Colleges

Recruiting a subplot to USF-N.C. State football

By GREG AUMAN
Published December 28, 2005

Saturday marks the first time USF and N.C. State will meet on the football field, but the two schools are old rivals when it comes to recruiting.

Wolfpack coach Chuck Amato spent 18 seasons as an assistant at Florida State and continues to recruit heavily in this state, with 30 players hailing from Florida. And since USF coach Jim Leavitt has built his program almost exclusively with in-state talent, the two are often competing for the same athletes.

Two of the Wolfpack's top linebackers, Chamberlain's Oliver Hoyte and Clearwater Central Catholic's LeRue Rumph, considered USF, as did former Chamberlain receiver Brian Clark, who leads the team with five touchdown catches. The Wolfpack is a strong contender for St. Petersburg receiver Donald Bowens, who USF has sought on both sides of the ball.

Another recruit considering both schools is Belle Glade's Jeremy Terry, a 6-foot, 190-pound safety who would find familiar faces on either team. USF already has a commitment from teammate Aston Samuels and has four players from Glades Central High on its roster; N.C. State sealed its win against Georgia Tech in October with an interception from a Glades Central grad, roverback Garland Heath.

"Both schools are very active here and have strong ties in South Florida," said first-year Glades Central coach Willie Snead, who previously coached at Pompano Beach Ely. "My kids have had positive experiences at both, so the decision has often come down to the last minute."

A win Saturday would help the Bulls in many ways, but in the immediate context of recruiting, the victory is just another card they can use with in-state athletes, a valuable asset to help ward off what has been a fox in their henhouse.

SORRY, NO MUFFLER: The Bulls' first bowl appearance also means the first bowl gift package for USF players, who arrived Tuesday in Charlotte with a nice present to open. What will the Bulls get? An 8-inch portable DVD player, a rolling duffel bag, commemorative watch and wallet and a personalized football with each player's name and the date and logo of the game.

Leavitt and three USF seniors - running back Andre Hall, guard Frank Davis and cornerback D'Juan Brown - will visit patients at Levine Children's Hospital today.

MOVING ON: Jimmy Oliver, the quarterback from Pearl River Community College in Mississippi who was expected to sign with USF last week, has instead opted to sign with Division I-AA Jackson State. Oliver, a two-time national junior college offensive player of the year, had a scholarship offer from the Bulls but told his coach USF was too far from home. Perhaps he also recognized the ridiculous depth USF has assembled at quarterback, with as many as seven on scholarship for next year and others still coveted on signing day.

TV AHEAD: Bright House Networks will broadcast nine USF basketball games on its Ch. 47 in the next two months as part of its Big East package, starting with the men's league opener Jan.5 at home against West Virginia.

The three other men's games are against St. John's (Jan.14), at Seton Hall (Jan.20) and the season finale at home against Connecticut (March3). Five women's games will be broadcast, including both games against Pittsburgh and dates with Providence (Jan.21), St. John's (Feb.5) and West Virginia (Feb.25).

THIS AND THAT: Depth concerns had men's basketball coach Robert McCullum considering a midseason addition to join the team for the spring semester, but the Bulls couldn't find a good match. They'll finish the season with the current lineup, still hopeful that sophomore Collin Dennis can return from an Achilles' tendon injury. Dennis is still in a walking boot. ... Of all the sports, the Big East's new teams may find the most success in softball. DePaul is the preseason favorite, with USF picked third by the league's 12 coaches and Louisville fourth. Since Cincinnati and Marquette don't play softball, that's three of the top four spots. Ken Eriksen's Bulls team picked up two first-place votes, as many as Notre Dame, the defending regular-season champ.

Greg Auman covers USF athletics. He can be reached at auman@sptimes.com Check out his "USF Bulletin" blog online at www.sptimes.com/blogs/usf

[Last modified December 28, 2005, 00:37:18]