Sam Gibson

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Gibson's father was 18 when he was shot dead in Los Angeles. Sam Gibson III was still five months away from birth.
The 17-year old Gibson begins The Birmingham News' 2009 Super Seniors countdown of the state's top players at No.¤12. The quarterback led Prattville to its third consecutive state title at Legion Field last December.

The versatile quarterback has committed to LSU.

When Gibson talks about a father he only knows through family members, he knows he wants more from his life.

He believes his father, who was in a gang, was shot 12 times.

"His father was murdered," his mother Carmen Lucas said. "He was a member of the East Coast Crips gang. It happened when he approached a rival gang member. He was a Blood. His father was a Crip. His father killed the guy in the exchange of fire."

Gibson didn't learn of how his father died until he was almost 11. That was shortly before his mother went to jail on a two-year sentence on a forgery charge.

Thanks to family members and his mother moving to Alabama about 12 years ago, Gibson sees the world differently. His mother helped that along when she embraced her faith.

When Gibson's mother later married Patrick Lucas, he found himself around someone who encouraged him to play football and toughened him up.

Lucas is a minister and the pastor of the Pink Lily Baptist Church in Prattville. He's also a supervisor at the Elmore Correctional Center.

Gibson was thankful for his mother's decision to head east.

"I don't think my mom saved my life moving us here," he said. "What she did without a doubt was save my future because I would've been in the same things my father was in out there."

There were other positive family influences, notably 22-year-old sister Dennice Hillard. She just finished up her master's degree in taxation at Alabama.

Hilliard preached education.

"I made up my mind I was going to become something completely different from my family history," Hillard said. "I was not going to let myself be a product of a bad environment."

Why not Alabama or Auburn? It's a question Gibson hears all the time. But Alabama and Auburn haven't offered a scholarship yet, and LSU did.

His best friend and teammate Nick Perry believes it was timing. Perry is an Alabama commitment and a top safety prospect. Prattville coach Jamey Dubose believes that, too. Dubose said Gibson was so talented it was hard for recruiters to peg where he'd fit on their depth charts.

Gibson visited LSU and Alabama on back-to-back summer trips. Dubose said LSU clocked Gibson at "4.41 or 4.42" seconds in the 40-yard dash. Then he excelled in coverage drills although he had never played defense at Prattville.

"He goes one-on-one with an LSU commitment," Dubose said. "One of those five-star kids and a top receiver in the country. Sam shut him down on three straight throws."

Gibson then won battles with a prized LSU defensive back commitment working as a receiver.

"Then they put him at quarterback," Dubose said. "Good receiver to throw to. Good defensive back covering. The first time he comes out and throws a touchdown. Coach (Les) Miles was like, ‘That's enough' and wanted to see Sam in his office."

Gibson arrived in Prattville at two in the morning the next day, then headed to Tuscaloosa for an Alabama camp less than seven hours later.

"I only got to stay one day in Alabama and just worked at receiver," Gibson said. "After LSU I was dehydrated and burned out with dead legs. I couldn't stay but the one day of a three-day camp. The reason I didn't get offered by Alabama or Auburn is they never saw me play anything but quarterback. I never went to their big camps."

Perry feels Gibson can "play any position he wants to" in the SEC, including quarterback.

"I'm pretty sure Alabama will offer him when they see what he can do for real this season," he said.

Gibson is not likely to budge if that time comes.

"I gave LSU my word and I don't want to go back on my word."

For Gibson, his word and his name mean something. There was a time 10 years ago when someone suggested Gibson should take the Lucas name, but his stepfather would have none of that.

"I was not going to let it happen," Lucas said. "Sam was his dad's only son. I wouldn't dare rob a father of the chance for his only son to continue on his family name. And look how Sam is carrying that name on."

JUST THE DETAILS -- SAM GIBSON, NO. 12


Position: Athlete/QB

School: Prattville

Height/Weight: 6-2, 205

College choice: Committed to LSU. Had offers from Arkansas State, Kentucky, South Alabama, Southern Illinois, Stanford, UAB, Vanderbilt and Virginia.

Stat parade: Gibson was a 58-percent passer last season for 1,170 yards and 15 touchdowns. He ran for 4.8 yards per carry on the way to 535 yards and nine touchdowns.

Did you know: Gibson missed his sophomore season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (knee) ... Always the quarterback, he can only think of just three games his teams have lost since he was 10 years old ... His GPA is 3.8 and he said he's in the Top 30 of his class entering his senior year ... He watches less than three hours of TV each week, including sporting events ... His best friend is teammate and Alabama safety commitment Nick Perry.

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As good as the prospects Prattville have for the 2010 class are, the 2011 class may be even better.

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