'09 IL WR Kraig Appleton (Wisconsin Signee)

[Buckskin86]

East Side senior is being recruited for football and track and field
BY DEAN CRIDDLE
News-Democrat

EAST ST. LOUIS --Kraig Appleton is known as a complete athlete.

A junior at East St. Louis, Appleton stands 6-foot-3, weighs 200 pounds and possesses a rare combination of power and blazing speed.

"Kraig is just an outstanding athlete who is being heavily recruited by several NCAA Division I and major universities," East St. Louis track and field coach Roscoe Whitfield said. "His athletic ability in football and in track and field are just two of the sports in which we know he excels. He could play baseball or basketball as well.

Kraig could probably do anything but swim. He works at a swimming pool in the summer with me, so I know about that."

While Appleton will never be compared to Mark Spitz in the pool, he is perhaps the top combination athlete in track and field and football in the St. Louis area. The defending Class AA state champion in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles, Appleton is regarded as one of the nation's top prep wide receivers.

Michigan, Ohio State, Arkansas and Illinois are just four of the schools heavily recruiting Appleton, who caught 38 passes for 850 yards and seven touchdowns for the Flyers.

And while Appleton has a passion for sports, his No. 1 love is his mom -- Donna Appleton.

"My mom is my heart and I'm just really worried about what she might think. So I just do what I can so I don't put that kind of pressure on her," Appleton said. "I Just want her here with me. That's all."

East Side senior is being recruited for football and track and field

[Buckskin86]

As expected, E. St. Louis wins Southwestern title
By Ken Roberts
POST-DISPATCH
05/08/2008

Kraig Appleton was the 300 low hurdles winner (37.4) and Evan Johnson captured the 200 (21.6). East St. Louis also won the 800 and 1,600 relays.

"Once you mind-frame you're the best, you can't be beat," said Appleton after easily winning his hurdles final. "Having it in your mind beats the stronger and fastest guy. Sometimes it takes the mind and heart to win the event."

In his race, Appleton cleared the first hurdle and left everyone behind including Miller (38.9), who was a distant second.

"Our coaches instill in us to get out of the blocks and be the first one to the hurdle," Appleton said. "That's where the race is won. It takes hard work, and with the coaches we have, they tell us whatever we need to do to win."

Appleton said winning the conference was "a stepping stone to build more character. We take these meets very seriously, and we train hard for them to come out on top."

STLtoday - Prep Sports - Track - Boys

[wadc45]

Rivals $

5/11

From O&B News...talks about wrapping up the conference championships for track. Lists offers from Illinois, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Texas Tech, Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin, Purdue, Kansas State and Iowa State and mentions OSU as another school he is looking at. Talks about his interest in the Illini.

[LordJeffBuck]

Ohio State Rivals - 05/14

Claims a verbal offer from Ohio State, and a top three of Illinois (slight leader), Wisconsin, and Ohio State. Appleton is looking for early playing time....

[tlinc]

Originally Posted by LordJeffBuck

Ohio State Rivals - 05/14

Claims a verbal offer from Ohio State, and a top three of Illinois (slight leader), Wisconsin, and Ohio State. Appleton is looking for early playing time....

Not a good update for us at all as I don't see him having much of a chance of starting as a freshman here and his attitude about starting right away comes off as a little weird here as he kind of implies it is his #1 factor. On the other hand, I don't really like his chances of starting at Illinois right away either with guys like Arrelious Benn, Cordale Scott, etc. already there.

[emu]

Originally Posted by LordJeffBuck

Ohio State Rivals - 05/14

Claims a verbal offer from Ohio State, and a top three of Illinois (slight leader), Wisconsin, and Ohio State. Appleton is looking for early playing time....

Sounds like an Illinois recruit all the way . . .

[MD Buckeye]

Rivals $

5/17

From HuskersIllustrated.com....Says that Texas Tech is recruiting him the hardest right now. Will make a decision by the end of his senior season.

[BuckeyesFan0623]

Originally Posted by tlinc

Not a good update for us at all as I don't see him having much of a chance of starting as a freshman here and his attitude about starting right away comes off as a little weird here as he kind of implies it is his #1 factor. On the other hand, I don't really like his chances of starting at Illinois right away either with guys like Arrelious Benn, Cordale Scott, etc. already there.

I agree their is no way that JT starts him as a freshman unless he deserves it , not because thats what he wants ( in order to be recruited ) . Looks like we can say nice knowing ya too Kraig .

[Buckskin86]

Posted on Sun, May. 25, 2008

Flyers refuse to be denied; East Side claims Class AA crown
Clean sweep: East St. Louis boys win title one week after girls take top prize
BY DEAN CRIDDLE
News-Democrat

CHARLESTON --The East St. Louis Flyers weren't about to finish second again.

Kraig Appleton successfully defended his 300-meter intermediate hurdles state title and the Flyers' depth proved to be the difference as East St. Louis regained the Class AA State Track and Field Meet championship Saturday at O'Brien Stadium.

Competing without sprinter Javaughn Tabbs, who suffered an injured right hamstring in Friday's preliminaries, the Flyers used the brilliance of Appleton and nine other medal-winning efforts to finish with 57 points, 11 more than Elmhurst York, to win their first state championship since 2005.

The title also is the second in two weeks for East St. Louis High, which won the girls Class AA state championship on the same O'Brien Stadium track on May 17. The double championship is the first for any Class AA school in track and field since East St. Louis Lincoln pulled it off in 1984.

In a tough four-team battle with York, Springfield Lanphier and two-time defending champion Cahokia, the Flyers put the title away when Appleton won the 300 hurdles and teammate Ryan Miller finished third.

Appleton finished the race in 37.99 seconds, with Miller clocking in at 38.42

Flyers refuse to be denied; East Side claims Class AA crown

[jwinslow]

Scout $

6/4

Names top 3 of LSU, OSU & TxTech.

[BengalsAndBucks]

Anyone familiar with Illinois' shot here?

[HotMic]

Originally Posted by BengalsAndBucks

Anyone familiar with Illinois' shot here?

[OregonBuckeye]

This recruit is really hard to figure out.

[scott91575]

Originally Posted by OregonBuckeye

This recruit is really hard to figure out.

Looks like he went to the Barksdale school of decision making.

[keylime_5]

First he says he likes schools like LSU, OSU, and a few others but not Illinois. Then he says Illinois is his slight leader. Now he says his top three are OSU, TTU, and LSU. Big question is are those his final three? Kinda weird that Illinois is his leader, then eliminated, then his leader, and then eliminated again.