Twenty - all Floridians - sign as Bulls' first cla

[Guest_Pariah]

Twenty - all Floridians - sign as Bulls' first class

[CITY Edition]

JOHN C. COTEY. St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Fla.: Feb 8, 1996

Coach Jim Leavitt appeared tired Wednesday afternoon. His ever-present smile was only sporadic, his typically upbeat manner more subdued and his tone less vibrant.

But if anything typified the long hours and relentless recruiting the new coach has put in since taking over at USF, it was the large number of players he signed.

On the first-ever signing day at USF, 20 players put their signatures to letters of intent as the Bulls' first class of football players took shape.

"We've got a number of team captains, players that are academically strong, and athletically gifted that are part of this recruiting class," Leavitt said, "but there are a number of players we are still actively recruiting. We have really just begun."

USF released a list of 18 players who have signed either full or partial scholarships. Not on that list were at least six players who have committed. Two of those - Dixie Hollins' Curtis Andrew and Ocala Forest's Randall Rolle - confirmed they signed but weren't on the list.

USF plans to release an updated list Friday. Every signee so far is from Florida.

"It's been overwhelming to me the interest we've had across the state," Leavitt said.

USF chose not to single out the first "official" signee, instead focusing on the entire class. Leavitt also said there would be no distinction made between those players getting full or partial offers, or those walking on when the full list is released.

Leavitt has said all along the Tampa Bay area would be his primary source of recruits. Ten of the signees are from Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Manatee counties.

Hillsborough High School had three players sign, the most of any school. A fourth, 6-1, 323-pound tackle Dietrick George, said he will sign Saturday.

"It was kind of a relief," Terriers tight end Isaac Bristol said. "I went to a basketball game last year and saw Jesse Salters and his family had their own little cheering section. I picture us having that for football. It was a good feeling over there."

Sipp was one of five offensive linemen to sign, the most of any position for the Bulls, including all-staters Larry Scott (6-5, 260) of Sebring and Ocala Forest's Tony Cleveland (6-4, 265). Fourteen of the 20 signed are offensive players.

USF signed three running backs, three wide receivers and two quarterbacks, Garret Jagdmann (6-3, 180) of Sarasota and Estero's Anthony Henry (6-1, 175). Jagdmann threw for 1,036 yards and 12 touchdowns for the 11-2 Sailors.

Leavitt said he expects to sign two or three more quarterbacks.

All-State defensive backs Donnie Casey (5-11, 180) of Lake Mary and Palm Beach Lakes' David Thompson (5-11, 170) head the list of defensive players.

USF will redshirt its entire first class before beginning play in 1997.

Three players turned down USF: Hillsborough's Ishmael Knight (Kansas), Tarpon Springs Theo Mougros (Clemson) and Dixie Hollins' Glenn Davis (Purdue). SOUTH FLORIDA (20)

[Table]

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. School

Curtis Andrew LB 6-2 215 Dixie Hollins

Isaac Bristol TE 6-4 235 Tampa (Hillsborough)

Donnie Casey FS 5-11 180 Lake Mary

Tony Cleveland OG 6-4 265 Ocala (Forest)

Jason Fox DL 5-10 230 Ocala (Forest)

Jason Gray OT/DE 6-5 260 Land O'Lakes

Shawn Hay DL 6-4 235 Jupiter

Anthony Henry QB 6-1 175 Ft Myers (Estero)

Charlie Jackson WR 5-9 165 Miami (Edison)

Garret Jagdmann QB 6-3 180 Sarasota

Jason Malouf LB 6-0 205 Tampa (Tampa Catholic)

Leon Matthews TB 6-2 170 Sebring

Jariya McIntyre WR 5-8 150 Tampa (Hillsborough)

Aaron Milton OL 6-2 264 Bradenton (Southeast)

Cory Porter WR 6-3 190 Tarpon Springs

Damon Ratcliffe FB 6-1 230 Valrico (Bloomingdale)

Randall Rolle RB 5-10 185 Ocala Forest

Larry Scott OT 6-5 260 Sebring

Joey Sipp OL 6-0 273 Tampa (Hillsborough)

David Thompson DB 5-11 170 W.P. Beach (Palm Beach Lakes)

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/22775927.html?FMT=FT&FMTS=FT&date=Feb+8%2C+1996&author=JOHN+C.+COTEY&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&desc=Twenty+-+all+Floridians+-+sign+as+Bulls%27+first+class

[E.T.]

Glenn Davis

Isaac Bristol TE 6-4 235 Tampa (Hillsborough)

Shawn Hay DL 6-4 235 Jupiter

Anthony Henry QB 6-1 175 Ft Myers (Estero)

Charlie Jackson WR 5-9 165 Miami (Edison)

Jason Malouf LB 6-0 205 Tampa (Tampa Catholic)

Leon Matthews TB 6-2 170 Sebring

Jariya McIntyre WR 5-8 150 Tampa (Hillsborough)

Aaron Milton OL 6-2 264 Bradenton (Southeast)

Cory Porter WR 6-3 190 Tarpon Springs

Joey Sipp OL 6-0 273 Tampa (Hillsborough)

These names stand out. What a ride  ;D

[The Sheriff]

Ant Henry, QB, 6-1 175 lbs... boy how Ant put some weight on!

[E.T.]

And glad also in the wallet  8)

Just hope his injury heals well.

Go BULLS !!!

[smazza]

nothing like going down memory lane