Colleges

Potential USF starter arrested

Woody George was charged with a third-degree felony count of grand theft relating to a missing parking boot.

By TIMES STAFF
Published August 17, 2007

TAMPA - USF senior Woody George, competing for a starting position at defensive end, was arrested by campus police Thursday night and charged with a third-degree felony count of grand theft relating to a missing parking boot.

George, 23, was arrested after his car had been immobilized Tuesday with a boot from USF's Parking and Transportation Services, as is often the case with unpaid parking tickets. Parking officials told police Wednesday that the car and boot were missing, though George called police Wednesday and made arrangements to return the boot, according to arrest reports.

On Thursday, however, he went into the campus police station and "told police he threw the boot away," according to the arrest report. He was arrested at 5:25 p.m. and taken to county jail. The boot is valued at $450, so George was charged with felony grand theft, which covers any theft of larger than $300 and less than $5,000.

George, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound senior from Belle Glade, started 12 games at defensive tackle last season, finishing with 28 tackles. He is competing with senior Jarriett Buie to start at defensive end. It is the fourth arrest of a starting USF football player since March, and while the others were misdemeanors, coach Jim Leavitt has said none of the previous arrests merited suspension from games.

If George recovers the boot and returns it to campus parking officials in working condition, USF police public information officer Lt. Meg Ross said there is precedent for such charges not being pursued by prosecutors.

Leavitt declined to comment Thursday night through Chris Freet, USF's assistant athletic director for communications, who said the arrest was a team matter and would be handled internally. George remained in county jail on $2,000 bond.

Greg Auman, Times staff writer

More USF: Recruit out

TAMPA - Safety Charlton Sinclair, one of the highest-rated recruits in USF's freshman class, will have to take a "greyshirt" and wait until January to start his college career.

Sinclair has yet to be cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse, which is questioning a summer replacement course he took at a private school in Jacksonville.

Sinclair said he's optimistic he'll be cleared, but if the course isn't accepted, he can make himself eligible by retaking the ACT exam in September and improving his score. Sinclair, from Jacksonville Mandarin High, is the sixth recruit not to qualify academically in time.

RIGHT BACK: Cornerback Mike Jenkins returned to practice after missing Wednesday's morning workout to attend to a family illness. Also returning: offensive linemen Walter Walker and Ryan Schmidt and tight end Ben Busbee.

Brendan Galella, Times correspondent, and Greg Auman, Times staff writer

FSU: QBs look good

TALLAHASSEE - Drew Weatherford was 16-for-20 with 205 yards and a touchdown and Xavier Lee was 9-for-16 with 143 yards and a touchdown in Florida State's first full scrimmage of the fall.

But it was what they didn't do -turn the ball over - that had coach Bobby Bowden excited.

"That is what we are looking for," Bowden said. "The first thing a quarterback has got to do is not get you beat."

New offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher was pleased with decision-making by both QBs.

Fullback Joe Surratt was carted off after suffering a right knee injury late in the scrimmage. The severity of the injury wasn't immediately known.

Jamey Givens, Times correspondent

UF: Getting motivated

GAINESVILLE - The team participated in "Champions Night," which Florida coach Urban Meyer said would include a speech from basketball coach Billy Donovan and a 20-minute motivational video.

Sophomore receiver Percy Harvin was "very limited" by a sore Achilles' tendon, said Meyer, who hopes to get more out of Harvin today. Receiver Andre Caldwell was held out with a strained groin.

Bryan Jones, Times correspondent

[Last modified August 17, 2007, 01:21:43]