Published: August 28, 2008 11:54 pm         

Dupy headed to TU

Trent Dupy has paid the price.

And now, the Enid High School standout is cashing in with a Division I football scholarship.

Dupy, who participated in Enid’s final preseason scrimmage Thursday at Jenks High School, has made a verbal commitment to play at Tulsa.

“Trent Dupy has been working his entire life to be a college football player,’’ said Enid head football coach Tommy Parker, referring to his 6-foot-2, 280-pound lineman. “This is a young man who has worked extremely hard. This is not an accident. Trent has created himself into a Division I football player. He didn’t take any shortcuts.

“In my opinion, Trent Dupy is the best all-around lineman in the state of Oklahoma. There’s not anybody who can do what he can on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. He’s the total package. If there’s a better one, I’d like to see him.’’

Dupy will join two other Enid players at Tulsa. Enid senior quarterback Clint Chelf committed to Tulsa last summer and former Plainsmen Jake Collums is a junior tight end for the Golden Hurricane.

Dupy, who will start at defensive tackle and center this year for the Plainsmen, was recruited by Tulsa as a center, which creates the possibility the battery of Tulsa’s offense could be manned by Enid players — Dupy at center and Chelf at quarterback.

“This is a great fit for both of them,’’ said Parker.

Dupy, who will turn 18 years old Saturday, began his football career in the Chisholm school district, and was a two-way starter for the Longhorns’ varsity team as a freshman.

He transferred to the Enid school district before his sophomore year after his mother, Wanda, retired after 30 years as an elementary school teacher in the Chisholm district.

Because of the transfer rule, Dupy did not play on the EHS varsity as a sophomore. Instead, he played only junior varsity games.

Last season, his first as a full-time Plainsmen varsity player, Dupy put up impressive numbers — 78 tackles (12 for a loss) and four sacks.

His standout junior season attracted the attention of many Division I schools, including Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Arkansas, Iowa State and Tulsa.

At a high school camp at Tulsa last June, he received a formal scholarship offer. About four weeks ago, while attending a Tulsa practice, Dupy accepted head coach Todd Graham’s offer.

Dupy also received a formal offer from Iowa State, which recruited him as a defensive tackle.

“Iowa State is an 11-hour drive,’’ said Dupy. “I’m real familiar with the Tulsa area. Clint is going there, and that was a big thing for me. And I have a chance to play right away at Tulsa. Coach Graham said there’s a great chance I could be a four-year starter.’’

Dupy has goals for the 2008 season — 100 tackles (15 for a loss) and 10 sacks — and he will begin amassing those numbers Sept. 5, when the Plainsmen open the season at Sand Springs.

Tulsa’s scholarship offer is significant. It is estimated the scholarship is worth about $250,000.

Dupy, who has a 3.6 grade point average, plans to study petroleum engineering.

Parker said several other Enid senior players have a chance to play at the next level, including Daniel Barwick, Matt Loehr, Brett Kenaga, Zach Gonzalez, Matt Cotton and Nick Ciliberti. Parker said Dupy set a good example.

“Trent is the kind of guy you’d want to model yourself after if you want to be a college athlete,’’ he said.