College football

State school recruiting glance

By Times staff writers
Published January 21, 2005

FLORIDA

KEY LOSSES: RB Ciatrick Fason, LB Channing Crowder, WR O.J. Small, CB Cory Bailey, LB Travis Harris, OL Mo Mitchell, OL Jonathan Colon, OL Anthony Guerrero, CB Reynaldo Hill, K Matt Leach.

ORAL COMMITMENTS/TRANSFERS: WR Nyan Boateng (6-3, 190), Brooklyn (N.Y.) Abraham Lincoln; QB Josh Portis (6-3, 190), Woodland Hills (Calif.) William Howard Taft; OL Eddie Haupt (6-4, 290), Merritt Island; WR Derrick McPhearson (5-11, 185), Fork Union (Va.) Academy; OL Ronnie Wilson (6-3, 335) Pompano Beach Ely; RB Tony Wright (5-11, 187), Fort Valley (Ga.) Peach County; WR Louis Murphy (6-3, 180), Lakewood; DE Gerald Williams (6-4, 225), Fort Lauderdale Boyd Anderson; LB Kalvin Baker (6-0, 228), Columbus (Ga.) Pacelli.

HOT PROSPECTS: RB Antone Smith (5-8, 185), Pahokee; WR Patrick Turner (6-5, 21), Madison (Tenn.) Goodpasture; DE Doug Worthington (6-7, 257), Athol Springs (N.Y.) St. Francis; S Avery Atkins (5-11, 185), Daytona Beach Mainland.

LOOKING BACK: The Gators picked up six last-minute commitments last season to finish with a class ranked among the top 10 by several recruiting analysts. Eight of the new recruits saw action: tight end Tate Casey (seven receptions, 112 yards, four touchdowns), linebacker Brandon Siler ( 67 tackles) safety Kyle Jackson (19 tackles, two interceptions), fullback Eric Rutledge, offensive lineman Drew Miller, offensive lineman Phil Trautwein, linebacker Javier Estopinan and defensive back Tony Joiner.

- ANTONYA ENGLISH, Times staff writer

FLORIDA STATE

KEY LOSSES: OT Alex Barron, OT Ray Willis, OG Bobby Meeks, QB Chris Rix, WR Chauncey Stovall, WR Craphonso Thorpe, WR Dominic Robinson, DT Travis Johnson, DE Eric Moore, DE Chauncey Davis, CB Bryant McFadden, CB Leroy Smith, PK Xavier Beitia.

ORAL COMMITMENTS/TRANSFERS: RB Russell Ball (5-9, 165), La Marque, Texas; DE Everette Brown (6-4, 238), Beddingfield (N.C.); ATH Matt Dunham (6-2, 233), Columbus (Ga.) Pacelli; LB Dan Foster (6-1, 215), Blakely (Ga.) Early County; PK Graham Gano (6-1, 180), Gonzalez Tate; CB Michael Ray Garvin (5-8, 179), Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco Prep; TE Charlie Graham (6-3, 230), Greenville Madison County; LB Anthony Kelly (6-3, 230), Ellisville (Miss.) Jones Community College; DE Justin Mincey (6-5, 240), Folkston (Ga.) Charlton County; S Dorian Munroe (6-0, 180), Coral Reef; WR Rod Owens (6-0, 170), Jacksonville Wolfson; DT Kendrick Stewart (6-1, 275), Lakeland.

HOT PROSPECTS: WR Fred Rouse (6-4, 190), Tallahassee Lincoln; WR O.J. Murdock (6-0, 185), Middleton; DT Callahan Bright (6-2, 315), Bryn Mawr (Pa.) Harriton; LB Derek Nicholson (6-0, 220), Winston-Salem (N.C.) Mount Tabor; LB Jon Demps (6-4, 225), Pensacola Washington; CB Chris Chancellor (5-9, 153), Miami Edison; OT Quinton Brown (6-5, 260), Orlando Edgewater.

LOOKING BACK: The potential of the class remains high, especially at QB with former Land O'Lakes star Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee, both of whom are expected to push Wyatt Sexton in spring practice. LB Lawrence Timmons, RBs Lamar Lewis and Jamaal Edwards, WR De'Cody Fagg, OG Jacky Claude and CB J.R. Bryant all saw time.

- BRIAN LANDMAN, Times staff writer

SOUTH FLORIDA

KEY LOSSES: C Alex Herron, OT Derrick Sarosi, OT Levi Newton, DT Lee Roy Selmon Jr., S Javon Camon.

ORAL COMMITMENTS/TRANSFERS: C/G Danny Muy (6-2, 270), Tallahassee Lincoln/Nebraska (enrolled in January); WR Cedric Hill (6-3, 210), Valdosta, Ga. (enrolled in January); DB R.J. Anderson (5-11, 165), Armwood; PK Mike Benzer (5-8, 185), Longwood Lyman; LB Gene Coleman (6-0, 245), Lake Wales/Pearl River (Miss.) CC; OL Chris DeArmas (6-4, 275), Miami Southwest; QB Matt Grothe (6-1, 190), Lakeland Lake Gibson; WR Amarri Jackson (6-5, 190), Sarasota Riverview/Hillsborough Community College; WR Taurus Johnson (6-0, 185), Cape Coral; DB Jerome Murphy (6-1, 175), Elizabeth (N.J.); DB Chris Robinson (6-3, 230), Bunnell Flagler Palm Coast; OT Danny Tolley (6-6, 300), Wesley Chapel.

