TAMPA - USF projected starting safety Johnnie Jones was shot twice, in the neck and shoulder, after a dispute at a nightclub early Thursday in his hometown of Sarasota. Jones, 21, was released Friday from Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg.
"I'm just happy he's alive, and that in itself is fortunate," USF coach Jim Leavitt said. "I was in the hospital with him on Christmas and the day after. They said he'll be fine. We'll just wait and see (if he can participate in spring practice)."
Antonio T. Puente, 19, was arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a firearm. According to the arrest report, Jones and Puente were involved in an argument after 1 a.m. at the Town Hall Bar before the shooting, and witnesses said Puente also struck Jones with the handgun.
Jones (6 feet 2, 205), who will be a senior in 2004, played frequently in nickel packages this season and made 39 tackles.
In other news, the Bulls received the signed letter of intent from defensive tackle Antonio Searcy of Dodge City (Kansas) C.C. Searcy (6 feet 3, 305), from Fort Lauderdale Stranahan, did not play as a freshman at DCCC. He was in just six games this season because of injuries and made 31 tackles and four sacks. He also visited Kansas, Kansas State and East Carolina. He is rated a four-star recruit by rivals.com.
"We're excited about Searcy," Leavitt said. "We think he's got an opportunity to be an awfully good player. It shows our recruiting is stepping up. He was heavily recruited by a number of Big 12 schools."
Searcy will enroll in January and be eligible for spring practice.
