Mount Carmel’s Darrion Dupree sifted through roughly 30 offers — including Notre Dame and Illinois — before deciding in early July to give a verbal commitment to Wisconsin.
The senior running back figured with that decision, he could free his mind and concentrate on his senior season with the Caravan.
Then, in early August, he received a phone call and a fancy package with an offer in the mail from Alabama.
“That was a big surprise,” Dupree said. “It just happened. I went to a camp there two years ago. When I got the package, I read it and had to read it again to see if it was an offer. And it was.”
What to do?
Dupree didn’t want to comment on what he is thinking about his college choice, but said, “I still have time until signing day (in December). I’m still with Wisconsin.”
He’s also still running on plenty for the Caravan, who are No. 1 in the Daily Southtown’s preseason rankings. Mount Carmel opens the season at 7 p.m. Friday in Normal.
The Caravan, the reigning Class 7A state champion, will meet up with 6A champ East St. Louis in a monster matchup at Hancock Stadium in Normal, site of this year’s state finals.
Mount Carmel coach Jordan Lynch said Dupree, a 5-foot-10, 195-pound athlete, could play anywhere on the field. Dupree caused buzz with his Aug. 2 post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“What are you doing?” Mark Wass asked. “Madison is the place.”
Tyler Flanagan, another poster, reminded Dupree that Wisconsin is also known as “Running Back University.”
Yet another poster wanted Dupree to flip, writing “Great to see (Alabama) Coach (Nick) Saban sees what I see — best prospect around.”
In a Rivals.com discussion about Dupree’s future home, national recruiting analyst Clint Cosgrove said he would be surprised if Dupree doesn’t consider the Alabama opportunity.
“I could even see him taking a visit to Tuscaloosa,” Cosgrove said. “But I ultimately see him signing with the Badgers in the end.”
Before Dupree puts pen to the paper for his college choice, however, he has some unfinished business with the Caravan.
He was injured in the first quarter of the regular-season finale — a 42-37 road win over Class 8A state champion Loyola — and missed all five playoff games in 2022.
He cheered and encouraged his teammates during their run to the Caravan’s 14th state title, but it wasn’t the same as being on the field and playing.
“I’m not going to lie, it hurt me,” Dupree said. “But it bettered me as a person because everything happens for a reason. I’m not going to be mad at that.
“God was just telling me to chill on this one. I was trying to be positive.”
Dupree finished last season with 664 yards and 10 touchdowns on 61 carries in nine games. He added 23 catches for 340 yards and eight TDs before being shut down with an injured right toe.
Lynch knows Dupree will come out firing this year.
“An athlete and a competitor like that wants to be on the big stage and win it with his teammates,” Lynch said. “In his head, he has something to prove.”
Dupree doesn’t have much to prove to Lynch.
“He is one of the most special athletes to walk through Mount Carmel,” Lynch said. “Whenever we need someone? Darrion Dupree. Offense. Defense. He’s an emergency everything for you.
“And Alabama — they don’t make offers to just anybody. It’s a special accomplishment just to get those guys’ attention.”
Quick Facts
Team: Mount Carmel.
2022 Record: 14-0.
Offensive leaders: Darrion Dupree, senior, running back; Rahfeeq Katumbusi, senior, offensive lineman; Alex Poholik, offensive lineman; Jack Elliott, junior, quarterback.
Defensive leaders: Tavon Rice, senior, defensive lineman; Parker Startz, senior, linebacker; Tim Daigler, senior, defensive back; Le’Javier Payne, junior, strong safety.
X-factor: Alonzo Manning, senior, running back.
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
