Monday, March 11, 2013
Two schools stand out for WR Sykes
By Erik McKinney
It's no longer a surprise when an Arizona athlete comes to an event in California and stands out, as the top-tier talent from the Grand Canyon State continues to prove it can play with any group in the country.
At the Los Angeles Nike Football Training Camp on Sunday, wide receiver Dionte Sykes (Chandler, Ariz./Chandler) caught plenty of attention with his performance.
While he admitted to something of a slow start, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound receiver closed the session in impressive fashion, as he made a number of impressive catches in one-on-one situations.
"I was super tight at the very beginning," Sykes said. "But when I started running routes on air and one-on-ones, I definitely came out of my shell and started showing off a little bit."
This won't be the last opportunity Sykes has to showcase his ability. He plans to attend the Nike Camp in Eugene, Ore., later this spring and will combine that trip with an unofficial visit to see the Ducks.
Sykes holds four scholarship offers, from Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Michigan, but he doesn't hesitate when asked if there are any schools standing out to him right now.
"UCLA and Oklahoma," Sykes said. "With Oklahoma, their receivers [stand out] -- what Kenny Stills and Ryan Broyles and all of them did there. And then with UCLA, I know the whole coaching staff -- Coach [Noel] Mazzone, coach [Eric] Yarber. I grew up around them, so it'd be perfect."
Sykes said Oklahoma will be back to his school during the spring evaluation period to determine if a scholarship will be offered. Until then, Sykes, who caught 42 passes for 708 yards and five touchdowns last season, has a fairly uncomplicated plan for how to deal with the recruiting process.
"I'm just going to go with my gut feeling," he said. "Wherever my heart takes me."
