Butler County CC OL Naseri Eteuni

October 12, 2006

JUCO Lineman Naseri Eteuini has Arizona State Sun Devil Offer
Chris Karpman
ASUDevils.com

El Dorado (Kan.) Butler County Community College offensive lineman Naseri Eteuini is playing for the nation's No. 1 ranked team. The Grizzlies are 6-0 and have held the top spot in the NJCAA poll for three straight weeks. ASUDevils.com recently spoke with Eteuini, a former teammate of ASU running back Ryan Torain, about his squad's success, and his recruitment.

The lone scholarship offer Eteuni is aware of is from Arizona State

"I know last year we kind of fell apart at the end of the season," Eteuini said. "I think the guys on the team are a lot closer this year. We spend more time together and I think that shows on the field.

"I just think we're a better team overall. Our offensive line is really good, our defensive line is really good, the linebackers, just everywhere."

A 6-foot-4, 305-pounder out of Manhattan (Kan.), Eteuini arrived in the state after spending his first two years of high school in North Carolina. He said he went largely unrecruited coming out of high school in Kansas and ended up walking on at Kansas State as a greyshirt.

It was then learned that he didn't meet eligibility requirements for the school and he was forced to enroll at Butler and learn the team's offense within a week, in an effort to see if he'd fit in with the program.

"There was a lot of adversity that I had to fight through but in the end I think everything worked out for the best," Eteuini said. "I really enjoy it here, our coaches do a very good job and it looks like I'll be able to get a (Division I) scholarship."

Having played tackle in high school and guard last season, Eteuini is spending his first season ever at the center position and he's enjoying it.

"This year I got to know the offense a lot better," he said. "I love center right now but it's a very technical position so I still have a lot to learn. It's good to be really versatile though and I think it'll only help me in the future."

Eteuini said that Butler coaches intentionally try to limit the amount of information their players have on recruiting and scholarship offers in an effort to keep them focused on the task ahead of the program.

"I really have no idea who all is interested in me or who has offered me other than Arizona State," Eteuini said. "I've heard about some other big time schools having interest in me or whatever but that's just gossip right now as far as I'm concerned.

"With Arizona State, I think it was after our spring game, their defensive coordinator Bill Miller was there and [Butler head coach Troy Morrell] called me over and just introduced me. Coach Miller gave me his card and told me to call him.

"So some time later after I had a workout I just decided to go ahead and call him to get more information on the school and we talked for a bit and he offered me a scholarship. But that's the only one I know about and the only real conversation I've had with any (Division I) coaches."

Eteuini said that while he is aware of the success that Torain is having at Arizona State, he's not spent much time talking to any former teammates now playing at the Division I level and that won't influence his eventual decision.

"The biggest influence is just talking to my dad and seeing what the best fit is for me, where I can go, what (position) I can play, how many seniors and juniors are on each team recruiting me and what kind of offense the teams play," Eteuini said.

"My whole family is from [Kansas] and I was a die-hard K-State fan but that didn't really work out," he said. "So I'm really open to going anywhere. Location isn't going to be an issue. I just want to go to the place I think I'll fit in best."