Linemen Dominate USF Football Recruiting Class

[Brad]

Courtesy USF SID Office

Linemen Dominate USF Football Recruiting Class

(February 1, 2006) Tampa, Fla. – More than half of the 28 football players in the 2006 University of South Florida recruiting class are linemen. Ten of the 28 play on the defensive line, while five (including tight ends) are on the offensive line.

The second distinction to this year’s class is a continued dominance by Florida products. Twenty-seven of the 28 players are from the State of Florida, plus one from Louisiana. USF’s roster has always been heavy on Florida players since the program started in 1997.

Among the 27 Florida players is a group of 10 from within one hour of the USF campus, including four from Hillsborough County, four from Pinellas County and two more from Manatee County. Three more signees are from Miami, another annual hotbed for USF. The Florida products stretch the entire state from Pensacola in the northwest to Jacksonville in the northeast and all the way south to Miami.

“I’m really excited about this class,” says USF head coach Jim Leavitt. “There is an awful lot of athletic talent in the group. Over the next two years, we’ll really find out just how good the class is.”

Edner Alcin, Wide Receiver, 6-2, 180, Tampa, Fla., Chamberlain

Ranked 30th best player in Tampa Bay area by St. Petersburg Times…Honorable mention all-county in Tampa Tribune…Had 34 catches for nearly 500 yards with five touchdowns in 2005…Ranked 98th in Florida by Rivals.com…Has run a 4.4 40-yard dash…Ran track…Coached by Billy Turner.

Nate Allen, Quarterback, 6-2, 190, Cape Coral, Fla., Cape Coral

Ranked 67th top prospect in Florida by Orlando Sentinel…Threw for 325 yards and four touchdowns on 18 of 23 passing to lead his team from a 16-point deficit to defeat Gulf Coast 37-30…Class 5A honorable mention all-state…Also an accomplished basketball player, he is averaging 16.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.9 steals this season…Has six 20-plus scoring games including a high of 28 against South Ft. Myers…

Delbert Alvarado, Punter/Kicker, 6-0, 175, Tampa, Fla., Robinson

First team all-county in Tampa Tribune and St. Petersburg Times…Ranked 44th best player in Tampa Bay area by St. Petersburg Times…3 of 5 on field goals with a long of 41 as a senior…Added 51 PATs for 60 points to lead all kickers in Hillsborough County…In addition to kicking and punting for Robinson High, he played in the Marching Band… As a junior he was 5 of 7 on field goals and had a 38.7 punt average…4.0 grade point average…Coached by Mike DePue…Plays Club Soccer…Born in Honduras.

James Boger, Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 310, Pinellas Park, Fla., Dixie Hollins

Third team all-state…First team all-county in St. Petersburg Times…The latest in a long line of prominent players from Dixie Hollins High School (Marquel Blackwell, DeAndrew Rubin, Andre Hall, Glenn Davis, Tchecoy Blount, Curtis Chance) to sign with USF…USF head coach Jim Leavitt and defensive coordinator Rick Kravitz are also Dixie Hollins graduates…Played in Pinellas County All-Star Game…Coached by Mike Morey.

Keeley Dorsey, Running Back, 5-11, 210, Tallahassee, Fla., Lincoln

Runs a 4.4 40-yard dash…Played quarterback for Lincoln High…All-Big Bend…Led Lincoln to city and district titles in 2004.

Dylan Douglas, Defensive Back, 5-10, 175, Jacksonville, Fla., Jackson

Named to Florida Times-Union Super 24 team in Jacksonville…Had four interceptions, including two for touchdowns…Team captain…runs 100 and 200 in track…as a 10.8 in the 100.

David Fonua, Defensive End, 6-2, 255, Bradenton, Fla., Southeast

Ranked 93rd top prospect in Florida by Orlando Sentinel…Second team all-state in Class 4A…Had 71 tackles and 13 sacks…Played in PAL Bowl for Manatee County All-Stars…Defensive standout in 14-6 win over Sarasota County, helping the defense limit Sarasota to 136 total yards…Invited to play in Florida North-South All-Star Game but chose to sit out with a minor injury….Named to Big7Gridiron (Polynesian players) second team all-defensive front seven…Two-time Sarasota Herald Tribune first team all-area selection…Coached by Paul Maechtle.

