Many's Palmer down to 3 Schools

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The Class 2A Outstanding Offensive Player will be in Natchitoches this weekend. Many High School standout D.J. Palmer is making his official visit to Northwestern State, with visits also schedule this month with a school in Louisiana and another in Texas.

Palmer, who accounted for an astounding 51 touchdowns last season in leading Many to an 11-2 mark, is considering offers from Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana and Lamar University, according to his high school coach Keith Menard. Palmer visits SLU next week and Lamar, which recently revived its football program, the following week.

"When you start talking about D.J., you are talking about a winner," said Menard. "He won't play quarterback in college, but he is one of those guys that played quarterback and was a football player. He very easily could have been playing linebacker. He is tough, physical; he just makes plays."

Making plays he did, to the tune of 1,280 yards passing and 22 touchdown passes along with 2,382 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns. In 274 carries and 133 pass attempts he lost one fumble and threw just five interceptions.

So what position will he play at the next level?

"That might be the problem right now," Menard said of the 6-foot, 190-pounder. "I think he is a running back myself, but think the colleges are thinking free safety. I think Southeastern is thinking slot receiver and Lamar just wants to get him in the program and find a spot for him. Regardless, he is the type of guy you want on your team."

With Palmer at the helm, Many was one of the state's top Class 2A teams all season, it's only loss in the regular season to Class 4A Ruston, 34-6. The season came to an end in the quarterfinals of the 2A playoffs in a 53-7 loss to eventual state champion Evangel.

Menard said that Palmer's 4.6 40-yard dash has kept the bigger schools from aggressively pursuing him and that is probably a mistake on their part.

"This is my 24th year in coaching and 21st as a head coach," Menard said. "And I hate to see the direction that college coaches are often going in. Recently, it's like these players are being judged on the 100-yard dash. How often do they run 100 yards? These are football players."

Palmer's worth on the field is amplified by his conduct off of it, according to Menard.

"D.J., and I'm not taking anything from my other kids, because we really have some good kids on this team," Menard said. "But D.J. is a person who is going to be a good influence on your campus. He truly is a quality young man."