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Twenty-Two Players Commit to USF’s Future in the Big East Conference

(February 2, 2005) Although the USF football program has had just nine recruiting classes prior to this year, the bar has been raised each and every year during the Bulls meteoric climb from non-existence to Division I-AA Independent to I-A to Conference USA and now into the Big East.

This year’s class will be USF’s first as a member of the Big East Conference and the 22 players will have a prominent spot in USF football history as the Bulls join the BCS league.

The class includes six of the top 47 prospects in the State of Florida according to the Tampa Tribune and seven of the top 100 in the Orlando Sentinel. Additionally, two of the top eight players in the Tampa Bay area - R.J. Anderson and Danny Tolley - according to the St. Petersburg Times are a part of the 2005 class.

The Tampa Tribune ranks two quarterbacks, Carlton Hill and Matt Grothe, 12th and 21st in the state respectively, while the Orlando Sentinel has Grothe at 23rd and Hill at 53rd. Local defensive back R.J. Anderson - from two-time state champion Armwood - is ranked 30th by the Tampa Tribune and 37th by the Orlando Sentinel.

Combined with eight of the top 68 prospects in Florida (Orlando Sentinel) in 2004, USF appears stocked with a core group of young players to help lead the Bulls into the Big East.

USF has rarely ventured outside the state of Florida for signees, but the Bulls do welcome three out-of-state players this year, including tight end Ben Busbee (Mobile, Ala.), tight end/wide receiver Cedric Hill (Valdosta, Ga.) and defensive back Jerome Murphy (Elizabeth, N.J.).

USF is 55-33 in its eight seasons of existence and the Bulls, who currently play in Conference USA, move into the BIG EAST in 2005. The Bulls open the 2005 season September 3 at Penn State, followed by home games against UCF and Florida A&M. In addition to the Big East schedule, USF travels to Miami October1.

USF season ticket renewal information will be mailed to all current season ticket holders next week. First time buyers will be able to purchase 2005 season tickets in late February and may call 1-800-GoBulls for further information.

2005 USF FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS

NAME                    POS     HT      WT      HOMETOWN                HS/JUCO

R.J. Anderson           DB      5-11    165     Tampa, Fla.             Armwood

Mike Benzer             PK      5-8     185     Longwood, Fla.          Lyman

Ben Busbee              TE      6-4     240     Mobile, Ala.            McGill-Toolen

Jarriett Buie           DE      6-4     240     Tampa, Fla.             Armwood *

Gene Coleman            LB      6-0     245     Lake Wales, Fla.        Lake Wales/Pearl River

Antwone Cox             DB      6-0     170     Miami, Fla.             Killian

Chris DeArmas           OL      6-4     275     Miami, Fla.             Southwest

Ishmeal Grant           WR      6-2     175     Blountstown, Fla.       Blountstown    

Matt Grothe             QB      6-1     190     Lakeland, Fla.          Lake Gibson

Jessie Hester           WR      6-0     170     Belle Glade, Fla.       Glades Central

Carlton Hill            QB      6-3     215     Monticello, Fla.                Jefferson County

Cedric Hill             TE      6-3     210     Valdosta, Ga.           Valdosta **

Amari Jackson           WR      6-5     190     Sarasota, Fla.          Riverview/Hillsborough

Taurus Johnson          WR      6-0     185     Cape Coral, Fla.        Cape Coral

Shane McElwain  OT      6-4     260     Palm Beach, Fla.        Central

Jerome Murphy           DB      6-1     175     Elizabeth, N.J.         Elizabeth

Moise Plancher          RB      5-9     190     Naples, Fla.            Barron Collier

Tyller Roberts          DB      6-0     190     Orlando, Fla.           Edgewater

Chris Robinson          DB      6-3     230     Bunnell, Fla.           Flagler Palm Coast

George Selvie           DE      6-4     225     Pensacola, Fla.         Pine Forest

Danny Tolley            OT      6-6     300     Wesley Chapel, Fla.     Wesley Chapel

Theodric Watson OT      6-4     300     St. Petersburg, Fla.    Lakewood/NW Miss.

*       Signed in 2004; Eligible in 2005

**      Enrolled in January 2005

R.J. ANDERSON

DEFENSIVE BACK

5-11, 165

TAMPA, FLA.

ARMWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

Two-time all-state player in Class 4A and a member of back-to-back state championship teams at Armwood…Ranked as 30th top prospect in Florida by Tampa Tribune and 37th by Orlando Sentinel…First team all-Suncoast in St. Petersburg Times and rated as the ninth best player in the Tampa Bay area…All-Hillsborough County by Tampa Tribune…Eight interceptions, including two for touchdowns of 97 and 27 yards in 2004 senior season…Also had 22 pass breakups…Ouststanding outfielder in baseball, he is said to be one of the best defensive players in the nation…MLP prospect…Born November 1, 1986…Given name is Ronnie Anderson…Coached by Sean Callahan.

MIKE BENZER

PLACEKICKER

5-8, 185

LONGWOOD, FLA.

LYMAN HIGH SCHOOL

Class 5A second team all-state…First team all-conference and all-district…Made 11 of 15 field goals as a senior, including career-long from 55 (school record)…Had six field goals of 50 yards or longer…Had 42 touchbacks on kickoffs…Lyman’s Outstanding Special Teams Player as a junior and senior…Rated number one kicker in Florida by OneonOneKicking.com…Listed among top kickers nationally by Street & Smith…Outstanding student with a 3.5 gpa and a 1220 on his SAT…Also plays soccer.

JARRIETT BUIE

FRESHMAN

DEFENSIVE END

6-4, 240

TAMPA, FL

ARMWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

Signed in February 2004 but gains eligibility in 2005…Ranked 22nd best defensive end by Rivals.com…Ranked as 25th best player in the state by Tampa Tribune and 39th by Orlando Sentinel…Ranked number two overall player in Tampa Bay area by St. Petersburg Times and also a member of that paper’s all-Suncoast team…First team Class 4A all-state for state champion Armwood High…Hilllsborough County Defensive Player of the Year by Tampa Tribune…44 tackles prior to state playoffs, including nine sacks and 14 tackles for loss…Also had two caused fumbles…Had a combined five sacks, seven tackles for loss and 12 quarterback hurries in back-to-back games against Middleton and Plant…Coached by Sean Callahan.

BEN BUSBEE

TIGHT END

6-4, 240

MOBILE, ALA.

McGILL-TOOLEN HIGH SCHOOL

Honorable mention all-state in Class 6A…All-region…29 catches for 503 yards in 2004…Indoor state champ in shot put…Finished sixth in state in outdoor season…Born November 5, 1986… Given name is Ben Lloyd Busbee…Coached by Steve Savage.

GENE COLEMAN

LINEBACKER

6-0, 245

LAKE WALES, FLA.

LAKE WALES HIGH SCHOOL

PEARL RIVER C.C.

Originally signed with USF in February 2003 before enrolling at Pearl River Community College in Pearl River, Miss…Pre-season JUCO All-American in 2004 sophomore season…Went on to win MVP of the Junior College National Championship Game when he had two interceptions to help Pearl River to the 35-14 win…Helped Pearl River to state championship in a 24-13 win over Hinds…Class 3A first team all-state at Lake Wales High School…Ranked 39th in the state by Orlando Sentinel…Had 183 tackles with two interceptions, including one for a touchdown as a senior…Named to Lakeland Ledger all-area team and won MVP in South Central All-Star Game…Class 3A all-state second team as a junior when he had 175 tackles, 20 for run losses, six sacks and two interceptions…Also ran for 900 yards and 22 touchdowns…Coached by former USF quarterback Chad Barnhardt…Also wrestled for two years, and played one season of baseball.

ANTWANE COX

DEFENSIVE BACK

6-0, 170

MIAMI, FLA.

KILLIAN HIGH SCHOOL

Second team all-Dade County for Class 4A-6A (Miami Herald)…Played in Dade-Broward All-Star Game…Helped team to Class 6A state title in 2004…Born February 11, 1986…Given name is Antwane Lamar Cox…Also ran track.

CHRIS DeARMAS

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN

6-4, 275

MIAMI, FLA.

SOUTHWEST HIGH SCOOL

Played for Team Florida in the CaliFlorida Bowl this year…Also named to Nike South Florida All-Star Game…Three-star prospect by Rivals.com, ranked as the 19th best offensive guard in the nation and the 49th ranked prospect in Florida, regardless of position…Ranked as 33rd best prospect in Florida by Orlando Sentinel and 44th by Tampa Tribune…Class 6A third team all-state in senior season…Two-time all-Dade County selection…Played in 2004 Dade-Broward All-Star Game.

