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By Jamal Thalji, Debi Jones, Brian Landman and Antonya English
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 23, 2001
Central Florida
ORAL COMMITMENTS/TRANSFERS: CB Terrance Bell (6-1, 190), Dodge City (Kan.) CC; LB Lemac Bernard, (6-1, 195), Bishop Verot; OL Tyewan Brown, (6-5, 300), Miami Edison; OL Adam Butcher (6-4, 278), Admiral Farragut; TE James Cook (6-4, 2-5), Jacksonville Trinity Chr.; LB Paul Carrington (6-5, 210), Effingham Co. (Ga.); RB Andreal Curry (6-0, 230), Titusville Astronaut; WR Doug Gabriel (6-3, 210), Mississippi Gulf Coast CC; OL Jeff Harper (6-10, 315), Palm Bay; S Andrew Harris (6-4, 190), Northeast; DE Rashad Jeatty, (6-0, 218), Miami Carol City; TE Darcy Johnson (6-6, 210), Palatka; LB Omar Laurence (6-0, 175), Largo; TE Matt Lundy (6-0, 230), Cypress Creek; DT Mike Lynche (6-1, 270), Gibbs; OL Johnovan Morgan (6-4, 280), Jones (Miss.) CC; TE Mark Morris (6-4, 225), Lake Region; WR Al Peterson (6-3, 180), Alachua Santa Fe; LB Stanford Ruhle (5-10, 207), Fort Lauderdale Dillard; S Peter Sands (6-3, 195), Titusville Astronaut; LB Lamont Stringfield (5-11, 220), Miami Jackson; QB Brandon Sumner, (6-0, 185), Daytona Beach Mainland/Georgia Tech; CB Carlos Thompson (5-10, 180), Southwest Mississippi CC; LB Craig Waters (6-5, 210), Titusville Astronaut; RB Keith Williams (5-10, 190), Hillsborough; DE Mico Williams (6-4, 227), Miami Edison; S Dee Williford (5-11, 200), Auburndale.
THE LATEST: Central Florida has always been known more for its offense, but is making its case for defense with a stellar class. Two of the future defenders are rated in the top 100 by the Orlando Sentinel: Lynche is ranked No. 41 and Rhule is No. 65. They join Sands and Williams. UCF already has more early commitments than any other Division I-A school in Florida.
-- Compiled by Jamal Thalji.
ORAL COMMITMENTS: FB Eraste Autin (6-1, 247), Lafayette (La.) St. Thomas More; OL Wesley Bryant (6-5, 285), Charlotte (N.C.) Vance; OT Lance Butler (6-8, 305), Lexington (N.C.) West Davidson; Jonathan Colon (6-8, 285), Miami Central; WR/DB Jarvis Herring (5-11, 175), Live Oak Suwannee; OL Jonathan Marvin (6-6, 285), Hendersonville (N.C.) West Henderson; LB Todd McCullough (6-4, 220), Jacksonville Bolles; DT Bryan Savelio (6-4, 295), Mesa (Ariz.) Community College; DB/WR Antoine Sharp (6-1, 195), Jacksonville Bolles.
THE LATEST: Florida had a big weekend with 15 recruits visiting, three of whom already have committed to the Gators. Included was QB Ingle Martin of Nashville, who is expected to commit today. He would compete with current freshmen Brock Berlin and Rex Grossman. The defending Southeastern Conference champions are looking to fill holes at defensive tackle and may do so with the commitment of Torran Williams from Dodge City (Kan.) Community College. Williams said he called Florida coaches several weeks ago to commit but that he was still unsure of his decision.
-- Compiled by Debi Jones.
ORAL COMMITMENTS/TRANSFERS: K Xavier Beitia (5-10, 180), Tampa Jesuit; OL Eric Broe (6-6, 275), The Wesleyan (Ga.) School; OL Milford Brown (6-4, 315), East Mississippi Community College; RB James Buchanan (6-2, 220), Sarasota Cardinal Mooney; DE Donnie Carter (6-4, 240), Ware (Ga.) County; LB Marcello Church (6-1, 200), Lakewood; DE Chauncey Davis (6-2, 230), Auburndale; LB B.J. Dean (6-0, 230), Central (Ala.) High; S Kyler Hall (6-1, 183), Live Oak Suwannee; OL Matt Heinz (6-5, 260), Tallahassee North Florida Christian; OL Andrew Henry-Kennon (6-5, 285), Tallahassee Lincoln; QB Matt Henshaw (6-5, 194), Brentwood (Tenn.) High; RB Paul Irons (6-2, 255), St. Augustine (La.) High; OL Matt Meinrod (6-5, 265), East Lake; LB Ray Piquion (5-11, 200), Miami Beach; S Gerard Ross (6-2, 190), Jacksonville Trinity Chr.; WR P.K. Sam (6-3, 180), Buford (Ga.) High; WR Craphonso Thorpe (6-2, 175), Tallahassee Lincoln; DE Justin Tomerlin (6-7, 260), San Clemente (Calif.) High; OL Blake Williams (6-4, 270), Kissimmee Osceola.
