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Weatherford Drawing Interest Despite Injury

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By EDDIE DANIELS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 14, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - According to the calendar, only six months have passed since Land O' Lakes' John Weatherford was performing a running drill when he was pulled down from behind, tearing ligaments in his left knee.

Mentally and physically, the injury seems further in the past.
Weatherford is back to normal workouts after having his torn anterior cruciate ligament and partially torn medial collateral and posterior collateral ligaments repaired. He played basketball - though in a limited role - this season and now is contemplating his college future.

"I went up to New Hampshire Feb. 9 and I took my official visit. West Georgia offered me a scholarship," Weatherford said. "A coach from Florida came down and saw me and they're looking for me to do a preferred walk-on and the coach from UCF talked to my brother Joe Weatherford and they want me to do a preferred walk-on, too.

"And I'm still sending out my film ... I'm just going to see what's going on."

The Land O' Lakes coaching staff has field calls from several other schools, including Georgia Southern.

The interest in the linebacker/running back means his junior season wasn't so bad. The fact Weatherford led the Gators in tackles in 2006 with 102 stops and led the team in rushing as one of four running backs with 30-plus carries helped.

"I'm definitely pleased, but it's still disappointing just because if I wouldn't have gotten hurt, I would have gotten offers from some bigger schools and I wouldn't have to be worried about where I'm going to school," he said. "I kind of had a few schools in mind and those schools never ended up offering me after my knee, but it's still very pleasing to see schools are interested and my junior year film I guess is good enough to let coaches know I can play."

After 3 1/2 months of physical therapy, he began to ratchet up his workout plans until he started normal workouts. After four months, basketball practice and games were his reintroduction to competition.

"I hadn't been active, so I wanted to be a part of the team and go out and help the team and do what I could as a leader," said Weatherford who's team will travel to Brandon to take on the Eagles in the boys basketball Class 5A-Region 3 quarterfinals tonight. "There's only so much you can do when you're not playing. If you're not laying and you're on the sidelines, like with football this year, there's only so much you can do. In basketball, I can play a little bit and I can help the team out. It's nice that I can contribute."

Now he hopes to contribute on the next level.

DEBOER TO SIGN WITH MONTREAT: Wesley Chapel senior guard/forward Caitlin Deboer has committed to play basketball for Montreat College in North Carolina.

Deboer, 5-foot-8, came to Wesley Chapel for her senior season from Cambridge Christian in Tampa. With the Wildcats, she averaged nine points per game in an offense that spread the ball around to all of her teammates. She also had 5.6 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game her senior season.

Cristina Ledra

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