College-football recruiters weren't exactly standing in line to sign Mark LeGree two years ago.
In fact, there was no line.
"I didn't get any scholarship offers," said LeGree, a sophomore at Appalachian State who leads the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision with seven interceptions this season. "I played for a small Catholic school with about 135 kids. I was under the radar."
LeGree, from Columbus, Ga., didn't lack for success at Pacelli Catholic. He had seven interceptions as a defensive back and 11 touchdown receptions as a receiver his senior season, and he was an all-state selection in Class 1-A. His high-school coach lauded his quickness and tackling ability, but his small-school status wasn't an attraction for college programs.
"I didn't go to any combines or anything," LeGree said. "I have a friend that goes up here, and she asked me for a highlight tape. She gave it to a player, and I got a call from a coach."
Coach Jerry Moore of the Mountaineers liked what he saw.
"It doesn't make a lot of difference to us about the heavily-recruited part," Moore said. "There's two guys in my coaching background, Darrell Royal and Tom Osborne, and Coach Royal used to make the statement, ‘Is it harder to take a player that nobody else wants or harder to turn down one that everybody wants?' I've kind of stuck with that.
"Then when I got to Nebraska with Coach Osborne, he didn't care who was recruiting a player. If he fit our program, that's the kind of kid we wanted, and we've done that here for 20 years now.
"It didn't make any difference who was recruiting Mark. We thought he could play for us, and he can. He's a terrific football player."
LeGree had a bit of an impact as a freshman last season, playing behind All-America Corey Lynch at safety. He played in 14 games, making 20 tackles primarily on special teams, before settling into a starter's role this season.
"At the beginning of the season, the secondary was the big question because we were all new," LeGree said. "We're just glad to be able to step up."
He stepped up big last Friday night in a 70-24 rout of Wofford, tying a single-game school record with three interceptions.
"It was just one of those nights I was in the right place at the right time," said LeGree, who also forced a fumble and made eight tackles.
His first interception seemed to get Appalachian's defense going, putting the brakes on Wofford's potent offense that had matched the Mountaineers first two touchdowns. Wofford didn't score again until the second half, and Appalachian had a 42-14 lead by that time.
"It was a big play, and our offense can score after big plays," he said.
LeGree (6-0, 200) needs just one more interception to tie the single-season school record of eight, set by Larry Harbin in 1963, and he is also becoming known for jarring hits. He had a memorable one on Wofford's first drive -- leveling running back Jeremy Marshall.
"He's a big hitter," Moore said. "He's a high-intensity player."
For LeGree, he's just glad to be playing at college football.
"I always wanted to, but I never thought it would happen," LeGree said. "It was just a dream of mine, and I'm glad it came true."
■ Tommy Bowman can be reached at 727-7320 or at tbowman@wsjournal.com.
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