THE LATEST: The Seminoles will add another powerful Williams to the fold. Blake said Monday he chose FSU over Clemson and will join his brother Brett, a rising junior and potential All-American OT, in Tallahassee. Meanwhile, with Bobby Bowden coaching in the Hula Bowl last week, FSU had very few visits. Not so this weekend. This will be the Seminoles' last big push. Headlining the visits will be QB Joe Mauer from Cretin-Derham Hall in Minnesota, the same high school that produced Chris Weinke. Another key area is LB, where FSU remains in the hunt for several big-time prospects, including Willie Jones Jr. (6-2, 195) of Miami Carol City. He also is supposed to visit this weekend.
-- Compiled by Brian Landman.
ORAL COMMITMENTS/TRANSFERS: OL Robert Bergman (6-5, 280), Bakersfield (Calif.); OL Randy Boxill (6-3, 290), Lantana Santaluces; OL Rashad Butler (6-5, 285), Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer; DE Thomas Carroll (6-4, 225), Lakewood, N.J.; DE Kevin Everitt (6-5, 265), Port Arthur (Texas) Jefferson; K Mark Gent (6-1, 180), Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas; RB Quadtrine Hill (6-1, 200), Sunrise Piper; CB Kelly Jennings (5-11, 190), Live Oak Suwannee; S Marcus Maxey (6-3, 190), Navasota, Texas; WR Chris Murray (6-4, 185), Armwood; QB Buck Ortega (6-5, 205), Miami Gulliver Prep; DE Miquel Robede (6-4, 252), Montreal Val D'Or Vieux; DB Antrel Rolle (6-0, 185) Homestead South Dade; TE Brandon Sebald (6-6, 230), Accord (N.Y.) Rondout Valley; OL Tony Tella (6-5, 265), Madison High, Houston, Texas; S Jovonny Ward (6-1, 210), Miami Northwestern; DL Vince Wilfork (6-3,320) Lantana Santaluces; DE Andrew Williams (6-4, 265), Hinds (Miss.) CC.
THE LATEST: Rolle became the Hurricanes' latest oral commitment. In all, 10 recruits spent the weekend on campus. One of the biggest -- at least tallest -- visitors was Kellen Winslow Jr. (6-5, 215) of San Diego, son of the former NFL tight end. Part of the Hurricanes' recruiting strategy is to sign as many tight end prospects as possible, the reason being that they can play a number of positions, including fullback, linebacker and defensive end. Coach Butch Davis said finishing No.2 in the polls is carrying over into recruiting. Current players are effectively recruiting high school prospects.
ORAL COMMITMENTS/TRANSFERS: WR/S Joe Bain, (6-3, 188) Dade City Pasco; DB Johnny Jones (6-2, 190) Sarasota Booker; DE Kenny Huebner (6-3, 235) Gaither; CB Eugene Hampton, (6-3, 185) North Florida Chr.; LB Anthony Caldwell (6-2, 225) Pensacola Escambia; OL Chris McBee (6-5, 305) Titusville Astronaut; WR C.J. Lewis (5-11, 175) Astronaut; OL Shelly Houston (6-3, 295) Immokalee; RB Charlie Ross (6-3, 240), Riverview; WR Cedric King (5-11, 170), Gibbs; WR Marcus Edwards (6-0, 185), Clearwater Central Catholic; TE Derek Carter (6-4, 215), Jesuit; TE Tim Jones (6-2, 225) Lakeland Kathleen; RB Brian Fisher (5-8, 180), Pensacola Forest; K Santiago Gramatica (5-10, 165), LaBelle; WR Bruce Gipson (5-10, 170), Charlotte; DT Greg McKay (6-4, 290), Ponchatoula, La.; RB DeJuan Green (5-11, 220) Jacksonville Raines/Georgia.
THE LATEST: The Bulls scored big time Monday when they landed Bain, one of the biggest names in the area. Bain, named the Times' 10th-best player in the area, chose USF over Florida, which had offered him a scholarship, rescinded it, offered again, then backpedaled during his visit last weekend. He may see action on both sides of the ball. Former offensive tackle Joe Condron has re-enrolled at USF. Condron, who played as a freshman in 1999, then left the team, is considered a walk-on. He will be evaluated in the spring and a decision on giving him a scholarship will be made in the fall. Lake City Columbia safety Jerome Carter remains a prospect, but his coach, Danny Green, said Monday the Bulls are trailing Miami, Florida State and Florida. Carter's teammate, punter/quarterback Cory Randolph, is looking for a school where he can kick and play quarterback. He already has visited USF. Bolles quarterback David Mullins visited USF this past weekend, following a visit to Indiana. His coach, Corky Rogers, said his options remain open. Former Tampa Catholic all-state lineman Justin Pawlowski, who transferred from Connecticut and enrolled at USF last week, has decided not to play football anymore.
-- Compiled by Antonya English.