'09 IL WR Kraig Appleton (Illinois Verbal)

[HotMic]

Scout $

8/11

From the Texas Tech site. Appleton says he will verbal to Illinois tomorrow, but will still take official visits to LSU, Wisconsin, Texas Tech, Notre Dame and Ohio State. He chose Illinois because he liked their campus and what they were telling him.

[HotMic]

Scout: Video footage of Kraig Appleton (FREE)

Video Footage Of Kraig Appleton By Kedric Prince
Publisher
Posted Aug 12, 2008



Check out video of East St. Louis star WR Kraig Appleton.

Continued...

[HotMic]

Scout $

8/15

From the Illini site. Appleton says he thinks he will end up at Illinois, but isn't 100% sure yet. He again says he wants to take all five official visits.

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OrangeandBlueNews.com - East St. Louis stars shine in rout

WR Kraig Appleton, 6-3/190, East St. Louis

ASSETS: Has excellent height and very good hands.
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Needs to work some on his ability to adjust while ball is in the air.
MOST IMPRESSIVE PLAY: His effort on a 21-yard TD catch in the second quarter, using his hands to catch the ball at its highest point.
CONCLUSION: A vertical threat with deceptive speed, Appleton will also be a deadly weapon any time his team is near the end zone because of his size and leaping ability. He physically looks like a slightly taller Chad Johnson.

OrangeandBlueNews.com - From the Road: Offensive skill

WR KRAIG APPLETON (6-3/190), East St. Louis (Illinois) High

CONSIDERING: Top five of LSU, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Notre Dame.
PERFORMANCE: Three catches for 69 yards and one touchdown; also caught two 2-point conversion passes in a 61-7 victory over Belleville (Ill.) West.
STRENGTHS: Has excellent height, uses his size to get open and catches the ball at its highest point. Appleton is a vertical threat who uses his long strides to get behind defensive backs.
WEAKNESSES: Needs to work on adjusting to the ball when the throws are off-target. - BARRY EVERY

[Bernini]

Rivals $

9/24

Mike Ferrell of Rivals reports that Appleton is really not in direct contact with illinois anymore and that Wisconsin has been in direct contact with him the most. Supposedly Wisconsin has been climbing his list over the last few weeks. Now it's more likely than not he doesn't stay committed to Illinois.

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Rivals$

Kraig is down to Illinois, Wisconsin and Texas Tech.

[Bernini]

East St. Louis wide receiver Kraig Appleton is No. 1 in all-star game - High school football - Belleville News Democrat (link also contains video of the announcement and his acceptance)

10/16

Senior Kraig Appleton, the East St. Louis football player who wears No. 1 on his uniform, accomplished a first on Wednesday at East St. Louis High School.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior wide receiver was officially presented with the game jersey he will wear when he plays for the East Team at the ninth annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 3 at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio.

The All-Star game, which features 90 of the nation's top high school football players, marks the first time a player from East St. Louis has been selected to compete in the prestigious event. In the past, it has showcased the talent of current NFL stars Vince Young, Adrian Peterson and Reggie Bush.

During a brief ceremony with bowl officials, East St. Louis administration and coaches and family members, including his mother Donna Appleton, in attendance, Kraig Appleton, became an Army All-American all-star.

"What number am I going to wear? No. 1. of course," Appleton said. "With all the great players that have played here, to be the first chosen to play in this game, it's a great honor.


"I'm going to go down and try to put East St. Louis on the map. I love East St. Louis and I'm going to represent myself and the city the best I can."
Appleton isn't the only Flyers wide receiver who will be participating in an all-star game early next year.

Senior Terry Hawthorne has been chosen to compete in the Under Armour All-America Game on Jan. 4 at Orlando, Fla.

Hawthorne (6-1, 185), who has verbally committed to attend the University of Illinois, has caught 20 passes for 516 yards during the 2008 season.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN beginning at 7 p.m.

Appleton's statistics back up his selection. This season, he has caught 17 passes for 415 yards and six touchdowns. A year ago, Appleton caught 38 passes for 850 yards and seven scores.

