Bulls Sign Versatile Star Borders

[Mama_Bull]

Bulls Sign Versatile Star Borders

By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

TAMPA - The Bulls have added a lot of versatility and a dangerous bat to their roster for next baseball season.

The Bulls have signed Winter Haven High School star Levi Borders, son of longtime major leaguer Pat Borders, and head coach Lelo Prado plans to use him all over the field.

"We're probably going to catch him and play him also at third and first," Prado said Wednesday. "He's an athlete. In one game I've seen him catch, play third and shortstop, so he's the kind of kid we can put anywhere."

USF fans will discover that Borders has the ability to pack a punch at the plate as well. He batted .373 with five home runs, five doubles and 18 RBIs this past regular season after hitting .435 with six homers and 29 RBIs two years ago.

"He's a huge addition to our program," Prado said. "He's a guy that really swings the bat and I think he's going to be a guy that will be able to put up some great offensive numbers here."

Borders was able to follow in his father's footsteps this season when he moved from his natural shortstop position over to catcher for the Blue Devils. Pat Borders, who caught for 17 seasons in the big leagues, was a two-time World Series champion with the Toronto Blue Jays and was named a World Series MVP in 1992.

"His dad knows the game of baseball. He knows we're doing the right things with our young men and we're going to push him to be even better," Prado said.

USF football fans also may get to find out how good Borders can be wearing pads. The 6-foot-3 quarterback threw for 1,809 yards and 19 touchdowns this past football season for a Blue Devils team that went 10-0 in the regular season and made it to the regional quarterfinals in Class 6A.

"He's going to give it a try in the fall when he gets here. Skip Holtz is going to give him a tryout," Prado said. "If it works out that he plays both, he plays both."

Prado said Borders has been verbally committed to becoming a Bull since last summer and is pleased USF has stayed in the two-sport star's plans during a time when some young athletes change their minds on a weekly basis.

"I took his word and he's a man of his word," Prado said. "He committed and he didn't change his mind... I think it's a win-win for him."

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[Mama_Bull]

Another story about his signing with USF

WINTER HAVEN CATCHER CONSIDERS PLAYING TWO SPORTS

Borders signs with USF Borders signs with USF

http://www.newschief.com/article/20120424/NEWS/204245010

[Rizman]

Wow

[Ghost]

impressive. Hopefully we can carry this momentum forward.

[Apis Bull]

Another story about his signing with USF

WINTER HAVEN CATCHER CONSIDERS PLAYING TWO SPORTS

Borders signs with USF Borders signs with USF

http://www.newschief.../NEWS/204245010

If he plays football he would have to take a football scholarship. He can't have a baseball scholarship and play foorball.

[usfvictor]

Another story about his signing with USF

WINTER HAVEN CATCHER CONSIDERS PLAYING TWO SPORTS

Borders signs with USF Borders signs with USF

http://www.newschief.../NEWS/204245010

If he plays football he would have to take a football scholarship. He can't have a baseball scholarship and play foorball.

He would be a walk on for football, wouldnt need a football scholly

[&rew Bull]

Looks like there was no interest in him from a football point of view. I can't find any recruiting pages on him.

[Greg Auman]

Victor, you can't be a walk-on in football and take a scholarship in another sport. Otherwise, football could bring in 20 more kids on "track" scholarships for unfair advantage. They call it the Bear Bryant rule. He'll know that going in -- if he makes the football team, just has to surrender his baseball scholarship -- those are usually partial in nature to begin with.

[Apis Bull]

Victor, you can't be a walk-on in football and take a scholarship in another sport. Otherwise, football could bring in 20 more kids on "track" scholarships for unfair advantage. They call it the Bear Bryant rule. He'll know that going in -- if he makes the football team, just has to surrender his baseball scholarship -- those are usually partial in nature to begin with.

Thanks Greg.

[JoeB]

Sounds good. Hopefully he doesn't get picked too high in the MLB draft. Most of our primo recruits have gone that route the last few years.