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Ex-Armwood Star Wants To Attend USF

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By Scott Carter and Nick Williams, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 4, 2008

TAMPA - FB Kalvin Bailey, who was rated the nation's top high school fullback and won the Guy Toph Award as a senior at Armwood in 2004, said he wants to attend the University of South Florida next fall.

After Armwood, Bailey (6-0, 245 pounds) signed with Iowa, but he said he left the school because of academic reasons. He played the past two seasons at North Iowa Area Community College (2006) and College of the Siskiyous in Weed, Calif., (2007) and is currently attending Hillsborough Community College.

"USF is definitely my top choice, it's the perfect situation," Bailey said. "It would be nice being back home and being back close to my family."

At College of the Siskivous last fall, Bailey rushed for 363 yards, averaging 5.9 yards a carry, with four TDs. At North Iowa, he rushed for 247 yards, averaging 4.0 yards a carry.

Bailey said USF coach Jim Leavitt has expressed an interest if Bailey obtains his AA degree from HCC in May.

Despite having three freshmen among USF's top four returning backs last year, Bailey said USF is still his No. 1 choice. Bailey would have two years eligibility remaining for the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

"I believe competition brings out the best in everybody," Bailey said.

Brett McMurphy

Commitment Puts Gators Near Top Of Class

The addition of DE/LB William Green to the Gators' list of verbal commitments this past Wednesday nudged Florida back to the top of Rivals.com's recruiting class rankings a week before National Signing Day.

Green, out of Hoover (Ala.) Spain High, is a Rivals four-star prospect and ranked 83rd in the Rivals100. Although he was considered the seventh-best outside linebacker in the country, he was recruited by the Gators primarily to play defensive end.

Green became the 13th four-star prospect out of 22 commitments, along with four five-star players - Armwood OL/DL Matt Patchan; Buford, Ga., DT Omar Hunter; Jersey City, N.J., athlete Will Hill; and junior college WR Carl Moore (who already has signed).

Signing day is Wednesday, and the Gators - whose group of commitments also is ranked No. 1 by Scouts Inc. and ESPN's Tom Luginbill - are virtually assured a third consecutive top three recruiting class. Rivals.com ranked Florida No. 1 last year and No. 2 in 2006.

ONE TO GO: Lakeland Kathleen WR T.J. Lawrence will announce his choice of schools Wednesday on ESPN. Lawrence lists Florida, Michigan, South Carolina and Virginia Tech as his four finalists, with no clear favorite among them.

UNDECIDED? Melbourne Palm Bay DB Ramon Buchanan and Lakeland Lake Gibson OL Ricky Barnum, who both verbally committed to Florida in January, reportedly took official visits over the weekend to Miami and Michigan, respectively.

LONG SHOTS: Jeannette (Pa.) High QB Terrelle Pryor, Rivals.com's No. 1-ranked prospect, still lists Florida among his possible schools. He also lists six other schools, with Michigan and Ohio State believe to be the favorites.

Foley (Ala.) High WR Julio Jones also lists Florida, along with five other schools. Alabama and Oklahoma are believed to be the favorites. Jones is ranked No. 4 in the Rivals100.

Carter Gaddis

Seminoles Still Hoping To Land WR Jones

TALLAHASSEE - Florida State remained hopeful that WR Julio Jones, considered one of the nation's top five recruits by most of the major recruiting services, might still commit to FSU.

Jones, who doesn't plan to make his announcement until Wednesday, reportedly still is considering FSU, Alabama and Oklahoma.

Tallahassee Lincoln DB T.J. Bryant, Madison County DB Travis Arnold, Pensacola DT Anthony Hill and Panama City Bay DT Kyrhi Thornton joined Jones on campus over the weekend. Hill and Arnold already have committed to FSU, although Arnold is expected to enroll at Butler (Kan.) Community College for academic reasons.

Bryant remains one of the highest priorities on FSU's recruiting board. FSU coach Bobby Bowden visited Bryant's Tallahassee home on Friday. Bryant is also considering Miami and Alabama.

STILL IN RUNNING: Hialeah DT Corey Liuget committed to Illinois last fall, but FSU, Miami and LSU continue to put pressure on Liuget to change his commitment. Bowden made a visit to Luiget on Thursday.

FORTSON UPDATE: WR Jarmon Fortson of Columbus, Ga., is reportedly still committed to Auburn. However, Fortson told Rivals.com that FSU is the other school he is considering.

LIKED TRIP: Middleton RB Carlton Jones, who already had committed to Toledo, said he enjoyed his official visit to FSU but will wait until signing day to announce his decision.

Jones picked up an offer from the Seminoles last week.

Jones wouldn't reveal what school was his top choice, but said there will be two hats in front of him Wednesday inside Middleton's media center.

"It's going to be a surprise," he said.

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