RECRUITING NOTEBOOK

updated 2:41 p.m. ET May 9, 2007

It seems every year there’s a standout high school football player that is the son of a  famous athlete or celebrity.

This year, there are two high-profile recruits in the West Region that are sons of famous athletes.

Meet Jack Elway.

Yes, the 6-foot-4, 187-pound pro-style quarterback from Englewood (Colo.) Cherry Creek is the son of John Elway.

And meet Jake Murphy.

Atlanta Braves fans probably know that Murphy — a 6-foot-5, 215-pound linebacker from American Fork, Utah — is the son of Major League Baseball standout Dale Murphy.

Neither son can avoid the shadow of his father. John Elway was arguably the best quarterback ever to play in the NFL. Many remember the days of Dale Murphy pounding out home runs for the Atlanta Braves.

The sons appreciate their bloodlines and plan on making names for themselves, too.

“Dad always wanted me to do what I wanted to do,” Jack Elway said. “If it’s football, then that’s great. If it’s something else, then that’s great also. I really didn’t watch much college football growing up. I have to blaze my own path and do what’s right for me.”

The good news for college football fans is that Elway looks to be on track to be one of the nation’s more heavily recruited quarterback prospects. With scholarship offers on the table from Oregon and LSU, Elway is also getting heavy attention from Cal, USC and — of course — Stanford.

"Oregon and LSU are the two that have offered," Elway said. "Oregon offered me first. I think it was January, and then LSU came a little later in February.”

Elway talks a lot with the coaches from the two schools that have offered him.

"For Oregon, Chip Kelly is recruiting me," he said. "I text him a lot and I've called him a few times. We talked about what other places I'm looking at and he's seeing when I can get out there for a visit. At LSU, it’s Gary Crowton. He was the offensive coordinator at Oregon. He’s already been by the school. I've called him, have talked to him and texted him. He actually told me that he was the one that sparked interest in me at Oregon at first before he moved over to LSU.”

Elway is open to quite a few other schools, but it could get interesting if the Cardinal offers him a scholarship. His parents graduated from Stanford, and he has family on campus now in Palo Alto, Calif.

"My sister goes to Stanford, so we went to visit her recently,” Elway said. “I got to watch a practice and I talked to Jim Harbaugh. It was good. The practice was awesome, and I liked the coach. But definitely LSU and Oregon, and then Stanford, are on my list. I want to look at Cal and UCLA, but I'm really open. I don't want to narrow my options right now."

Murphy has also been getting quite a bit of attention.

While he plays both receiver and linebacker in high school, it looks like he’ll be a defensive recruit in college – that’s if he makes it to the gridiron. Murphy’s future at the collegiate level may not be on the football field. Being the son of a baseball great, he also excels on the baseball diamond and may opt for a future in that sport.

“I don’t know which sport I’ll play,” Murphy said. “I’ll probably decide after this next football season ends. I like playing football more because it’s more intense and more fun for me. Baseball is more relaxed. I’ll just have to decide between the two, but now I’m probably leaning more toward football.”

Murhpy is also in an unusual situation because he plans to go on a church mission after he graduates from high school. That hasn’t stopped BYU and Stanford from offering him scholarships.

“Both schools know that my mission is very important for me,” Murphy said. “Stanford knows that I’m serving the mission, and they’re OK with it. That’s something that’s reassuring. I also have great feelings about BYU as well. It’s close to home, which is a positive for me and my family. I know they’re going to have a great environment that I can easily fit in with.”

The players will get a shot at seeing where they stack up nationally over the next couple of weeks at NIKE Training Camps. Murphy is scheduled to attend the camp next week in Palo Alto, Calif., and Elway should be at the camp in Boulder, Colo.

East
After an impressive showing at the Elite College Combine last week, Greensburg (Pa.) Greensburg Central Catholic cornerback Chris Hayden-Martin has seen his offer list grow. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder claims eight offers and believes more are coming.

"It appears I have offers right now from Pittsburgh, Connecticut, Villanova, Akron, Buffalo, Syracuse, Toledo and South Carolina," he stated. "I'm just thankful all these coaches are recruiting me. I haven't made up my mind. I want to see if I can get some more, and then I'll sit down with my coaches and decide before my senior year.

"They all started happening right after the combine. UConn and South Carolina offered and then Pitt offered. I also received phone calls from Notre Dame, Purdue, Alabama, Miami, LSU and Minnesota. All were very interested."

Did any of the offers particularly impress the Keystone State prospect?

"The one from Pittsburgh I was very excited about and had been waiting for," he stated. "I like the coaches there and that's what I need in a college, coaches I can depend on for four or five years. Academics also have to be strong or else I probably won't consider that either."

One of the more impressive sleepers out of the Elite College Combine last Tuesday was 6-foot-6, 260-pound offensive tackle Patrick Neumann. The Montvale (N.J.) St. Joseph's Regional lineman impressed quite a few coaches. In fact, Neumann picked up his first two offers - from Boston College and Florida State.

"I did well," Neumann said. "I felt like I showed my speed and quickness for a big guy. I was also physical and had a great punch in the one-on-ones. I did lose one or two of them, but I'm always trying to achieve perfection. I know I can improve more. The Elite was a great experience for me.

"Boston College offered earlier in the day and then Coach (Rick) Trickett called my coach and offered," he said. "Both programs are big schools. Boston College has great academics and a solid education, while Florida State is a great school and has a terrific team. I was flattered to get offers from both."

Two other schools are potentially on the verge of offering.

"Illinois has said they are very interested and Connecticut seems that way, too," he said. "Right now I can say I don't really have any favorites and am open to anybody that offers.

"Basically, I'm just looking for a good football team, campus and solid academics. Location doesn't matter to me at all. I'll go anywhere in the country."

MORE FROM COLLEGE FOOTBALL

College football Section Front

Florida’s Meyer says Notre Dame not an option CFT: End-of-season award finalists announced Bowl Projections: Penn State in BCS picture   Vote: Who should be ranked No. 1? Heisman Hopefuls: Race is tight down stretch Bama's defense rolling, Auburn's struggling CFT: Colorado coach regrets having son as QB QB Robinson resumes throwing for No. 11 Cowboys CFT: Pike returns to Cincinnati starting lineup CFT: Leach blasts Mangino ‘witch hunt’ College football Section Front   Add College football headlines to your news reader: