Largo RB commits to Bulls

[72bull]

College football

Largo RB McCluster commits to the Bulls

By Times Staff Writers Times Wires

Published October 14, 2005

TAMPA - USF's first commitment of the 2006 recruiting class is one of Pinellas County's best players: Largo High running back Dexter McCluster, who has rushed for 1,094 yards and scored 11 touchdowns in six games, has decided he'll play for the Bulls next season.

"I just followed my heart," said McCluster, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound senior who committed to USF coaches on Tuesday night. "I knew it was the place I wanted to go. It's an up-and-coming school, and it's close enough to home that my mom and dad can always see me play."

McCluster chose the Bulls over offers from Mississippi, Rutgers, Akron and Eastern Kentucky, and said he has liked USF since his sophomore year. Largo coach Rick Rodriguez said the Bulls have a future star on their hands.

"He's the best back I've seen in 27 years of coaching," said Rodriguez, whose team has a key district game against Seminole tonight. "He's a special kid, the kind that always makes something happen for you."

He earned first-team Times All-Suncoast honors as a junior, rushing for 1,252 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns while totaling 43 tackles and two interceptions on defense.

USF's first commitment comes at a key position. With starter Andre Hall graduating after this season, the Bulls only have three other running backs on scholarship, with redshirt freshman Ricky Ponton and sophomore Chad Simpson the leading candidates to take over for the record-setting Hall in 2006.

THIS AND THAT: Former Plant linebacker Donte Spires, who signed with USF in February but did not qualify academically, could be back with the Bulls sooner than expected. Spires had planned to attend Pearl River Community College in Mississippi, but returned home to Tampa, where he's working to improve his test scores with the hopes of enrolling in January. ... USF often rewards redshirt freshmen with a spot on the travel squad, and this week, that honor goes to defensive lineman George Selvie of Pensacola.

- GREG AUMAN, Times staff writer

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/10/14/Sports/Largo_RB_McCluster_co.shtml

[SkypointBull]

Nice to see some mid pinellas kids coming to USF. You got to love Largetto.

[BullDoug]

a 5-foot-9, 160-pound senior

Better hit the groceries and weight room hard in the next 8 months.

[BULLfreak]

alot of good running backs where light weights in their freshmen year and that is why we have a thing called Redshirt years

[mutt]

Seminole High plays them tonight...   we'll see what happens.  (Go Hawks!)    Sorry, I'm Biased  

[dabull80]

Yea and Warrick Dunn is to small to play in the NFL.  Opps I guess that is wrong.

[BullDoug]

Yea and Warrick Dunn is to small to play in the NFL.  Opps I guess that is wrong.

Oh yea, there are successful Warrick Dunn & Darren Sproyles type backs all over the place.  160 lb probably will eliminate him as an every down back for USF.  You need a minimum of 185 lbs to be a starting/every down back for a D1A.  If he doesn't get much bigger, I see the label "return specialist" hung on this guy.  Darren Sproyles of KSU & San Diego, wasn't thrown on the KSU scout team for a reason as a freshman.  JMO.  No big deal if you don't agree.  The kid does have nice stats.

[KeysBull]

He is listed as a cb on rivals.

[BullGrad95]

Seminole High plays them tonight...   we'll see what happens.  (Go Hawks!)    Sorry, I'm Biased  

Hey, Mutt, I'm an SHS alum.  Did you go there?

[BullDoug]

Hey, Mutt, I'm an SHS alum.  Did you go there?

Go Dixie Hollins H.S.!  Rebels Rule!  Class of ...nevermind.