By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

Senior East St. John running back Alex Singleton has decided where he’s off to next once his Wildcats career winds down. 

The All-State rusher gave a verbal commitment Wednesday night to play for Tulsa, after visiting the school this past weekend.

Singleton, the 11th ranked fullback prospect nationally by Rivals.com, was recruited by the Golden Hurricane to play running back in Tulsa Coach Todd Graham’s spread offense.

“I feel like I fit perfectly in that system,” said Singleton. “It’s really the same thing we run at East St. John.”

Academically, Singleton said Tulsa is equally a perfect fit.

“I love everything they offer,” he said. “Academically, they’re in the top 2%. And they’ve got a great program for what I’m going to study.

“They’ve got 16 students to a class, so if you need help the professor can offer more to each individual student. And it’s a (football) program that’s building itself up.”

East St. John Coach Larry Dauterive said he was surprised by the early commitment.

“He came to school (Thursday) and told me basically that he was pulling the rip cord. They’ve got everything he’s looking for,” Dauterive said.

Dauterive added that he didn’t think that the commitment would stop the recruitment of his 6’0, 227-pound star, who has official offers from LSU, Mississippi State, and Louisiana Tech.

“(Tulsa) gives him the chance to run the ball,” he said.  “He’s made some friends up there. He’s friends with (former Destrehan receiver and current Hurricane) Damaris Johnson, and he’s playing a lot up.

“I just know I’ll support Alex wherever he goes.”

Singleton burst on the scene as a junior last season when he rushed for 1,507 yards on 218 attempts, while piling up 24 total touchdowns.

He earned every last number, as aside from the brutal District 6-5A slate, ESJ played against teams like John Curtis, Acadiana, and Bastrop – a who’s who of state powers.

“(Tulsa) is getting as good a runner as there is in the state. He proved himself last year against one of the toughest schedules I think anyone’s ever assembled.”