ISHMEAL GRANT

WIDE RECEIVER

6-2, 175

BLOUNTSTOWN, FLA.

BLOUNTSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL

Class A first team all-state…25 catches for 674 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior…Also had 10 punt returns for 168 yards, 12 kick returns for 474 yards and four interception returns for 56 yards…Six kick returns went for touchdowns and three punt returns resulted in touchdowns…Also had 63 tackles as a cornerback…16 touchdowns on returns in his final two seasons…Team reached state championship game…Third team all-state as a junior when he once had three kick returns for touchdowns in one game…Also plays basketball and runs track…Coached by Bobby Johns…Born April 24, 1986.

MATT GROTHE

QUARTERBACK

6-1, 190

LAKELAND, FLA.

LAKE GIBSON, FLA.

Class 4A Player of the Year and a finalist for Florida’s Mr. Football…First team Class 4A all-state as a junior and senior…Led team to state title game against Armwood High…Lakeland Ledger Player of the Year as a junior and senior…Ranked 21st best prospect in Florida by Tampa Tribune and 23rd by Orlando Sentinel…Ranked 24th dual-threat quarterback in the nation by Rivals.com…93rd overall prospect in Florida according to Rivals…Threw for 2700 yards and ran for 1,250 as a senior…33 passing touchdowns and 15 rushing touchdowns…Passed for 2,004 yards as a junior, along with 1,100 rushing yards…25 passing touchdowns as a junior and 14 more on the ground….Born September 8, 1986…Coached by Demyer.

CEDRIC HILL

TIGHT END/WIDE RECEIVER

6-3, 210

VALDOSTA, GA.

VALDOSTA HIGH SCHOOL

Originally signed with Miami in February 2004 but did not enroll…Enrolled at USF in January 2005 and will participate in spring practice…24 catches for 574 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior in high school, leading the team in all three categories…Caught TD passes of 74 and 61 yards in the state semi-finals game against Westside High School…Played receiver, tight end and defensive end…Runs 4.48 40-yard dash.

JESSIE HESTER, JR.

WIDE RECEIVER

6-0, 270

BELLE GLADE, FLA.

GLADES CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

Tampa Tribune ranks him 38th top prospect in Florida…Ranked as the 57th best receiver in the nation by Rivals.com, who rankes him 76th best player in Florida, regardless of position…Ranked as 97th top prospect in Florida by Orlando Sentinel…Played senior year at Glades Central after two years at Wellington High…First team all-county and all-conference…Ran sprints for track team…Born November 1, 1986…Son of former Florida State (1981-84) great Jessie Hester, who played for the Raiders, Falcons, Colts and Rams, as well as the Tampa Bay Bandits (USFL) between 1984-95…He led the Seminoles in receiving in 1983 and 1984 when he had a combined 73 receptions and 15 touchdowns.

CARLTON HILL

QUARTERBACK

6-3, 215

MONTICELLO, FLA.

JEFFERSON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

Class A first team all-state…Four-star ranking by Rivals.com…Also rated as 20th best “athlete in the nation” and 25th player at any position in Florida…Ranked as the 12th best prospect in Florida by the Tampa Tribune and 14th by St. Petersburg Times… Ranked 53rd  in Florida by Orlando Sentinel…Threw for 1,765 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2004…Also ran for 888 yards and 12 touchdowns…Born May 9, 1985…Coached by Jeff Schaum.

AMARRI JACKSON

WIDE RECEIVER

6-5, 190

SARASOTA, FLA.

SARASOTA RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL

A high school football star, he has played basketball the past two seasons at Hillsborough Community College…Lettered four times in football, three in basketball and four in track at Riverview…All-district, all-area and all-conference in football as a junior and senior…Two-time all-state in basketball…Born May 18, 1985…Given name is Amarri Nathaniel Jackson….Coached at Riverview by John Sprague.

TAURUS JOHNSON

WIDE RECEIVER

6-1, 185

CAPE CORAL, FLA.