LeBrandon Glover, Linebacker, 6-1, 215, Pensacola, Fla., Pensacola

Ranked 43rd top prospect in Florida by Orlando Sentinel…Named to Times-Union (Jacksonville) Super 75 Team in Florida…Ranked 32nd best player at his position in the nation by Rivals and 78th best player in Florida at any position…First team all-state as a junior, he played just five games as a senior…Played in CaliFlorida Bowl and Pensacola All-Star Game…Pensacola Journal Super Senior…All-Northwest Florida as a sophomore, junior and senior.

Aaron Harris, Defensive End, 6-4, 240, Williston, Fla., Williston

Class 3A first team all-state…Played in Florida North-South All-Star Game…All-area…Had 81 tackles, 12 sacks and 15 tackles for loss as a senior…Team defensive MVP…Plays power forward on the Williston basketball team.

Frank Harry, Defensive Lineman, 6-3, 290, Angie, La., Pearl River Community College

Honorable mention All-America defensive tackle at Pearl River Community College, he is already enrolled at USF and will participate in spring ball…Two-time all-state player for Varnado High School in Angie, La….Went on to Pearl River, where he helped the team to two straight state junior college championships in Mississippi.

Zach Hermann, Offensive Lineman, 6-3, 315, Oldsmar, Fla., East Lake

First team all-county in St. Petersburg Times…Also named all-Suncoast and all-district…Three-year letterman…Team’s offensive MVP in 2005, allowing no sacks…Had 72 pancakes…All-district and honorable mention all-county as a junior…Also competes in track & field (shot and discus)…Won district and county shot put title in 2004…Honor Roll student and a Chamber of Commerce Student of the Month…Coached by Bob Hudson.

Jeff Ide, Offensive Lineman, 6-6, 260, Bradenton, Fla., Manatee

Ranked 99th top prospect in Florida by Orlando Sentinel…Utilized as a blocking tight end, he did have one catch for 18 yards…First team all-area in Sarasota Herald Tribune…Coached by Joe Kinnan.

James Jackson, Defensive Lineman/Fullback, 6-1, 260, Tallahassee, Fla., Santa Monica College

Played linebacker at Santa Monica in 2004 and had 90 tackles, four sacks and four forced fumbles…Had played running back at Santa Monica in 2003 but broke a wrist…Sat out 2005 school year…Tallied 102 tackles (24 solos), 22 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and earned all-state honors in his senior season of 2002 at Lincoln High School in Tallahassee….Also rushed for 389 yards on 32 carries and scored six touchdowns as a fullback that season and had 15 pancake blocks to go along with eight two-point conversions…Scored two touchdowns in the CaliFlorida All-Star Game.

Joseph Jackson, Defensive End, 6-4, 215, Miami, Fla., Booker T. Washington

First team all-state in Class 4A…High school teammate of fellow USF signee Alwan Lee…Had eight sacks among 65 tackles, playing defensive end…First team all-Dade County (4A-6A) in Miami Herald…Ranked 16th best senior in Miami by Miami Herald…Chosen to play in CaliFlorida Bowl.

Sabbath Joseph, Linebacker, 6-0, 215, Miami, Fla., Central

Had 11 sacks among his 68 tackles in 2005…Also returned an interception for a touchdown…Class 6A first team all-state…All-Dade County in Miami Herald for Classes 4A-6A…As a junior he had 95 tackles, six sacks, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions, including one for a touchdown…Also blocked three kicks…Ranked 10th best senior in Miami by Miami Herald.

Andrew Ketchel, Tight End, 6-5, 225, Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., Choctawhatchee

Ranked 80th tight end in nation by Scout.com…32 catches for 455 yards as a senior…All-area…Team captain…Three-year starter in football and basketball….Averages 15 points in basketball.

