One-tenth of a second. It's the difference between an Olympic gold medal and second place. It's the difference between glory and the inevitable thoughts of what could have been. For J.D. Hook, a running back from Allegany high school, one-tenth of a second may be all that's keeping him from Division I college football.

Hook already sprints faster than 99-percent of the people on this planet (4.5 40-yard dash). But in the world of major college athletics, the difference between a 4.5 and a 4.4 could be the difference between a scholarship from Syracuse and a scholarship from Towson (no offense to the Tigers). For Hook, there's no doubt what he's aiming for:

"I want to play Division I," said the 5-foot-10, 180-pound junior. "If I can run a 4.4, I think I can get there."

The race against the stopwatch starts each day in his yard, where he works with his father on accelerating off the line. In addition he lifts weights diligently, hoping the extra leg strength will help his burst.

In a way, it's unfair that scouts spend so much time agonizing over the 40-yard dash. After all, rarely do football players run in a straight line for 40 yards. Most coaches agree that game speed is much more telling than what a guy can run in track shoes with no pads on.

"J.D. plays faster than a 4.5," Preaskorn said. "His speed is very deceptive, and he has amazing quickness."

Let the game against Keyser last year act as evidence. It seemed every time Hook touched the ball he blew by linebackers and safeties alike. By the time the game ended, he had over 200 rushing yards.

"If he gets by the linebackers, he's going into the end zone," Preaskorn said, "He doesn't really even have to make a move– he just uses his speed and pulls away."

While speed is the asset that sells, Hook also has all the intangibles schools look for. He's an intense competitor, he's intelligent on and off the field and he plays with a purpose.

"He has a never-say-die attitude," Preaskorn said.

That much was evident during the Mount St. Joseph's game last year, which Allegany won in the final minute. Hook didn't play one down in the first half (for an unspecified reason), but in the second half he came out with a chip on his shoulder. He ran for over 200 yards and even took a punt back for a touchdown.

With less than two minutes to play and Allegany trailing by five, Hook carried his team down the field. Finally, with the clock winding under 30 seconds, he burst through for the game-winning score.

It's games like this that define J.D. Hook. Unfortunately, most universities rely on a few highlight clips and rarely get to see how a player takes over a game. The good news for Hook is that several schools have studied his game closer. Syracuse, Temple and Towson are showing the most interest. There could even be an offer coming soon, but Hook wouldn't reveal from which school.

Those offers will start coming in droves if he stands out at the National Underclassmen Combine and at the minicamps he attends this summer (Temple invited him to one). Hook also must add more muscle to his 180-pound frame and improve his blocking, which he says is "my only weakness."

Another big season wouldn't hurt either. In 12 games last year, Hook averaged 116 yards a game (1,036 total) and scored 16 touchdowns. Of course, his stock will skyrocket like Microsoft's during the '90s if he runs a sub-4.4.A.

But even if Hook fails, he has more than just his running game going for him. He's also a linebacker that projects as a safety in college.

"I have a nose for the ball, I tackle well and I just attack," Hook said.

So what position do you prefer?

"I like them both; that's tough," he said. "I'll have to make that decision based on what school I choose."

Most schools will fall quickly for Hook's hard running style. He's a no-nonsense north-and-south runner who rarely jukes and dodges in the open field. He goes straight at – and by – the defense. If he has to, he'll lower his shoulder and fight for extra yards.

But while his style wins him points with coaches and scouts, it does take its toll. In the last game of the season against Fort Hill, Hook ran into a group of defenders and tried to move the pile. As he fought forward, a defender came in and hit him in his knee, leaving Hook lame on the field. The team feared he had a torn ligament, but Hook caught a break. He suffered a slight tear in his meniscus, which didn't take long to rehab.

"I was back lifting in a month," Hook said. "It happened at the end of the season and I didn't miss any games."

Fortunately it didn't hurt his speed either. Without that, he's just another average running back. And to Hook, that's not good enough.

"I think I can compete with the best running backs in Maryland," he said.

And just to make sure his intentions were clear:

"I want to play Division I."