Bulls Feel They Have Edge

[Ricky the Bull]

This doesn't include the 3 commitments reported later

Bulls Feel They Have Edge

By BRETT McMURPHY The Tampa Tribune

Published: Feb 4, 2007

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TAMPA - University of South Florida recruiting coordinator Carl Franks has only been at USF three seasons, but he already has noticed significant changes.

"Recruiting has changed drastically in the last three years," Franks said. "We've been in Conference USA, going to the Big East and finally being in the Big East.

"My job is to go out and find better players every year. That's not the easiest thing to do, but that's your goal. We've been able to accomplish that goal more in the past three years."

There are many reasons USF has been able to recruit better, Franks said. The Bulls have been to consecutive bowl games, including their first bowl victory against East Carolina in the Papajohns.com Bowl in December.

"Bowl games legitimize your program and status in the state," Franks said. "Our program is only 10 years old and going to back-to-back bowl games, we're setting a trend. People see that, recruits see that. They've seen us upset major teams on TV the past two years."

Competing in the Big East, where the champion gets an automatic berth to a BCS bowl game, also is a big benefit.

"Being in the Big East, everyone knows how critical that is," Franks said. "We've seen one [non-BCS] team, Boise State in the past two years go to a BCS bowl game. To go to those games mean you have a chance to play for the national title. The argument people make in recruiting is you want to go to a school where you can go and play for a national title.

"Look how the Big East did this year. They know the Big East is a major player in college football. The Big East won every bowl game. Other conferences and schools will make an argument, but you can't dispute the cold hard facts the Big East won every bowl game and we had [three] teams in the top 12. Recruits recognize that."

USF's 9-4 record last season and top-40 ranking by the BCS computers gave the Bulls a legitimate claim as the state's second-best program behind national champion Florida.

"It's easy to make the argument we were the second-best program in the state," Franks said. "That's a strong statement to the family and the recruits. We want people that want to come here and be a part of making history.

"We want to understand our history, but still you're coming to USF to make history."

USF already has 22 commitments, including early enrollees and transfers. After canceling the past two recruiting weekends because of the death of freshman Keeley Dorsey, the Bulls hosted 16 recruits this weekend, a large number were players who had already committed.

Last year nine recruits did not qualify academically, although three enrolled last month.

Franks said the Bulls also likely will have some recruits this year that don't qualify.

"There will be a few guys that won't make it," Franks said. "But we're supporting high school football in the state. If they can't make it, we want to make sure they're in position to come to South Florida [at a later time], attend prep schools, junior colleges or wait a semester.

"We recognize some kids won't make it. We try to be very careful to sign recruits that are good character young men and will graduate from the University of South Florida. Grades and test scores don't always predict the ability for a young man to be successful in college. There are a lot of other factors."

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SOUTH FLORIDA COMMITMENTS

Player                   Pos. Ht./Wt.           High School/college

Josh Bellamy         RB  6-0/181           Boca Ciega

Dontavia Bogan     WR 6-1/187           Thomasville (Ga.) Thomas County

Tyson Butler          RB  5-11/170         Fort Myers Cypress Lake

Kyle Dampier        DT  6-4/265           Merritt Island

Claude Davis         DE  6-4/228           Lakeland Lake Gibson

*David Fonua        DE  6-2/255            Bradenton Southeast

*Mike Ford             RB  6-2/2 10          Sarasota/Hargrave (Va.) Military  

Sampson Genus     OL  6-1/305           Lake City Columbia

Carlton Hill            WR 6-2/215            Monticello Jeff. Co./USF/Pearl River (Miss) C.C.

Richard Kelly         RB  6-1/240            South Sumter

*Kevin McCaskill    OL  6-2/290           Tallahassee Godby

Terrell McClain       DT  6-2/264           Pensacola

Lawrence McCoy    OT 6-5/265            Valdosta, Ga.

*Tyrone McKenzie  LB  6-2/230           Riverview/Iowa State

Darren Powe         DE  6-2/230           Mayo Lafayette

Patrick Richardson WR 6-1/165           Pensacola Woodham

Charlton Sinclair    DB 6-0/190           Jacksonville Mandarin

Donte Spires         LB  6-3/240           Plant/P. River (Miss.) C.C.

Calvin Sutton         LB 5-10/208          DeLand

Alton Voss             QB 6-2/213           Gulf

*Jeremiah Warren  OL 6-3/290           Panama City Bay  

Quenton Washington DB 5-10/164      North Fort Myers

*Enrolled at USF in January

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928 or bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com.

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