Excluded from the original Shrine Bowl roster, Hoisington standout Tony Coker was a late all-star addition for West’s football squad.
Coker, a Kansas University signee, was called last week to fill in for Garden City’s Justin Wright, sidelined with a knee injury. The call came a day before West’s training camp began in Hays.
“I’ve always wanted to do this,” said Coker, an offensive lineman. “I was disappointed I didn’t get the phone call earlier, though.”
The Shrine Bowl, featuring several of Kansas’ top seniors from the 1999 football season, will kick off at 7 p.m. Saturday at Washburn University’s Moore Bowl in Topeka.
Coker has beefed up since last fall, when he was listed at 6-foot-5, 295 pounds. Regarded as one of the state’s top prep prospects last year, Coker said he now weighs 320 pounds.
“I’ve gained about 30 pounds,” Coker said. “Some of it’s good pounds, some of it’s bad.”
During the weeklong West camp, Coker has been going head-to-head with future KU teammate Travis Watkins, a 6-4, 285-pound defensive tackle from Derby.
“I’m holding my own,” Coker said of how he was faring against Watkins and the other defensive linemen.
Watkins has relished the battles at the line during camp.
“In high school you may go against a couple of good guys,” said Watkins, a first-team all-Class 6A pick rated as the top lineman in the midwest region by Mo-Kan recruiting service. “Here they’re all really good. It brings your level up and gets you ready for college. I feel good about it. I’ve had a good experience.”
Watkins has increased his workouts the past month. He sustained a broken bone in one of his feet during the high school basketball season and spent most of the spring rehabilitating.
Watkins and Coker will report with the rest of KU’s newcomers on Aug. 6. Both are expected to sit out this fall.
“I’m pretty sure all freshmen are red-shirting,” Watkins said. “We’ve got a couple of defensive linemen from junior college.”
The West holds a 16-10 advantage in the Shrine Bowl series. Coker and Watkins hope to pad that series lead.
“I care about the outcome,” Coker said. “I want to win, but that’s not the whole cause of the Shrine Bowl (which benefits the Shrine Hospitals for Children).
Watkins also wants to win.
“It’s never fun to lose,” he said. “I want to do my best. I want to make sure everyone sees what kind of player I am.”
TV coverage: The Shrine Bowl will televised live on channel 27.
Ticket information: Advance tickets ($7 for adults, $3.50 for students kindergarten through 12th grade) are available at Wal-Mart stores or by calling 1-800-530-5524. Tickets at the gate cost $8 for adults and $4 for students.
