THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 14, 1994 TAG: 9407140559
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
Other schools came calling on Kempsville High's Kurt Niepraschk, but there was little doubt where the wide receiver wanted to attend college.
``I remember a recruiter for the University of Richmond came to talk to me,'' Niepraschk recalled. ``But when I told him about my mission and that I intended to begin it this December, he really backed off.
``I guess it was just meant to be that I'd go to Brigham Young.''
Everything in the equation pointed west to Salt Lake City.
Niepraschk is a Mormon. His parents attended Brigham Young University.
``They've talked about it since I was little,'' he said.
And when you're a wide receiver, BYU's the kind of football program you aspire to join.
Remember Jim McMahon? Steve Young? How about Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer?
Somebody has to catch all the passes those Cougar quarterbacks throw.
``At BYU, they have a seven-receiver rotation and they all get a lot of playing time.
``If you get into that rotation, you'll get the ball thrown to you as many as seven times a game,'' Niepraschk said.
Niepraschk would love to see the ball that many times tonight when he suits up for the East squad in the Virginia High School Coaches Association all-star game, to be played at Darling Stadium beginning at 7:30.
After tonight, it might be a long time before Niepraschk returns to the playing field in game action.
He will report to BYU's preseason camp on Aug. 9 as an invited walk-on. But as a walk-on, he'll be competing for a roster spot against scholarship players. A redshirt season is a strong possibility.
Then, when Niepraschk turns 19 in December, he intends to partake in a church-sponsored two-year mission, destination unknown.
``The coaching staff at BYU encourages its players to begin their missions in the spring semester,'' Niepraschk said. ``That way, you have the benefit of spring football practice when you return.''
Onlookers might be surprised by Niepraschk tonight. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder with 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash played for a run-oriented Kempsville squad, but still caught 33 passes for 477 yards as a senior. He caught 11 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown in one game against Cox.
``People don't know me as a big-time player,'' Niepraschk said. ``I want to show people I can catch the ball and have speed to beat the defensive backs.''
His most impressive statistic at Kempsville may well have been accomplished with his foot, not his hands.
Niepraschk kicked the area's longest field goal last season, 44 yards, and had three field goals against Kellam.
Niepraschk, who was able to consistently reach the end zone on kickoffs as a senior, hopes to get a chance to kick for BYU.
``But kicking in college is a dramatic transition,'' said Niepraschk, who likely will see some kicking action tonight. ``You have to kick extra points and field goals off the ground. I've been working on it, but the natural tendency is to hook 'em when you go to the ground after kicking off a tee for so many years.''
While he's kicked off tees for years, he's also lived in Virginia Beach his entire life. Friends at first are boggled by Niepraschk's choice to head for Utah, where there aren't many beaches.
They are even more perplexed by his decision to pursue a two-year mission, until Niepraschk explains his religious beliefs.
But one look at Niepraschk's green Volkswagen Beetle says it all.
There, in the back window, is a ``Brigham Young University Football Program'' sticker.
It was just meant to be. ILLUSTRATION: AT A GLANCE
FOOTBALL
Where: Darling Stadium
When: 7:30 p.m.
Directions: From South Hampton Roads, follow Interstate 64 west
through Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel into Hampton. Take the second
Hampton University exit onto Settler's Landing Road. Take a left on
Armistead Avenue. Take a right on Victoria Boulevard. Stadium is
three blocks on the right.
Players to watch: Group AAA player of the year Ken Oxendine, a
tailback from Thomas Dale, heads a group that features nearly every
top recruit in the state. Oxendine is joined on the East by fellow
Virginia Tech signee Tony Morrison from Indian River, who will play
defensive back. Virginia fans will be interested in quarterback
Aaron Brooks from Ferguson and Shannon Taylor from Patrick
Henry-Roanoke. Other players from South Hampton Roads are defensive
end David Turner from Norcom, lineman John Dellinger from Cox, wide
receiver Kurt Niepraschk from Kempsville, linebacker Cliff Styles
from Churchland and linebacker Jeremy Rodgers from Nansemond River.
by CNB