Alwan Lee, Quarterback, 6-1, 190, Miami, Fla., Booker T. Washington

First team all-state as utility player…Ranked 66th top prospect in Florida by Orlando Sentinel…Threw for 1,600 yards and 21 touchdowns, while rushing for 12 more as a senior…Led his team to state semi-finals for the third year in a row…ranked 17th best senior in Miami by Miami Herald.

Craig Marshall, Defensive End, 6-5, 220, Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., Choctawhatchee

Ranked 45th at his position in nation by Rivals.com…All-area as a sophomore, junior and senior…All-Northwest Florida…Named to Ft. Walton Beach Dandy Dozen Team…65 tackles with eight sacks…Three-year starter in basketball, he was the MVP of this year’s Christmas Tournament.

Kevin McCaskill, Center, 6-2, 290, Tallahassee, Fla., Godby

95th ranked prospect in Florida by Orlando Sentinel…Ranked 13th best center in the nation by Rivals.com…Chosen to play in CaliFlorida All-Star Game…Third team all-state in Class 3A.

Alonzo McQueen, Linebacker, 6-1, 220, Jacksonville, Fla., Lee

Named to Times-Union (Jacksonville) Super 24 Team for the greater Jacksonville area…Had 100-plus tackles as a junior and senior…125 tackles in his senior season…46th at his position in the nation by Rivals.com…

Carlton Mitchell, Wide Receiver, 6-4, 190, Lutz, Fla., Gaither

19th best player in Tampa Bay area by St. Petersburg Times…Ranked 64th best player in Florida by Rivals.com and 55th best receiver in the nation…87th best player in Florida according to Scout.com…Honorable mention all-county in Tampa Tribune…Had nine catches for 207 yards as a junior...Three-year letterman in football and basketball.

Julian Riley, Defensive Lineman, 6-4, 285, St. Petersburg, Fla., Lakewood (Florida)

A former all-state player at Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, Fla. and a defensive tackle on the University of Florida roster from 2003-05, has transferred to USF and enrolled in spring classes...Will participate in the spring season although he must sit out the 2006 fall schedule…Will have one season of eligibility at USF in 2007 unless he can successfully appeal for a waiver…As a defensive end at Lakewood in 2002, he had 17 sacks and he was ranked the eighth best strongside defensive end in the south by Rivals.com…Riley also played offensive tackle in high school and was accomplished in track & field, wrestling and basketball…He was a high school teammate of USF offensive tackle Thed Watson.

Aston Samuels, Running Back, 5-10, 190, Belle Glade, Fla., Glades Central

Ran for 1,553 yards in senior season for a 119-yard per game average…8.2 yards per carry…Second team all-state in Class 3A…Ran for 504 yards in a three-game stretch over eight days due to a re-scheduled game...Rushed for 253 yards on 13 carries against Jensen Beach just three days after he had 141 yards and four touchdowns against Palm Beach Central...The previous week he had 110 yards against Ft. Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons...Had 133 yards against Riverdale…Carried for 128 yards in state semi-finals loss to Sarasota Booker…126-yard effort against Clewiston...brother of USF player Jamaal Jenkins.

Jason Sherman, Wide Receiver, 6-4, 200, Jacksonville, Fla., First Coast

Ranked 52nd among wide receivers nationally by Rivals.com and the 62nd best player in Florida…A solid basketball player, he picked up football in his senior season…Climbed 27 spots in Rival rankings from pre-season to post-season…Runs a 4.4 40-yard dash.

Joshua Smiley, Linebacker/Defensive End, 6-3, 220, Milton, Fla., Milton

Second team all-state in Class 4A…Played in Florida’s North-South All-Star Game and the Pensacola All-Star Game…Pensacola Journal Super Senior…70 tackles with three sacks.

