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End the rumors: Knights, Terriers keep top backs

By FRANK PASTOR

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 7, 2001

TAMPA -- Robinson coach Bud Hodgens heard the rumors all summer.

His star running back, Kwane Doster, would transfer to another county school.

But Hodgens also heard Doster say he would return to Robinson for his senior season.

This, he believed.

Hodgens' faith was rewarded Monday as Doster, one of the county's most explosive players, was back at Robinson for the first day of fall practice.

"We knew he was being recruited," Hodgens said. "I'm not going to name any names. But we didn't think we'd lose him because he's the kind of kid (who) a handshake is good enough for him.

"He told me he was going to be here, and I believed him."

Doster and Hillsborough running back Elijah Dukes, another high-profile player rumored to be changing schools, stayed put as the county's 25 football-playing schools opened practice.

Doster, who rushed for 476 yards and four touchdowns in four games before a torn medial collateral ligament ended his junior season, said a former teammate who transferred to Jefferson in the spring tried to talk him into attending Jefferson.

Doster, who hit .391 for the baseball team, also said a former coach encouraged him to transfer to Hillsborough for baseball.

Doster said he signed the papers to enroll at Jefferson but did not submit them. He said he returned to Robinson out of loyalty to his family. His mother and two uncles attended Robinson.

"I was thinking about (transferring) a lot, really," said Doster, who has 3,318 career rushing yards. "But my family graduated from here, and I've been here for three years. That's what really kept me from going over there. I didn't want to leave for just one more year."

Dukes rushed for 749 yards and 11 touchdowns last season but will be suspended for the first three games of this season for disciplinary reasons, coach Earl Garcia said. Garcia would not elaborate.

Not every player stayed put.

Wide receiver Jeff Duncan (Robinson), lineman Donnie Woods (Pasco), running back/cornerback Rashaun Grant (Blake), fullback/linebacker Javan Williams (Blake) and linebacker/running back Gerald Smith (Robinson) transferred to Jefferson, which is poised for a run at the Class 2A state title.

Dragons coach Mike Simmonds attributed the high number of transfers to Jefferson's magnet program, the International Academy of Finance, and attrition.

He said Jefferson lost players such as Dukes, defensive back Ricky Johnson and running back Arteis Brown to Hillsborough and running backs Joe Stephens and Carl Jones to Armwood in recent years.

"You're going to lose kids for whatever reason," he said. "I'm not playing as much as I thought,' or "The scheme's not good,' or "I'm not happy in my class,' or whatever. People go, and people come. So it's natural attrition. You lose some. You gain some. That's just the way it works."

TERRIER QB INJURED: Just before the first day of practice began, Hillsborough starting quarterback Ian MacAlister stepped on a nail, which perforated his shoe and was sticking from his foot as he was taken to the hospital.

Garcia said MacAlister is expected to miss at least a week but should return strong.

"Now that's a heck of a way to start your first day," Garcia said. "Isn't it?"

-- Times staff writer Scott Purks contributed to this report.

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