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Despite New Guidelines, Bulls Build On Success

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By BRETT McMURPHY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 7, 2008

TAMPA - Toward the end of University of South Florida coach Jim Leavitt's National Signing Day news conference Wednesday, he remarked on all the factors contributing to this year's recruiting class, which ranked anywhere from third to sixth in the Big East.

Leavitt also said that because of last year's 9-4 season, including reaching No. 2 in the polls, things will be different in the future on Fowler Avenue.

"The University of South Florida will never be the same after this year," Leavitt said. "It's going to get looked at a lot differently than before."

While Leavitt was referring to USF's on-field success, including upsets of nationally ranked Auburn and West Virginia, the school also will be seen differently by recruits and their parents. That's because this year, USF implemented an academic committee that must approve a recruit's academic standing before he can sign, to ensure the future Bulls are just as strong in the classroom as on the field.

Leavitt declined to comment on the new committee until next week, but CSTV national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said this put the Bulls in pretty lofty academic company.

"Stanford has had to do it for years," Lemming said.

Even with the new academic guidelines, Lemming still ranked USF's 21-player class third-best in the Big East. USF's class was ranked fourth in the conference by Scout.com and sixth by Rivals.com.

"We got some guys that don't have maybe a million stars by their name, but I think that can play and can help us win a bunch of games," Leavitt said. "We got some other guys that have a few more stars by their names, they might be real good, they might ... you don't know."

Perhaps the biggest star was Tallahassee Lincoln quarterback B.J. Daniels, who chose the Bulls over Memphis. Daniels also has been promised he can play basketball at USF and is only the second football recruit - along with Hawthorne's Cornelius Ingram, who signed with Florida in 2004 - that Leavitt has offered the opportunity to play both sports.

"B.J. Daniels is a top guy we've been after from the beginning," Leavitt said. "He's a No. 2 guard - does that sound right? - I don't know anything about basketball, but he dribbles well, shoots well. I figure USF basketball coach Stan Heath can figure that out, but I do know one thing, he plays quarterback and we're excited about it."

Daniels, ranked the state's 29th-best recruit by the Orlando Sentinel, threw for 2,500 yards, rushed for 972 and accounted for 46 TDs.

"He was the No. 1 quarterback we went after," Leavitt said. "He fits our style of offense. He does what we do. It makes sense."

Other highly rated recruits USF signed included Independence (Kan.) C.C. defensive end David Bedford, Buford (Ga.) running back Demetris Murray and Miami Northwestern linebacker Quavon Taylor.

"We've never been with some of the top players in America down to their final two choices, so to me, we're definitely making some inroads," Leavitt said. "We're not there yet, but we're getting close, we're really getting close. We're making it more interesting."

USF picked up a couple of surprises in landing Miami Archbishop Carroll cornerback George Baker, who had verbally committed to Auburn; and Belle Glade Glades Central two-way lineman Jatavious Jackson, who signed with Florida State last year but never enrolled.

USF also was among the finalists for Hialeah American defensive lineman Cory Liuget and Miami Northwestern receiver Tommy Streeter, but they signed with Illinois and Miami, respectively.

Among the Bulls' signings were six Tampa Bay area recruits, including Plant City offensive lineman Mark Popek and Wharton tight end Andreas Shields.

"You really don't know how good a recruiting class is until maybe a year, or two years, from now," Leavitt said. "But we got a number of guys that I think are outstanding players and have a chance to help us.

"It shows that we're at least building a pretty good foundation. We're building a program that's being respected. We're showing we can compete with a lot of people."

Pearl River (Miss.) C.C. coach Tim Hatten said Wednesday receiver Theo Wilson would sign with the Bulls, but USF did not announce his signing.

USF SIGNINGS

x-enrolled in January

y-verbally committed, USF has not announced signing

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

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