BROOKSVILLE, Fla. - Sitting over a laptop in the Nature Coast High School in Brooksville, Sharks football coach Cory Johns is confused about something.

 “I mean this first play right here should take away any speed situation. The guy right here chasing him is probably 170 lbs. and a corner.”

Johns never thought he would be spending December trying to sell college coaches on his star running back Mike Weston.

 “Everybody who has been interested in him ends up going with a smaller, scat-type of back and said they are not ready to recruit a big back,” said Johns. “They already have them on their roster. It’s frustrating.”

The most confusing part is that Mike Weston was the leading rusher in the state for the 2018 season with nearly 2900 yards. With Early Signing Day arriving, he has just one Division 1 offer.

 “I don’t really worry about it at all to be honest with you,” said Weston, who officially ran for 2,893 yards this season.

Mike isn’t worried because he carries a 3.0 GPA in the class room. In fact, his main focus is finding a way to pay for college so he can become a nurse like his mom. Between now and February Signing Day Mike will consider his options – both what school to attend and position he’ll play.

 “I don’t have a problem playing anywhere. Next level is next level to be honest with you. I don’t have a problem doing a job that’s not mine,” said Weston.

But his head coach isn’t backing down from seeing Mike play running back at the next level.

 “To me a running back is a running back. And if he can do everything, then he can do everything. And Mike can,” says Johns, who watched all of Mike’s 2019 highlights on Hudl.

Cory Johns and Nature Coast know about running backs. San Francisco 49ers back Matt Breida is a Nature Coast alum: Breida had to settle for Georgia Southern after being overlooked by college coaches. The same can be said for former Tech back Deshawn Smith who just wrapped up his junior year at FAMU as the team’s leading rusher.  It begs the question – how have these standouts been snubbed.

 “They say that we don’t play anyone (being in Hernando County) or that there isn’t any competition here,” said Weston while rolling his eyes. “We have been to the playoffs every year I’ve been in high school.”

“Mike had over 650 yards rushing in three playoffs games this year. So he is averaging over 200 yards a game in the playoffs,” says Johns, who is to the point where he would shake each individual he talks to about the subject.

The good news is Mike will eventually find a home.  More coaches are reaching out to Nature Coast. It’s just the waiting game that makes it difficult. But in the end, Cory John’s says all Mike Weston needs to do is get to college and show what he can do.

 “Mike had 372 carries this year, he averaged over 8 yards a carry, over 220 yards a game and he did it for 13 weeks in a row. If you want a back that you can give it to, he can do it,” said Johns.

It will take time, but you can bet that Mike will find a college football home. He’s one of the best in the state. And that will be good enough for somebody, even if the process moves at a slower pace, definitely slower than Mike Weston on a football field.