FERRIDAY — Dare Rosenthal is a man of few words. But the Ferriday High School freshman made a big statement Monday when he committed to play football for the University of Alabama.

“We’ve always had the talent here, but it has never been magnified to this level,” Ferriday head football coach Cleothis Cummings said. “I think with the schools coming in and taking interest in our kids says a lot about our town.”

Billy Napier, a wide receivers coach at Alabama, was in Ferriday last Friday to recruit Rosenthal and Cummings said the offer rolled in Monday and it didn’t take long for a shocked Rosenthal to accept.

“I just have to work hard, harder than I used to,” Rosenthal said.

The offer comes on the heels of a freshman season where the 6-foot-8-inch Rosenthal recorded 64 tackles, with 12 of them going for a loss.

Rosenthal, who plays both offense and defense for the Trojans said he hasn’t been told where the Crimson Tide will use him on the field, but if he had the choice, he would stick to offense.

“It doesn’t matter because I’m an athlete,” Rosenthal said. “But I like offense, I can block.”

With nearly a whole high school career ahead of him, Rosenthal said he knows other schools will be swooping in vying for his services, but he wants to stick with Alabama.

“Somebody is going to try and come in,” he said. “But I’m solid. I like the school.”

Rosenthal hasn’t visited Alabama’s campus yet, but said he plans to attend a camp in Tuscaloosa and view his future home.

Monday morning, Rosenthal’s highlight tape on hudl.com had a little more than 300 views. By Monday night, it had more than 1,300. Cummings said the highlight tape was crucial in the recruiting process.

“He did what we asked him to do as far as making a tape,” Cummings said.

Rosenthal said the process of choosing highlight plays was an easy one.

“I just picked a couple big hits and stuff like that,” he said.

Although Rosenthal has his mind made up on college, Cummings said he is trying to keep his focus on high school at the moment.

“For him, he just needs to stay focused on high school football right now,” he said. “The next couple of years are going to be overwhelming, and he and his mom are going to have to make sure nothing comes between them and their decision about him going to the school.”

Rosenthal said the decision didn’t exactly get a positive response from his mom, but he isn’t too worried.

“She didn’t want me to go far,” he said. “She wants me to be around her all the time.”

As far as going far away, Rosenthal simply said, “I’m good.”

Another potential factor will be Rosenthal’s basketball career, which also took off with football last season. He saw some quality minutes in varsity action and could garner some collegiate attention soon.

However, Rosenthal said even a basketball scholarship wouldn’t sway him.

“I’m solid,” he said.

Now, for Rosenthal, the national attention awaits, and his coach said he is ready to take it on and become the face of the Trojans.

“This is a big plus for Ferriday High,” Cummings said.

The Trojans will wrap up their spring practice Saturday against Wossman in their spring game.