College football

Bunkley studies his way back

By Times staff writers
Published August 17, 2005

Brodrick Bunkley is back. Almost.

The senior defensive tackle was allowed to practice in shorts Tuesday after being cleared to play Monday afternoon.

"He didn't look in as bad a shape as I thought he'd be in," coach Bobby Bowden said. "But he has to go under the old rule that you go in shorts the first two days. But its probably wise because he hasn't been out here."

Although he wasn't able to participate in every drill, seeing his academic problems disappear was relief enough for the Tampa native.

"I worked so hard this summer," Bunkley said after a long sigh. "I did so much work, (eligibility) came with countless hours of studying. At one point I was studying from 7 o'clock in the morning until about 10 o'clock at night just to make sure things were right."

"Don't fool around."

CONTINUING TO IMPRESS: Don't let the loaded Florida State backfield fool you. There's another tailback in town.

Freshman Antone Smith excelled in practice once again, breaking off a 30-yard run for a touchdown during the scrimmage.

"He made a dadgum nice run in 11-on-11," Bowden said. "He seems to pop one out in every scrimmage."

Smith, rated the top running back in the country by Rivals.com for 2005, already has been practicing with the first-team kick return unit. But getting a few carries after running backs Leon Washington and Lorenzo Booker is his ultimate goal.

"I feel there's always room for anybody," Smith said. "As long as you work hard, learn the plays, learn the blocking schemes, they've got to find a place for you."

FAMILIAR FACE: Although Bowden didn't realize it as he focused on on the field, former starting quarterback Chris Rix and his new bride, Anita, were on the sideline watching the morning practice.

Rix, undrafted and then unsuccessful in a tryout with the San Diego Chargers, will be working for Fox Sports in southern California both as a high school football television analyst and as a college analyst on radio. He also has started his own business, a training academy for athletes.

"I didn't see it (the Fox opportunity) coming," he said. "They called me out of nowhere. I said, "Sure. I'd love to do it.' ... It should be fun."

PRACTICE REPORT: The No. 1 and No. 2 offense were a combined 1-for-8 against the defense in goal-line scrimmaging. St. Petersburg native Marcello Church recorded a sack. Today's two-a-day will include a kicking practice in the morning and a scrimmage in the afternoon.

- D.C. REEVES, Times correspondent, BRIAN LANDMAN, Times staff writer

GAINESVILLE - One day, Skyler Thornton is Florida's No. 1 running back, the next it's Markus Manson. Then it's DeShawn Wynn, then Kestahn Moore.

Florida's running backs have been up and down all preseason.

"It's day-to-day," coach Urban Meyer said about the starting running back competition. "After today's practice, I think DeShawn Wynn probably ran harder or Kestahn Moore."

Meyer had said previously Thornton was No. 1 but didn't indicate he would start the first game.

Meyer would neither confirm nor deny a rumor that Wynn would be suspended for the opener.

But after the team's first scrimmage, Meyer didn't mention the suspension.

"If we played the game tomorrow, it'd be DeShawn Wynn," Meyer said.

UF's scrimmage offered the coaching staff mixed results on offense, but offensive coordinator Dan Mullen praised the defense.

"The defense outplayed us today," Mullen said. "They played harder than we did. At the beginning of the scrimmage, that was quite obvious. Our defense came out and they played hard today and hit us right in the face."

Meyer said the offense was "borderline pathetic" to start, but ended up finishing strong.

The worst part of the scrimmage was seeing four turnovers, including two interceptions by quarterback Chris Leak, and a fumble by Thornton, Meyer said.

STILL NOT GATORS?: After Moore, a freshman, had a good scrimmage, Meyer explained what black stripes on some Gators' helmets signified. All the freshmen had them, but they have to do something to become a true Gator, Meyer said.

"The big brother on the team pulls it off when he does something to earn becoming a Gator," Meyer said. "Because they're not Gators yet. Just because they receive a scholarship or join the team doesn't make them a Gator. It's much harder than that."

Moore's stripe was removed today, while Simon Codrington, Ryan Stamper and Reggie Nelson have also had theirs taken off.

But that's not enough.

"We have to start getting them off more," Meyer said. "You hate to go into that first game seeing a couple guys on the sideline with black stripes on their helmets. I've done that before."

- IAN FISHER, Times correspondent

TAMPA - One day after starting safety Danny Verpaele showed up on crutches, the Bulls had another key player sidelined as Ricky Ponton, the Bulls' No. 2 running back, watched practice with his left arm in a sling.

Coach Jim Leavitt said Ponton, a redshirt freshman from Hillsborough High who established himself in spring as Andre Hall's top backup, had a "sore shoulder," and running backs coach Carl Franks said the injury wouldn't keep him out for long. But the Bulls are thin at running back, with sophomore Chad Simpson (1 career carry) and freshman Moise Plancher as the only scholarship players behind Hall and Ponton.

Leavitt said the team got encouraging news on Verpaele, who remained on crutches with a cast on his left foot, which he injured in practice Saturday.

"I don't think it's but a couple of weeks," Leavitt said, still hopeful that Verpaele could return in time for the Sept. 3 season opener at Penn State.

The morning practice brought more uncertainty as defensive end Jarriett Buie had to be carted off the field and helped into the locker room on crutches with an undisclosed injury.

CARTER UPDATE: Former Lakewood star Pat Carter, who met with Leavitt on Monday night, said he still is considering USF, adding that he'll make a decision "once everybody puts their cards on the table." Despite spurning USF for a week of practice with Urban Meyer's Gators, Carter said Leavitt told him he was "always welcome" at USF, though that might not mean welcome on scholarship.

Carter is also considering Auburn, where his brother Tim played, and said he talked Tuesday with coaches from Notre Dame, where his uncle, Stan Wilcox, recently was named deputy director of athletics.

THIS AND THAT: Look for USF to announce a new radio agreement for this fall's football broadcasts in the next few days. The Bulls have been in discussions with Clear Channel Communications, with WFLA-AM 970 as a possible match. ... Freshman quarterback Carlton Hill missed the start of practice with what Leavitt said was a stomach ache. He has has impressed coaches, both at quarterback and receiver. ... Cornerback D'Juan Brown watched practice for the second day in a row because of illness.

- GREG AUMAN, Times staff writer

[Last modified August 17, 2005, 01:10:12]