Rebels First to Offer

Kevin Rouse, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound, linebacker, from Catholic Academy in Joliet, Ill., was one of the standouts at the U.S. Army National Combine that was held last month in San Antonio, Texas. Rouse had 90 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and nine sacks as a junior and was named 1st team all-area and all-conference. Rouse just received his first scholarship offer.

According to Hilltoppers coach Dan Sharp, Ed Orgeron, and Ole Miss, has offered Kevin Rouse a scholarship. The Rebels don’t usually make the trip north to recruit prospects but that let’s you know just what an outstanding talent Rouse is.

“It kind of threw me off guard,” Rouse said. “I didn’t expect to get an offer this fast but I’m definitely excited. Ole Miss is a great school and I’ve heard nothing but great things about Coach Orgeron.

“I’m going to be looking more into Ole Miss now. I want to check out their academics and I know they brought in a good recruiting class. We’ll see what happens from here.”

Rouse told Scout.com just last week that Northwestern, Notre Dame, Northern Illinois, Penn State, Illinois, Indiana and Ole Miss were his favorites.

Rouse is an outstanding inside linebacker that plays downhill and throws his hips into every tackle. Kevin plays the game with relentless abandon and he’s one of the quickest junior linebackers I’ve seen on film so far this year.

Rouse also told Scout.com that he plans on camping at Northwestern and Northern Illinois this summer. Ole Miss could get a visit now as well.

Joliet Catholic Academy is a football factory and the Hilltoppers have the most successful program in the Land of Lincoln. Dan Sharp has sent the likes of Mike Kolodziej (Michigan), Mike Maloney (Illinois), Mike Goolsby (Notre Dame) and Chris Jeske (Northwestern) to the D-1 ranks.

Both Goolsby and Jeske were outstanding linebackers for the Hilltoppers and Kevin Rouse has the potential to be as good as or better than both of those young men.

Click Here to check out video of Kevin Rouse from his junior season, Rouse is #44 in the Brown & White.