Manatee HS rb Mike Blakely

[SRQ]

anyone (Mama?) know if he has an interest in USF?  saw this from Alan Dell in Bradenton Herald recently:

Phil Steele rates USF’s running back corps the worst in the Big East.

It’s one reason Manatee High standout Mike Blakely might want to keep the Bulls high on his list.

The competition at running back in college is fierce (look at Florida) and he could get early playing time at USF. It sure doesn’t hurt that new Bulls head man Skip Holtz coached Chris Johnson, who might be the best back in the NFL right now.

Charlotte High’s Mike Bellamy, rated one of the top three running backs in the state with Blakely and James Wilder from Tampa Plant, recently verbally committed to Clemson. Wilder’s top five choices does not include USF, another reason for Blakely to keep that option open

[nobull.Bulls]

I'm pretty sure that after that drama went down with Carnes last signing period, no player from Manatee is heading our way.

[SRQ]

there are some pretty influential people in Manatee county working to repair the damage

[Carolina_Bull]

Ahhh yes.  I already forgot how USF needs to repair its image for not being willing to stand by and get left at the altar on LOI day if Carnes pulled the switcheroo to Nebraska.  FWIW, Carnes did in fact pull the switcheroo (on WKU) on LOI day and, yes, bolted to Nebraska.

The HC at Manatee is a hack when he moaned to the press (I don't care about his record or his length of tenure).  If he is blocking his kids from getting a free education at USF he is simply not an educator and he should be fired. . . . but then again this whole thing was overblown.

Bet someone a gentlemen's bet that Carnes ends up at North Texas within two years to play for Canales' offense.

[South_Florida_Flip]

I'm pretty sure that after that drama went down with Carnes last signing period, no player from Manatee is heading our way.

That drama was mostly the fault of Manatee in the first place.

[Mama_Bull]

Scout currently has USF rated "low" as one of his favorites.

http://southflorida.scout.com/a.z?s=359&p=8&c=1&nid=4287286

Spencer Boyd is trying to work his magic on him. LOL

Spencer and Mike Bellamy are now friends of facebook

[2000bull]

seems like boyd is trying to be a pretty good recruiter for us. 

[Mama_Bull]

seems like boyd is trying to be a pretty good recruiter for us. 

Yep.

However, I put it in the wrong "Mike" thread. He seems to be going after 5-star RB Mike Bellamy who recently gave a verbal to Clemson.

http://southflorida.scout.com/a.z?s=359&p=8&c=1&nid=4040158

[2000bull]

seems like boyd is trying to be a pretty good recruiter for us. 

Yep.

However, I put it in the wrong "Mike" thread. He seems to be going after 5-star RB Mike Bellamy who recently gave a verbal to Clemson.

http://southflorida.scout.com/a.z?s=359&p=8&c=1&nid=4040158

I think I posted something a couple days ago confusing the two as well 

but that makes more sense. 

[Mama_Bull]

Alan Dell has some good advice for Blakely:

Tampa Plant running back James Wilder Jr. is supposed to announce his college choice Wednesday, which should make things clearer for Manatee High’s Mike Blakely.

Blakely recently put Florida at the top of his list, but it came with an asterisk saying he wanted a school that was going to give him a lot of carries.

The Gators running back corps already looks like Grand Central Station at rush hour, and with Wilder reportedly leaning toward Gainesville, Blakely might want to look in another direction.

Ironically, the best place for the 5-11, 190-pound back could be right in his own backyard at USF.

Granted, the Bulls don’t have the glamour of a Florida or Florida State, but this team is clamoring for a high-caliber running back. With the recent losses of Mike Ford and Jamar Taylor, everyone else remaining falls into the “serviceable†category, and there is nothing to speak of on the horizon.

New USF head coach Skip Holtz coached Chris Johnson at non-BCS East Carolina, and he went over 2,000 yards rushing for the Tennessee Titans last year to lead the NFL in only his second year in the league.

Listed at 5-11 and 191 pounds, Johnson is one pound off from being the exact same size as Blakely, which adds to the intrigue.

Read more: http://www.bradenton.com/2010/08/15/2506370/qb-leaves-bradenton-prep-for-charlotte.html#ixzz0wgHBIbz2