Hillsborough: News and notes

By JOE SMITH and KEITH NIEBUHR, Times Staff Writers
Published December 14, 2007

Recruiting tidbits

It looks like the recruiting battle between rivals Auburn and Alabama is heating up.

Armwood senior tailback Eric Smith, who said last week he had narrowed his college choices to Auburn and Clemson, received an in-home visit from Alabama coach Nick Saban on Thursday. This comes one day after Auburn coaches made their second home visit to Smith. According to Hawks coaches, Saban and Co. have made a huge push on trying to land Smith, one of the bay area's top backs.

- Less than 24 hours after Florida coach Urban Meyer spent the day in Seffner on a home visit with Hawks star lineman Matt Patchan, Armwood coach Sean Callahan said the five-star recruit will announce his decision next week in a press conference. Patchan, one of the nation's top offensive linemen, had narrowed his choices to Florida, LSU and Miami, where his father, Matt, played. But Callahan said earlier this week Miami and Florida were "neck and neck," with UF putting in an unprecedented late push. Four Gators coaches were at last Friday's Class 4A state semifinal against Booker T. Washington. Patchan plans to enroll at his college choice in January.

- Plant junior quarterback Aaron Murray said his visit from Gators assistant Dan Mullen "went well" Wednesday. Though he hasn't received a scholarship offer from UF, Tennessee jumped in on the standout's sweepstakes by offering him Thursday.

- Plant senior receiver Derek Winter received a visit Thursday from Kansas. Winter's parents are from Topeka, Kan. The BCS-bound Jayhawks will play in the Orange Bowl. Winter has received offers from USF and Army.

All-state volleyball

Bayshore Christian's year just got a little better. The Faith Warriors, who won the Class A state title last month, had five players earn all-state honors when the Class A and 2A squads were announced Thursday.

Senior outside hitter Jannica Mollett and senior setter Ashlea Ballangee were first-team selections; junior outside hitter Sami Stokes and freshman middle hitter Gabrielle Fernandez were second-team picks; junior libero Sara Lucia made third team.

In 2A, Tampa Prep junior outside hitter Alena Ransom was a third-team choice. Senior outside hitter Alisa French and junior middle hitter Dana Malinowski were honorable mentions. For a complete list of the teams, visit blogs.tampabay.com/preps/

Don't forget about him

Rick Casares and Darrell Jackson were the only two Tampa high school stars named to the Florida High School Athletic Association's all-century high school football team released Wednesday, but another player on the list has strong area ties. Larry Gagner, now an artist living in Seminole Heights, was picked to the team. He was a two-way player at Daytona Beach Seabreeze in the early 1960s.

[Last modified December 13, 2007, 20:57:53]