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By GREG AUMAN, Times Staff WriterBelle Glade High receiver Jessie Hester says he shouldn't be counted as a USF oral commitment - yet.
Hester had an in-home visit from Illinois coach Ron Zook on Monday and is scheduled to make an official visit to Champaign this weekend, but he said he's leaning strongly toward the Bulls.
"I like Ron Zook as a coach, but I don't know much about Illinois," Hester said. "I'll still consider them."
Hester played in only five games as a senior because of a right thigh contusion, catching seven passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns.
He played in only four as a junior because of a broken right leg, catching 11 passes for 350 yards and five touchdowns. As a sophomore, he caught 21 passes for 370 yards and eight touchdowns, and he saw time on the varsity as a freshman.
His father, former Florida State and NFL receiver Jessie Hester, said his son was premature in giving USF coaches an oral commitment after an official visit Sunday. But the 6-footer said it would be hard to convince him his future isn't at USF.
"I felt like home there, and I really enjoyed myself on the visit," he said. "Illinois is going to have to really make me love it there for me to change my mind."
ANOTHER CLOSE: Jerome Murphy, a safety from Elizabeth (N.J.) High, said he might commit today during a home visit with a Bulls assistant. Murphy, a 6-1, 175-pounder with eight interceptions as a senior, visited USF last weekend and said he plans to cancel visits to Western Michigan and Tennessee State.
"I think I'll sleep on it one more night," Murphy said. "But I'm getting close."
SUDDENLY HOT: USF hosted another New Jersey prospect, Mahwah offensive lineman Kevin Haslam, last weekend, and other schools have suddenly expressed an interest.
Mahwah coach Jeff Remo said Georgia Tech and Rutgers visited Haslam at home Monday and offered scholarships, and Maryland is due in Wednesday. Remo said USF coach Jim Leavitt will visit Thursday, and the Bulls are strong contenders.
"A lot of schools are making a late push, but he really likes USF," Remo said. "He was pretty ready to sign with them while he was down there."
Vick's brother returns
BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick was reinstated after being suspended for all of last season.
The younger brother of the Falcons' Michael Vick and two teammates were arrested in February after an encounter with 14- and 15-year-old girls at his apartment. He later pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge. That came after pleading guilty to reckless driving and no contest to marijuana possession for a separate incident.
OKLAHOMA: Running back Adrian Peterson, second in Heisman Trophy voting, had surgery on his left shoulder. He will miss spring practice but is expected to be ready by next season. TEMPLE: Defensive tackle A.J. Lindsay will skip his senior season and enter the draft. He started six games with eight tackles and one sack.--Information from other news organizations was used in this report.