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Triandos Luke

Triandos Luke

WR, 6-1, 175, 4.5, 275 BP
Phenix City

Nickname: Tree
Birthday: 12-24-81
High School: Central
HS Mascot: Red Devils
HS Coach: Mike Bates
HS Position: WR
HS Number: 14
AL Number: 84
Official Visits: Alabama and Duke
Second Choice: Auburn
Committed: 1-12-2000

Considered the top receiver prospect in Alabama, Triandos caught 30 passes for 506 yards and six touchdowns. He also had four interceptions as a strong safety to help Phenix City go 7-3 on the year.

For his prep career, he had 106 catches for 1,713 yards and 16 TDs. He was also a kick return specialist and started at free safety the latter part of his senior season.

'Tree' was a SuperPrep All-America pick and a 6A All-State pick. He was the No. 6 pick on the Birmingham News' "Super Senior" list and he was the No. 7 prospect on the Tuscaloosa News' Sweet Sixteen list. He was an Atlanta Journal Southern 100 pick.

He picked the Tide over Auburn and Duke.

What Experts Say about Triandos Luke

Allen Wallace: "Very good frame, excellent toughness and strong catching skills. Should play early for Bama."

Tom Lemming: "Explosive, with great separation speed."

Forrest Davis: "The top receiver in Alabama. Acrobatic, strong and aggressive."

Q&A with Triandos Luke

TI: Living so close to Auburn, did you feel pressure to go there?

TL: There wasn't a lot of pressure, but it was hard to tell them no because they had recruited very hard and I had developed a lot of good relationships with their coaching staff. I was really close to Coach [Joe] Whitt. He's a real cool coach and it was tough telling him I was going to Alabama.

TI: How cool was he when you told him you were going to Alabama?

TL: He was good about it. He always told me that I should go to the best place for me. So I just told that Alabama was the best place. He said he understood and wished me good luck.

TI: You committed to Alabama a few days before you were scheduled to visit Auburn. After you committed there was a rumor that Auburn had backed off recruiting you. Is there any truth to that?

TL: [Laughing] No, not at all. They didn't back off a bit. They recruited me hard from beginning to end.

TI: Phenix City has sent a lot of players to Alabama. Are you familiar with guys like Woodrow Lowe, Jeremiah Castille and some of the others from Phenix City who played for Alabama?

TL: Yeah, and don't forget Billy Jackson. I know all of them very well. My dad went to high school with them and is good friends with all of them. But they didn't influence my decision at all.

TI: I guess you're also familiar with some of the former Phenix City players, like James Joseph, who played at Auburn.

TL: Yeah, I know James pretty good. When we [Alabama] played Auburn this year, I was [unofficially] visiting Auburn. I saw James at the game and he was trying to get me to go to Auburn.

TI: Do you have a favorite play from your high school career?

TL: It was this year against Benjamin Russell. With about four minutes left in the game we were losing 13-10. All night long I was beating them on out routes, so they started playing me to the outside. That left the middle of the field open. I cut across on about a five-yard slant and turned it into an 87-yard touchdown to win the game. They had triple coverage on me. I faked the first defender out, caught the ball, and then split the other corner and safety. It was a great feeling.

TI: Describe yourself as a receiver.

TL: It's hard to compare myself to another player, but I like Peter Warrick, Freddie Milons and AC [Antonio Carter]. I've learned a lot from watching those guys on TV. If I had to say though, I would say that I have good speed and hands and run good routes. I need to improve my blocking some.

TI: What are the Alabama coaches saying about your chance of early playing time?

TL: I need to get up to Tuscaloosa this summer and work with the receivers and quarterbacks. Coach Swinney says that I need to learn the playbook this summer and mature a little bit. I hope to be able to compete for the fourth receiver spot behind Milons, AC and McAddley. If I can do that, I'll get a lot of playing time next season.

TI: How does it feel to be a part of a national top-five recruiting class?

TL: It's great. It's a great class to go with the returning players. I've already been telling people down here to watch out because we're going to win the national championship.



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