Rockets Recruit Shutdown Corner

Hoosier State standout Lawrence Barnett is the first known offer at the cornerback position for the Toledo Rockets in the class of 2009. Rocket Digest recently caught up with Barnett to see where the Toledo Rockets stand in his recruitment and if any trips to Toledo have been planned for the foreseeable future.

With defensive needs more clearly identified after last season’s shocking defensive performance, the Toledo Rockets appear ready to bring in at least one shutdown corner in the class of 2009. At this early stage in the process, there, however, has been just one known offer to a player at the position from the high schools ranks. Lawrence Barnett appears to be that choice.

Despite not hearing from the Toledo coaching staff since picking up an offer back shortly after a Toledo Rocket junior day, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound cover corner from Bishop Luers High School was the first known offer for the Midnight Blue & Gold at the position.

Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, Wyoming, Indiana, Ball State and Toledo have all offered the prep player from the Hoosier state, and Louisville, Boston College, Michigan State and Cincinnati have all been showing continued interest.

Toledo, however, was one of the first offers. Not long after Barnett’s first visit to Bancroft, it didn’t take long for a scholarship offer to arrive.

“I came up there for junior day,” Barnett told Rocket Digest,” and he (Coach Doug Downing) didn’t know much about me. I gave him a highlight tape while I was there. He watched it and then came to my school. He talked to me and sat down with my coach and offered me. He actually knows my coach.”

A player who describes himself as a physical corner, Barnett also made his way to various campuses through the area, and there are more to come. After attending camp at Bowling Green State earlier this week, Barnett continued with Rocket Digest on his future plans.

“I was at their one-day camp,” he said. “The visit went good. It was a long day. It was real hot outside. We did some nice drills there and the coaches were nice. It was some good competition there for the 1-on-1’s. There were some good receiver’s and a good quarterback.”

A quick weekend visit to Louisville is next on the schedule for Barnett, who also plans on visiting Michigan State and Cincinnati before the end of the summer, but will Barnett any other trips to Toledo before narrowing down his list of top schools?

“I might go up there to see a couple games during the season up there,” Barnett answered.

The Toledo Rockets have also extended an offer to Barnett’s Bishop Luers teammate TyQuan Hammock. Rocket Digest will attempt to contact Hammock to provide an update on his recruitment as well as the Rockets try and secure commitments from both of these talented prep players.

“We’ve talked about it (going to the same school) a couple times. It would be nice. I played with him since sixth grade, but he’s got a couple of more offers and we’re being recruited for different positions so we’re going through recruiting differently.”