Colleges

QB prospect held out for grade woes

By GREG AUMAN
Published April 12, 2006

TAMPA - USF coaches have been worried enough about quarterback Carlton Hill's academic status that they've held him out of more than half of spring drills to focus on his grades.

The same problems could keep him off the field this fall.

Coach Jim Leavitt, preparing for his team's spring game Saturday, said Tuesday that Hill, anointed the starter entering spring, won't play if he cannot perform in the classroom well enough.

"He's getting his school in order," said Leavitt, who practiced without Hill much of the past three weeks. "It hurts him (on the field). But my concern is to make sure he's got his focus on his academics. If he doesn't make grades, it won't matter anyway. He'll have to redshirt next year."

With Hill gone much of this spring, the Bulls have been pleased by the progress shown by senior Pat Julmiste, the starter most of the past two seasons, and especially redshirt freshman Matt Grothe.

"Pat's the only one who's won a game and been a starter for us, and you can never discount that," Leavitt said. "Matt Grothe's doing very well. He's really competing. The strongest thing I can say about (Grothe) is he's really getting a shot at starting for us. There's no question about that. But so's Carlton, and so's Pat."

So while he's pleased to have three viable options at quarterback, he also enters Saturday's game - where all three will play, along with walk-on Anthony Severino - without a clear-cut starter.

"If you take Carlton out of the picture because of grades, you only have two in the hunt," said Leavitt, who has not allowed his quarterbacks to speak with the media this spring. "Matt maybe has done a few better things than Pat consistently. You have to remember Pat has started and won 11 or 12 games against some pretty good people."

Linebacker Stephen Nicholas, who bruised his knee in Saturday's scrimmage, will be held out of the spring game. Running back Ricky Ponton, who bruised his tailbone, could also sit out, leaving only walk-ons Walt Smith and Ben Williams at running back.

[Last modified April 12, 2006, 01:07:16]