HOT PROSPECTS: QB Carlton Hill (6-2, 200), Monticello Jefferson County; WR Jessie Hester Jr. (6-0, 165), Belle Glade Glades Central; OL Kevin Haslam (6-7, 265), Mahwah (N.J.); RB Demetrius McCray (6-0, 180), Armwood; RB Alex Suber (5-7, 150), Jefferson.

LOOKING BACK: Nine Bulls played as freshmen in 2004, most notably receivers Jackie Chambers and Johnny Peyton and safety Danny Verpaele, as well as defensive linemen Curtis Chance and Richard Clebert. Three of the gems of the recruiting class - linebackers Brouce Mompremier and C.J. Hunnicutt and defensive lineman Josh Julimiste - withdrew from school after an alleged campus theft, but no formal charges were filed and they rejoined the Bulls this month. Seven players who signed with USF in February are no longer with the team.

- GREG AUMAN, Times staff writer

MIAMI

KEY LOSSES: QB Brock Berlin, TE Kevin Everett, RB Frank Gore, T Chris Myers, WR/PR Roscoe Parrish, C Joel Rodriguez, CB Antrel Rolle.

ORAL COMMITMENTS/TRANSFERS: DL Lugman Abdallah (6-4, 310), Princeton (N.J.) Hun School; LB Spencer Adkins (6-0, 220), Naples; DL Antonio Dixon (6-3, 315), Milford (Conn.) Prep (Miami Washington resignee from 2004); TE Dajleon Farr (6-3, 235), Galena Park (Texas) North Shore; DE Courtney Harris (6-4, 230), Jupiter; LB Eric Houston (6-2, 220), Miami Coral Reef; DB Bruce Johnson (6-0, 170), Live Oak Suwannee; DL Joe Joseph (6-4,280), Orlando Oak Ridge (resignee from 2004); FB Jerrell Mabry (6-0, 250), Columbus (Ga.) Shaw; DB Randy Phillips (6-0, 180), Belle Glade Glades Central; OL Matt Pipho (6-6, 265), LaPorte City (Iowa) Union; LB Darryl Sharpton (6-1, 215), Coral Gables; LB Demetri Stewart (6-4, 225), Oakland Park Northeast; OL A.J. Trump (6-4, 290), Clearwater Central Catholic; OL Reginald Youngblood (6-5, 300), Houston Washington.

HOT PROSPECTS: OT Christopher Barney (6-6, 332), Miami Northwestern; LB Luthur Brown (6-3, 227), Lakewood (Calif.); LB Brian Cushing (6-4, 216), Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic; LB Jon Demps (6-4, 225) Pensacola Washington; DE Richard Gordon (6-4, 242), Miami Norland; LB/RB Jerome Hayes (6-2, 225), Bayonne, N.J.; DE Kyle Moore (8-6, 247), Warner Robins (Ga.) Houston County; S Kenny Phillips (6-2, 195), Miami Carol City; WR Fred Rouse (6-4, 190), Tallahassee Lincoln; RB Antone Smith (5-8, 181), Pahokee; DT Ekom Udofia (6-1, 288), Scottsdale (Ariz.) Chaparral.

LOOKING BACK: Last year's class was known for Willie Williams, regarded as the nation's top linebacking prospect, and his long arrest record. Williams got hurt and never was a factor.

- MICHAEL SNYDER, Times correspondent

CENTRAL FLORIDA

KEY LOSSES: LB Gerren Bray, WR Tavaris Capers, RB Alex Haynes, WR Luther Huggins, LB Stanford Rhule.

ORAL COMMITMENTS/TRANSFERS: OL Patrick Brown (6-6, 270), St. Charles (Ill.) North; DB Joe Burnett (5-10, 175), Eustis; OL Richard Clark (6-3, 280), Daytona Beach Seabreeze; TE Travis Ferrer (6-5, 230), Tallahassee Lincoln; LB Kyle Fowler (6-2, 196), Altamonte Springs Lake Brantley; LB T.J. Harnden (6-4, 215), Tallahassee Lincoln; LB Cory Hogue (6-0, 205), Naples; LB Clarence Howard (6-4, 265), New Berlin (N.Y.) Milford Academy; WR Javid James (6-3, 195), Coalinga (Calif.) West Hills College; LB Marvin Peoples (6-2, 220), Apopka; RB Jason Peters (6-2, 230), Oroville (Calif.) Butte College; LB Jordan Richards (6-1, 225), Chatham (Va.) Hargrave Military; DB Breon Rogers (6-3, 195), Chatham (Va.) Hargrave Military; WR Rocky Ross (6-3, 190), Jacksonville Bolles; TE J.R. Sandlin (6-5, 248), Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Northridge; RB Shane Smith (6-3, 220), New Berlin (N.Y.) Milford Academy; QB Alex Thompson (6-1, 197) Gainesville Buchholz; LB Justin Warr (6-0, 235), Winter Garden West Orange; DB Marlon Williams (6-1, 205), Reedley (Calif.) College.

HOT PROSPECTS: QB Travis Dixon (6-2, 185), Chandler (Ariz.) Hamilton; OL Kevin Haslam (6-7, 265), Mahwah (N.J.); LB Antonio Wallace (6-1, 220), Vero Beach.

LOOKING BACK: Last year's recruiting class, ranked 87th by rivals100.com, has had little impact. DL Keith Shologan, 10th on the squad in tackles, and QB Kyle Israel, who played some as a backup, were among the top freshmen last fall. It's too early to tell if coach George O'Leary's first class will amount to much.

- KEITH NIEBUHR, Times staff writer

[Last modified January 21, 2005, 00:30:24]