College football

Bay area exports many of its best out of state

Despite the chilly weather, most players cite playing time for not signing with Florida, Florida State and Miami.

By FRANK PASTOR
Published February 3, 2005

TAMPA - For many years, Florida's big three colleges lured players from other states because of the warm weather.

Wednesday, the Sunshine State gave back.

Choosing opportunities for more immediate playing time over warmth, 14 of the bay area's top 25 recruits, including Countryside quarterback Harrison Beck (Nebraska) and Armwood fullback Kalvin Bailey (Iowa), signed national letters of intent to attend schools in cold-weather states.

"I think maybe more kids are willing to go to cold weather schools now because they don't want to wait to play," said Armwood running back and Indiana signee Demetrius McCray.

"Players may not want to go to Miami, Florida and Florida State and wait a year or two before they get in a game. So they're willing to go north and find someplace where they can start earlier, no matter how cold it is."

But the area's top player will stick to warmer climes.

Believing he would be a bigger weapon in Steve Spurrier's arsenal than Urban Meyer's, Middleton receiver O.J. Murdock, the nation's 10th-ranked receiver by rivals100.com, chose South Carolina over Florida.

"I think the kind of offense Urban Meyer runs, I'd probably have a lot of playing time there but not more than South Carolina," Murdock said.

Miami, Florida and Florida State largely stayed away from the bay area.

Only lineman A.J. Trump (Miami) of Clearwater Central Catholic and receiver Louis Murphy (Florida) of Lakewood signed with the big three.

USF maintained a larger presence. Lineman Danny Tolley of Wesley Chapel and athlete R.J. Anderson and linebacker Donte Spires of Plant signed with the Bulls.

Six players committed to service academies.

Fullback Spencer Brown of Mitchell, linemen Chad Peterson of Armwood and Will Scarle of Plant and defensive end Lymon Reed of Chamberlain signed with Navy. Lineman Khalil Madani of Wesley Chapel and tight end Steve Pimm of Chamberlain committed to Air Force.

"I expect it to be strict," said Brown, who considered Air Force and Navy but was sold on Navy after a mid January visit to Annapolis. "There will be rules to abide by, and I don't expect it to be a problem."

If area players are to be believed, neither should the weather.

In fact, Middleton lineman Will Bergen said the cold helped sell him on Illinois.

"When I went to Illinois, it snowed, and I told my mom (Donna) we're going outside because it's beautiful," Bergen said. "So I dragged her out in the snow, and we walked around the campus. And it was beautiful. That's when I fell in love with the place."

McCray said cold weather won't stop him, either.

"I grew up in New Jersey, and I remember snow up to my knees," McCray said.

"I was plenty cold."

[Last modified February 3, 2005, 01:08:13]