'08 NY WR Khalif Staten (Iowa Verbal)

[LordJeffBuck]

Khalif Staten



Wide Receiver
Brooklyn (NY) Lincoln

Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 219 lbs
Forty: 4.5 secs

Khalif has an offer from Purdue, and interest in Maryland and Syracuse (neither offered).

RP News: Khalif Staten

[wadc45]

Rivals $

8/23

By Farrell...has an offer from Purdue and is hearing from UNLV, Boise State, Maryland, Rutgers and California. Seems to favor Oregon State and Cal.

[GoRU]

Khalif Staten looks to become Lincoln's next Div. 1 player

Staten's intuition and desire appear to be coming to fruition; Lincoln coach Shawn O'Connor said the senior has already received a written scholarship offer from Purdue and interest from a slew of others, including Rutgers, Maryland, UNLV, Boston College and Boise State.

The senior hauled in 12 receptions for 189 yards and two touchdowns in Lincoln's season-opening, 48-22 loss to New Utrecht. He followed that with two more TDs in the second half of last week's 20-18 loss at Midwood.

If Staten does sign with a major Division I program, he'll successfully follow in the footsteps of Railsplitter receivers Watson (Maryland) and Nyan Boateng, who signed with Florida in 2006 and transferred to California this season.

"I've had college recruiters joke with me, saying if they need a receiver they have to go to Lincoln," O'Connor said. "We've been lucky to have the athletic kid that can play that position, and we've taken advantage of it and used him in the offense. The whole thing with Nyan helped with networking. Lincoln's on the map; we're recruited."

O'Connor said that Boateng, Watson and Staten each carry a distinctive style. Boateng was "athletic and had speed after catches, especially vertically," O'Connor said; Watson, he added, is more of a "short-possession receiver" with a tremendous work ethic.

Where Staten differs is in his aggressiveness. Although Watson played at 6-4 and 230 pounds as a senior last year, O'Connor said that Staten — a wide-bodied 6-2, 218-pounder — brings the most physical presence of the three.

"Khalif has great hands and he's more physical than both the guys (Watson and Boateng)," O'Connor said. "He likes to catch the ball over the middle. I have to yell at him sometimes because he takes unnecessary hits."

Staten also likes dishing out the pain; O'Connor said he may be the team's best linebacker. Staten is more confident than Watson was as a senior, the coach said, citing his championship experience as a swingman on Lincoln's basketball team as a possible reason.

If he gets a choice between playing basketball and football in college, Staten said he is picking the gridiron.

"I'm more set to football," Staten said. "I think I could have a better career in it. I'm excited about all these colleges being interested, but right now I just want to lead Lincoln.

"There's still work to be done."

[GoRU]

Rivals $

10/11

Purdue leads. Visiting on Oct 26.

[GoRU]

Rivals $

11/11

Heavy Purdue lean. Expects decision near Christmas.

[wadc45]

Rivals $

12/12

From the Iowa site...made an official to Purdue last month and will visit Iowa this weekend. Says he was close to committing to Purdue but will now use this visit to compare the two schools. Will get his SAT results in about two weeks to see if he will qualify.

[wadc45]

Rivals $

12/16

From the Iowa site...talks about his official to Iowa last weekend, which surprised him by how well it went. Will likely choose between Iowa and Purdue and says he appreciates that neither schools has been saying anything negative about the other.

[GoRU]

Rivals $

12/22

Iowa verbal.