Leslie Stirrups, Defensive Lineman, 6-2, 280, Tampa, Fla., Hillsborough

Four-star prospect by Rivals.com…Ranked as 10th best defensive tackle prospect in the nation and the 20th best player in Florida at any position by Rivals…Ranked 17th best player in Florida and 10th in Tampa Bay area by St. Petersburg Times…First team all-state in Class 4A…19th best player in Florida according to Orlando Sentinel…Top 40 in Tampa Tribune’s Best of the South Team, including prospects from 13 states (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Kentucky…Named to Times-Union (Jacksonville) Super 75 Team in Florida…Ranked 49th in Florida by Scout.com…First team all-county by Tampa Tribune and St. Petersburg Times…Good athlete, he can dunk a basketball at 280 pounds…As a junior, he had 56 tackles, 12 for losses, including six sacks.

Jeremiah Warren, Defensive Lineman, 6-3, 290, Panama City, Fla., Bay

Class 3A Honorable Mention all-state…All-county as a junior and senior…58 tackles with six sacks as a senior…32-0 this year as a wrestler, he finished sixth in the state as a junior…Two-time district champ…Also accomplished in shot put and discus…Won district and regional titles in both events three times…Has 10 varsity letters in football, wrestling and track and field.

Jerrell Young, Defensive Back, 6-2, 205, St. Petersburg, Fla., Gibbs

Ranked 24th best player in Tampa Bay area by St. Petersburg Times…1,500 plus rushing yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior…Rushed for 279 yards on 33 carries in a win over Seminole High…Also had 400-plus yards receiving…First team all-county in St. Petersburg Times as a utility player…Also played defensive back, where he had six interceptions, including two for touchdowns….122 tackles…Had three TDs on kick returns…Gibbs MVP…Defensive MVP in Florida’s North-South All-Star Game…Lettered four years in football, four in track and one in basketball…Ran 100 and 200 meters in track…Coached by Al Davis…Cousin to Peter Warrick.

[ChiTownBull]

will either qb have a chance to play qb at the college level?

sounds like they are athletes and will be moved to a different position...ala gachette.

[smazza]

not a good day

[Unintelligibull]

Smazza, smatterwithyou?

You're like Bush but in reverse. He tells us everything is fine when in reality everything (except Halliburton and the oil companies) is in trouble.

You say everything is in trouble when reality says we are moving forward at a rate better than anyone expected.

[PingBull]

Smazza, smatterwithyou?

You're like Bush but in reverse. He tells us everything is fine when in reality everything (except Halliburton and the oil companies) is in trouble.

You say everything is in trouble when reality says we are moving forward at a rate better than anyone expected.

well said

[LDD]

football team is on very very solid ground.  the only complain I have has been stated by me 1K times.

Football team looks better then it ever has.  Going to be a tough season with LU and WV on the road....but I think we have the marbles to win one of those games.  Plus i like how we have kansas and UNC.  Two good names that I think we can beat.

CJL has um moving in the right direction.  Just need a QB.

Can't wait to watch ricky ponton.  I think he could be better then a. hall when everything is said and done.

for some reason I like the guy a lot.

[USFPDiddy]

football team is on very very solid ground.  the only complain I have has been stated by me 1K times.

Football team looks better then it ever has.  Going to be a tough season with LU and WV on the road....but I think we have the marbles to win one of those games.  Plus i like how we have kansas and UNC.  Two good names that I think we can beat.

CJL has um moving in the right direction.  Just need a QB.

Can't wait to watch ricky ponton.  I think he could be better then a. hall when everything is said and done.

for some reason I like the guy a lot.

Ponton has a long time, and you might be right that he will be better than Hall...he's got more natural ability.  However, he is NOT on hall's level yet by any means, unless carl franks worked a miracle.

[Feld44]

First and foremost, congrats to the guys joining the USF family. They made a great choice in becoming a part of something great. We don't have any huge names or big time recruits but we really never have. As long as these guys put in the amount of effort needed to compete at a high level, we'll be fine.

[BULLfreak]

not a good day

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