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Senior Season Is Last Hope

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By NICK WILLIAMS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 29, 2008

Updated: 01/29/2008 01:27 am

TAMPA - Not every football player in Hillsborough County is given the luxury of entering his final high school season on the radar of a college program.

While some players catch the attention of college scouts during summer camps and combines, others have one chance - their senior season - to prove themselves worthy of playing on a college team.

After watching his star receiver, Derek Winter, set the Hillsborough County single-season record for catches during the program's Class 4A state championship run in 2006, Plant coach Robert Weiner might have expected to see Winter sifting through a handful of offers from various colleges. Instead, recruiting was stagnant despite Winter being perhaps one of the best receivers in county history.

"Recruiting is a faster process," Weiner said. "Sometimes senior film is not important, so if you can set your name up before the season, then your senior year doesn't have to be that way. It's the expedite process of recruiting."

Fortunately, after another stellar season in which the senior led the county in receptions (75) and yards (1,668) with 18 touchdowns, Winter is a hot prospect. The 69th Guy Toph Award recipient has received interest from Georgia Tech, Army, Auburn, Florida and Iowa.

"With Derek, you have to see him over a course of a little bit of time," Weiner said. "You get to appreciate his excellence a little bit. On film, he looks great."

"He's the best receiver I've seen in all my years of coaching," Hillsborough coach Earl Garcia said. "He also played every down at cornerback. You just don't see that."

Another Plant receiver, Cornelius Gallon, was one of the most impressive players in the county before injuring his ACL during a regular-season game at Chamberlain. Against Hillsborough alone, he returned a kick for a touchdown, intercepted two passes and caught four more for 74 yards and a touchdown.

"We gave him a scholarship that game," Garcia said.

Gallon finished the season with 714 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns through eight games. Temple has shown interest.

"His stock rose through the season," Weiner said. "He has so many highlights on film, but the injury derailed that attention."

Brandon senior Samir Baker didn't have any college attention before the season, but he rushed for 1,403 yards and 13 touchdowns and, as a defensive back/linebacker, recorded 49 tackles, 6.5 sacks and three interceptions. Baker, who helped the Eagles capture the Class 5A-District 7 title, was named to The Tampa Tribune's All-Hillsborough County defensive first-team. He has since received interest from Georgia Southern, Southern Illinois, Valdosta State and Florida A&M.

"He came from nowhere," Garcia said.

King punter Daniel Zychlinski didn't receive much attention until Toledo scouts watched him practice in preparation for the county senior all-star game in December. It was his performance at a kicking showcase in Las Vegas two weeks ago that led to interest from Stanford, Colorado State, UNLV, Missouri, Rice and New Mexico. Zychlinski ended his senior season with a 40.5 punt average.

"That's when all these schools came after me," Zychlinski said.

Taylor Cabral was the star running back for Class 1B Cambridge last season. After starting at running back in just three games in 2006, he led the county in rushing with 1,568 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior. Iona, Campbell and Quincy have shown interest in the 6-foot-1, 185-pound back.

"He wasn't on anybody's radar last year," Cambridge coach Rick Shears said. "Fifteen hundred yards or so catches some attention. If you play at a small school and you have a mediocre season, you don't have a chance of getting looked at."

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 865-4848 or nwilliams@tampatrib.com.

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