox Chapel Coach Bryan Deal said. "He can play any of the three offensive line positions."

Dieffenbach' father George Dieffenbach is the head tennis coach at Pitt, and Miles has a scholarship offer on the table from the Panthers.

Miles is interested in Pitt, but is also looking at others. He has been to junior days at Penn State, Boston College and Notre Dame, as well as Pitt. Miles also attended a Michigan State game this past season.

Dieffenbach is not the only major college prospect at Fox Chapel. Sophomore running back Montay Green is one of the top class of 2011 prospects in the state of Pennsylvania.

The 5-foot-11 and 222-pound Green is an explosive and powerful back who gained close to 1,000 yards during his sophomore season.

When Deal was the head coach at Dublin (Ohio) Scioto his star running back was Nick Goings. Goings went on to play for the Pitt Panthers and has had a solid career in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers. Deal feels Green has the same type potential as Goings.