Pasco: Former Pirate decides to take chances in pros

Former Pirate decides to take chances in pros

Cleo Stinyard will leave Fort Valley State University a season early to enter the NFL Draft.

By JAMAL THALJI

DADE CITY -- Former Pasco star tailback Cleo Stinyard is going pro, entering April's NFL Draft and foregoing his senior season at Fort Valley State University in Georgia.

He is the second former Pasco County standout to forgo his senior season for the NFL. Earlier this month, former Zephyrhills defensive tackle Ryan Pickett left Ohio State for the draft.

Stinyard, 21, said it's a decision he started contemplating before the start of his junior season. The birth of his daughter, Keyzyn, on July 23 helped make up his mind.

"I mean, it was a hard decision all year," he said. "I was wrestling with it, but once I made it, I made it and I don't regret it at all.

"I was pondering the possibilities all year, and I laid my options out fully. I didn't rush into it or anything like that."

The 5-foot-10, 187-pound Stinyard graduated in 1997 after continuing the running back tradition at Pasco. He rushed for 1,413 yards and scored 14 touchdowns that season.

He was the 1996 Times North Suncoast Player of the Year and one of the most highly-sought after recruits in the area.

But he could not academically qualify for the school that signed him first, South Florida. So Stinyard headed to FVSU, where he starred for the Wildcats as a kick returner and running back.

Stinyard said his current coach, Kent Schoolfield, was against his decision to go pro.

"Well, you know, there's a lot of mixed feelings," Stinyard said. "He doesn't support my decision, which is understandable. But I have to support my own decision."

Stinyard said he will miss being a Wildcat.

"I've grown attached to the school, but it was a decision I had to make," he said. "I'm still a Wildcat, it's just a sign of you growing up. You're going to have to make decisions like that your whole life. This is just those kinds of decisions you have to make."

His old middle and high school coach, Pasco coach Ricky Thomas, said he would have prefered Stinyard finish his career at FVSU.

"I believe he should stay," Thomas said. "I'm just a firm believer in that if you get your degree, and you have another good season, and if football works out fine, then fine. If it doesn't, you don't have your degree. You have to try and re-evaluate everything."

But Stinyard, who is less than 20 credits shy of a degree in communications, said family issues could not wait.

"I have a little girl and a family," he said. "My little girl is the most important thing to me. I made the decision solely on me and my family's (needs)."

Thomas said Stinyard's versatility should aid him in the draft this summer.

"I wish him luck, he's by far the best running back I've ever coached, without question, bar none," Thomas said. "He was just an outstanding player. I was happy to coach him at Weightman (Middle School) for two years and I was lucky to coach him his senior season at Pasco.

"If anybody can do it, he can. I think the plus side of Cleo is that he does so many things well, and what I mean by that is he can run back punts, he can run back kickoffs, and he's an outstanding running back. The kid can do so much, he brings a lot of stuff to the table and he'll be a valuable player to somebody."

Stinyard knows he has a tough road ahead. To prepare himself, Stinyard plans to head to Kenner, La., to work out at Tom Shaw Performance Enhancement, a haven for future and current NFL players.

There, he'll work with former Gulf alum Tom "The Bomb" Shaw, improving his speed, flexibility and strength in time for the NFL Draft, which is April 21-22.

"Obviously right now my stock isn't too high," Stinyard said. "That's the way it is for anyone from a Division II school, especially Fort Valley State. I always planned on earning my way in, establishing myself and establishing my spot in the draft.

"Because obviously with a 4.3 40 you're going to get a look, and I plan on doing better than a 4.3."

So who does Stinyard hope to sign with?

"You know, my favorite love, my first love, is Tampa Bay," he said.