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No lack of interest in Bucs' Voss

Colleges come calling often for the Gulf quarterback.

By FRANK PASTOR
Published May 7, 2006

NEW PORT RICHEY - Everyone, it seems, wants a peek at Alton Voss.

Colorado and North Carolina State visited Gulf on Monday to watch the first day of spring practice. Florida A&M and Louisiana stopped by on Tuesday.

And that was with FHSAA rules limiting Gulf to noncontact drills in helmets and shorts.

"I've had call after call after call," Gulf coach Jay Fulmer said. "They're spread out between now and May 24."

Why all the fuss?

With the recent decision by Ocala Trinity Catholic's John Brantley to orally commit to Texas, Voss might be the best available quarterback in the state.

Voss, a rising senior, threw for 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns and ran for 1,100 yards and 13 scores during an all-conference junior season. He has good size (6 feet 2, 215 pounds), speed (4.6 in the 40-yard dash), toughness and sound fundamentals, including improved footwork and pre-snap reads.

He received a written scholarship offer from Mississippi State and verbal offers from USF and West Virginia. Florida, which signed Tim Tebow of Ponte Vedra Beach Nease to head its spread-option offense, wants Voss as an athlete, perhaps at tight end or outside linebacker.

"Here at Gulf High, there was no tradition at all," Voss said. "Now, our senior year, you've got college scouts coming every day, and big schools, too. It's nice just to have these coaches here."

More are on the way.

Alabama, Mississippi State, Florida, Ole Miss and West Virginia are expected to visit this coming week. N.C. State plans to send its quarterbacks coach. Eastern Kentucky has contacted Fulmer about a visit, and USF coach Jim Leavitt might stop by.

It's quite a change from last spring, when only Bethune-Cookman showed.

"Every day, we've got college scouts," Voss said. "You can't let it get to you. You've just got to play your own game. If you try too hard, you'll start messing up. I'm doing this for the team. I'm not trying to be an individual."

Voss' teammates benefit from the exposure, too.

Florida A&M took a look at wide receivers/defensive backs Shawn Williamson and Anthony Jackson. Colorado showed an interest in Williamson and lineman Jacob Kinn. Louisiana checked out Jackson, Williamson, Kinn and lineman John Palasky.

"Last year, I got like two letters the whole year," said the 6-3, 190-pound Williamson, who rocketed onto the national scene with standout performances at the U.S. Army All-American National Combine in January in San Antonio, Texas, and the MSL/Adidas Combine in March in Tallahassee, where he ran the 40-yard dash in a record 4.38 seconds.

"This year, I get like two (letters) every day. It gives me something to build myself up to, get my grades up, push myself a little harder."

After going 5-5 and falling a win short of the playoffs last season, Gulf is working toward the first playoff berth in its 76-year history. After the first week of spring practice, Fulmer said the team appears well on its way.

"We've got a good football team, that's what I took out of it," Fulmer said. "It's going to take a good football team to beat us, it really is. I don't really know what's out there, and I don't really care."

[Last modified May 7, 2006, 01:10:18]