One to Watch Interview: Fayetteville CB Blake Coulter is Ready to Draw More Offers in 2016

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

When it comes to sports, potential is an overused word, phrase, or label given to a player. “Potential” could be good or bad as someone is not playing up to their potential or said person has a lot of potential but has yet to maximize it for whatever reason. For Class of 2017 cornerback Blake Coulter, he has all the potential and is ready to bust the label during his senior season.

Among a Fayetteville High School team with a lot of next level players, Coulter is assured of playing collegiate ball somewhere, the question now is at what level. The 6-0, 178 pound, athlete has lined up at wide receiver during his high school career but will be starting at corner full-time during the 2016 schedule. A torn ACL stunted his sophomore year leaving his junior season as a buildup campaign only to break a collar bone during spring ball. The latest injury did not stop him from working out but limited some of his off-season weight lifting training.

Coulter is a two-sport participant with football scholarship offers from Kentucky Christian, Bethel (Kansas), Hendrix (Arkansas), and Greenville with overlapping track offers from Hendrix and Greenville. If a full healthy season is to be had on the gridiron, Coulter could rapidly see his list of scholarships on the table rise with teams like Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Louisville, Tulsa, Central Oklahoma, Ouachita Baptist, Henderson, Northwestern State, Arkansas Baptist, Pitt State, and Central Arkansas all showing various levels of interest.

College recruiters will get plenty of time to see both Blake and his twin brother Trey this season. Fayetteville is the returning Arkansas state champs and enter the 2016 season ranked No. 1 with high expectations to repeat in 2016.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Coulter for a one-on-one covering his off-season, the Bulldogs 2016 schedule, and received a recruiting news update.

Interview

Blake, you’ve had a couple of setbacks with injuries. Entering your senior year are you 100 percent healthy?

“Yes. I’m back 100 percent. I can sprint and do everything with my knee and my collarbone is healed and has been fine for a couple of months or so now. I played in every game last year. My knee is not an issue at all.”

Will you play corner again this year on defense?

“My brother, Trey, and I have been playing at the varsity level since our sophomore year. This year will be my first year starting at corner.”

Where all on the field might we see you this year?

“I’m playing corner and Trey has moved to free safety. We’re on all the special teams this year like kickoff, onside kick, hands team, and punt return.”

Will we see you on offense this year?

“As of right now I’m not playing on offense this year.”

How have you prepared for your senior year with your off-season workouts?

“Just getting in shape really. We face a lot of fast-paced offenses in 7A West (conference). We play a lot of man. We have a pretty well-rounded defense. We do a little bit of everything. I just have to be ready.”

With your switch from free safety to corner, what skills are you bringing to the field for the Bulldogs on defense?

“I’m a smart corner. At Fayetteville we watch a ton of film. Being smart and reading plays puts us in the right position. Last year I was not one of the fastest guys out there, but I could still play corner because I knew what was going on. I’m good at stopping the run. Press man is one of my favorite coverages. Our defense coaches are comfortable leaving us in man allowing us to lock down wide outs.”

You mentioned your speed, did you run a 40-yard dash this off-season?

“In workouts with a local trainer, Trey and I ran a 4.6.”

What are your expectations for the 2016 season?

“As a team, to win state. That is our goal every year. Hopefully we will repeat. I think we have a good chance. We are ranked No. 1 going into the season. As a player I hope to get at least All-Conference as a D-back.”

How have you been playing so far this fall?

“We had a scrimmage against Greenwood (High School) the other day. I got a pick-six off their quarterback, Connor Noland (2018 Arkansas Razorbacks commit).”

That’s one for the highlight reel. How did your junior year end up in the classroom?

“I had a 3.6 GPA.”

Have you taken the ACT or SAT yet?

“I took the ACT. My first time I scored a 25. My super score is a 26.”

You play other sports for Fayetteville, you run track too, right?

“I do. I run in the 400, 800, and sometimes in the 4×2 and 200.”

Which event is your best?

“I’d say the 400. Last year I was getting my strength and legs back. Trey is actually No. 1 in the state in the 400. He ran a 49.7.”

What was your best time?

“A 51-flat. Oh, we also run the 4×8. This year will be much better for me.”

You have a couple of offers for track. Which schools have offered you?

“Hendrix and Greenville.”

You have some offers for football too. Which schools have offered you for football?

“Kentucky Christian, Bethel Kansas, Hendrix, and Greenville.”

Did you go to any college camps for football this summer?

“We went to Arkansas Tech, Northeastern State, Central Oklahoma, Pitt State, Central Arkansas, Tulsa, the Opening, and an Arkansas camp.”

Which camp did you give your best performance?

“I’d say the Central Oklahoma camp. The coaches there talked to us a lot. They have communicated with us a lot since the camp. Tulsa was a good camp too. Their corners coach liked us, he got our numbers.”

Which schools are showing interest in you right now?

“UCO (Central Oklahoma), Tulsa, and most of the Arkansas schools like Tech, OBU (Ouachita Baptist), Northwestern State, Henderson, UCA, Arkansas Baptist, and Pitt State. We get a lot of mail from OU (Oklahoma), Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisville.”

Do you have any visited planned for the season?

“A lot of schools have been texting us about taking unofficial visits. We have not set anything up yet. I’m not sure where we will go yet.”

Back to the team, you guys are the defending champs, how do you look going into the season?

“We look really good honestly. I don’t think we have any weaknesses. We are a well-round team. We have Taylor (Powell – Wake Forest commit) coming back, he’s our biggest strength. We have a high powered- high scoring offense. Our defense looks really good this year. Hopefully we have a good season.”

Which games on the schedule are you ready to play?

“Bishop Dunne in Dallas in Week 3 (Sept. 16). I think they are ranked No. 30 in nation and we are No. 32, something like that. We are excited to see how we stack up.”

What about in-state games? Any games against Arkansas competition you are ready to play?

“Bentonville (Sept. 23) and Har-Ber (Oct. 21). Those two games we look forward to every year. North Little Rock is good this year. We don’t play them in the regular season but we are looking forward to seeing them in state. Trey, Taylor, and I went to scrimmage at Har-Ber. North Little Rock was at the scrimmage, they looked really good.”

Blake, thanks for your time today and good luck with the 2016 season.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: Coulter family; Blake and Trey track state champs.

Photo credit: NWA Democrat-Gazette; Blake Coulter picks off a Greenwood pass.

Photo credit:  Coulter family; Blake locks down a receiver in practice.