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From Thursday's Dallas Morning News:

Mesquite QB picks SMU

01/31/2002

By RICHARD DURRETT / The Dallas Morning News

Mesquite quarterback Mark Hodges orally committed to SMU on Wednesday night.

Oral commitments are nonbinding. The first day a football player can sign a national letter of intent is Wednesday. Hodges, No. 79 on The News' area top 100, was offered a scholarship by head coach Phil Bennett on Wednesday.

Hodges (6-4, 200) accepted immediately, choosing SMU over an offer from Stephen F. Austin.

Hodges, who helped Mesquite win the Class 5A Division I state title, will get the chance to compete at the quarterback position.

SMU also received an oral commitment from Midlothian kicker Ryan Mentzel (6-0, 200).

Hodges can play. He's a nice tall kid, like Bartel. From what I hear, he's a little more mobile, but doesn't quite have Bartel's arm strength. But he can beat a team with his passes or his speed. Very much a Bennett-style QB. I didn't realize he was still available.

Midlothian went 0-10 this year, ouch. When he plays for SMU, hopefully he will get a healthy workout with lots of extra points and kickoffs.

He was recruited as a PUNTER!

Oh. Then I hope he doesn't play at all.

Whow, a tall QB, what's going on here? Are we trying to find someone who can see over the line or something? (No offense to David Page, who I respect a lot).

I like Kelan Luker - But I'm like you guys, I'm excited to see QBs who can see over the offensive line.

Hodges and Bartel are listed at 6'4", Gilray at 6'3", Nixon and Wallis (if he goes back to QB) at 6'2". Good sized group.

Someone get my man Luker some taller cleats, because with that arm, he can really let it go. He'd look nice out there with elevator cleats, something like Bootsie Collins's platform shoes. And some of those big sparkly shades, too.