CAPE CORAL HIGH SCHOOL

Ranked as the 35th best receiver prospect in the nation by Rivals.com…Also ranked as 45th best prospect in Florida, regardless of position…Ranked 47th top prospect in Florida by Tampa Tribune…Ft. Myers News-Press all-South Florida…All-conference and all-district…Had 24 catches for 258 yards and 10 carries from the receiver position for 96 yards…203 kick return yards, highlighted by a school-record 99-yard TD vs. Barron Collier…Had 58 tackles with three sacks and one interception that went for a TD…Also had four fumble recoveries…As a junior, he had 10 touchdowns…40 receptions for 831 yards, 21 carries for 216 yards and 412 kick return yards…Had 1,459 all-purpose yards…Set school records for yards receiving in a single game (178), long kick return (99), most receptions in a season (40), most receiving yards in a season (831), most career receptions (71) and most career receiving yards (1,128)…Born April 13, 1986…Coached by Nick Gasparato.

SHANE McELWAIN

TIGHT END

6-5, 255

PALM BEACH, FLA.

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

First team all-conference and all-county…Outstanding hockey player, he played at Monarch High School in Colorado…Nominated for Pathfinder Award for most exceptional student at Central High… Didn't take up football until senior year and played junior league hockey in Saskatchewan for two seasons with the Notre Dame Hounds, a program that boasts Tampa Bay Lightning stars Brad Richards and Vinny Lecavalier as alumni… Before then he trained as a freshman at the prestigious IMG Academy in Bradenton, where he played a little tennis with a classmate named Maria Sharapova…Born October 1, 1986…Coached by John Timmons.

JEROME MURPHY

DEFENSIVE BACK

6-1, 175

ELIZABETH, N.J.

ELIZABETH HIGH SCHOOL

Second team all-state…All-county…89 tackles and eight interceptions as a senior…580 receiving yards with seven touchdowns…Also had one defensive touchdown…Also played basketball and ran track…Born January 13, 1987…Coached by Geoffrey Weiner.

MOISE PLANCHER

RUNNING BACK

5-9, 190

NAPLES, FLA.

BARRON COLLIER HIGH SCHOOL

Class 5A honorable mention all-state…Finished second in Southwest Florida with 1,661 rushing yards on 193 carries…Scored 16 rushing touchdowns…Had 362 yards on 27 carries with one touchdown in 35-0 win over Gulf Coast…362 yards was school and county record…211-yard game on 17 carries with three touchdowns in 48-7 win over Golden Gate…Ran for four TDs and 173 yards in 56-o victory against Palmetto Ridge…Had 23 carries for 159 yards and two touchdowns in win over Cape Coral…1,454 yards as a junior when he was third team all-state…Also ran track…Born January 9, 1987.

TYLLER ROBERTS

DEFENSIVE BACK

6-1, 190

ORLANDO, FLA.

EDGEWATER HIGH SCHOOL

Class 6A first team all-state…Ranked as 91st best prospect in Florida by Orlando Sentinel…Three-star prospect on Rivals.com and ranked as the 51st best corner prospect in the nation and 72nd ranked player at any position in Florida.

CHRIS ROBINSON

DEFENSIVE BACK

6-3, 230

BUNNELL, FLA.

FLAGLER PALM COAST HIGH SCHOOL

Had 57 tackles and three interceptions as a senior…15 catches for 350 yards as a tight end…Had nine touchdowns as a senior with two interceptions, three rushing and four receiving…Also played basketball and baseball… Born January 26, 1987.

GEORGE SELVIE

DEFENSIVE END

6-4, 240

PENSACOLA, FLA.

PINE FOREST HIGH SCHOOL

Class 3A second team all-state…55 tackles with six sacks…Super Senior in Pensacola News Journal…Emerald Coast all-star…Born March 6, 1987…Coached by Jerry Pollaro.

DANNY TOLLEY

OFFENSIVE TACKLE

6-6, 300

WESLEY CHAPEL, FLA.

WESLEY CHAPEL HIGH SCHOOL

Class 3A first team all-state…Ranked as 79th best prospect in Florida by Orlando Sentinel…First-team all-Pasco County in Tampa Tribune…Second team All-Suncoast in St. Petersburg Times, who also ranked him as the eight best prospect in the Tampa Bay area…First team all-county and second team All-Suncoast as a junior…Started every game as a sophomore, junior and senior…Made three state playoff appearances…Born January 31, 1987…Given name is Daniel David Tolley.

THEODRIC WATSON

OFFENSIVE TACKLE

6-4, 300

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.

LAKEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Second team NJCAA All-American at Northwest Mississippi…First team all-state and all-region…Second team all-state as a freshman…An all-state performer in basketball at Lakewood High…All-Suncoast, all-county and all-district in football and basketball…Played only season of football in high school…Cousin to USF running back Andre Hall…Born July 13, 1985.

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