Appleton said he received notice that he had been chosen to play in the game earlier this summer but had put it in the back of his mind until the last week.

"I got a call telling me that I was going to be interviewed and then I saw it was going to happen this morning in the newspaper," Appleton said. "I've always tried to be the best I can be through hard work, discipline and dedication. I'm just very happy to be chosen to play in this game. It will be a great experience."

Players are chosen for the game by the selection committee which includes Sportslink, producer of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Rivals.com, the largest high school and college Web site in the nation and national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming.

"Through these three forums, we feel we have assembled ... 90 of the top high school players in the nation," All-American Bowl representative Norah Grady said. "The game has grown bigger each year and last year we had over 35,000 fans at the game and another 2 million watch on national television."

Appleton is just the type of athlete who belongs in an All-Star game of this magnitude.

"Kraig is a talented athlete whose exemplary displays of leadership and teamwork have made him a standout at East St. Louis High School," said Col. David Lee, U.S. Army director of strategic communications and marketing. "He will have his chance to showcase his talents on national television and in 170 countries around the world."

Appleton, along with wide receiver Terry Hawthorne, running back Courtney Molton and quarterback Detchauz Wray have helped lead the Flyers to a 6-1 record and No. 2 ranking in the Class 7A state football poll.

Flyers coach Darren Sunkett said Appleton is an excellent young man and deserving of the all-star honor.

"It's been a pleasure to coach Kraig during the past four years. He's done everything we've asked of him and then some to get to this level," Sunkett said. "But he hasn't done it alone. He has an excellent support group starting with his mother Donna and a great group of teammates. I'm sure he'll be the first one to tell you that."

Donna Appleton is proud her son's accomplishments both on and off the football field.

"He's my only son and I'm very proud of him," Donna Appleton said. "I've taught him to do the right things, work hard, respect others and he does that.

"Being selected to play in this game is an honor for him but also for our family."

Appleton has committed to the University of Illinois, but recently took a recruiting trip to Wisconsin and is also considering LSU, Texas Tech and Missouri.

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[Bernini]

Appleton made it official he's going to Illinois.

ESPN - Kraig Appleton Rankings, Grade, News, Stats - College Football Recruiting 2009

Kraig Appleton is headed to Illinois. He also holds offers from Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Texas Tech, Arkansas and Vanderbilt.
The East St. Louis, Ill., star joins prep teammates ESPNU 150 receiver Terry Hawthorne and defensive back Tommie Hopkins in picking the Illini.

East St. Louis won its first state football title since 1991 when the Flyers defeated Geneva, 33-14, Saturday night in the finals of the Illinois Class 7A state tournament at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. Both Hawthorne and Appleton had touchdown receptions.

Appleton had indicated all summer that he was going to Illinois but never made an official announcement. "This whole game just changed everything," Appleton told the Champaign News-Gazette. "I know for sure that I'll be at Illinois next year, just say that."

ESPN's Billy Tucker added, "Even after a disappointing season, Illinois still continues to build a strong class on the recruiting trail. Appleton was rumored to be a soft verbal to the Fighting Illini for quite some time ago and made it official this weekend. Appleton is Illinois 16th commitment and third ESPNU 150 prospect currently pledged in this 2009 recruiting class."

"At 6-foot-3, Appleton has great size and equally impressive vertical speed. He is not just a big target; our No. 14-rated receiver knows how to utilize his impressive frame and upper-body strength as a pass catcher. After the catch, he can be difficult to take down once he generates momentum and will surprise you with his elusiveness. Hands and body control for his size are impressive but his route running skills will need some polish to make an immediate impact."

"The Zooker has landed one of the better wide receiver duos in the country in Appleton and the speedy Hawthorne. He continues to clean up in-state with four out of the top six prospects headed to Champaign next fall. Aside from quality offensive skill, the Fighting Illini also boast three top-25 defensive linemen led by ESPNU 150 defensive end Craig Drummond (Chicago/Morgan Park)."

"Illinois was left out of the top-15 in our last class rankings but should bump up with addition of Appleton and potentially improve on its No. 16 finish from a year ago."