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Wake-Up Call: Huggins follows in Clifton Smith's footsteps

At Hofstra, Huggins was the school’s sixth all-time leading rusher (career 2,178 yards, 5.1 per carry) and Most Valuable Player as a senior.

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 6, 2009

The Wake-Up Call greets you each weekday with news, views and a few Tampa Bay area sports offerings to anticipate for the day and night. We encourage suggestions and contributions.

Good morning!

Every day, he does a few more things that make you notice. Every day, he becomes less of an underdog.

Make no mistake. At training camp, the odds remain against Bucs running back Kareem Huggins, a 5-foot-9, 198-pound undrafted rookie who got a few looks in 2008, but was out of football for nearly one year.

Already, though, he has the full attention of Coach Raheem Morris.

"He works harder than almost anybody I know,'' Morris said. "He's so quiet, you won't even know he's around until you get there. Those are the kind of guys I want around.''

Sounds like some real affection for an otherwise obscure player.

Well, it's part-affection, part-connection.

Huggins is from Irvington, N.J. – just like Morris.

He played on the Golden Knights' Pop Warner team – just like Morris.

He attended Hofstra University – just like Morris.

"It's not just an ironic coincidence that Kareem is here,'' Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said. "Coach Morris knew about him. We watched the tape together and said, 'Hey, let's bring him in.'
"At the same time, he's not here because he knows Coach Morris. He's here because of what he has put on tape and what he is doing at practice.''

And if Huggins earns an extended stay – most likely on the practice squad – it will be swayed by his versatility, work ethic and speed (he has run a 4.28 in the 40-yard dash).

He was productive at Hofstra, becoming the school's sixth all-time leading rusher (career 2,178 yards, 5.1 per carry) and Most Valuable Player as a senior.

But what Hofstra coach Dave Cohen remembers most is Huggins' tireless practice routines. He took all his carries to the end zone – full-speed. If the offense worked from its 20-yard line, Huggins would go 80 yards on the drill.

"He could make the pretty plays, but he was physical enough to get the ugly yardage and move the pile,'' Cohen said. "Really, with the way he worked, he was an inspiration.''

It's the only way Huggins knows.

"You never know who's going to be watching you,'' said Huggins, 23, who added he knows Morris only casually, mostly by reputation. "So you have to be the best player you can be – and the best person you can be – all the time. Not some of the time. All the time.''

Huggins said his parents – Darrell Huggins, a truck driver, and Sabrina Alston, a probation officer – were his biggest example. He has four sisters, who delight in his football success, and he doesn't want to let them down.

So he works, grinding on every carry he gets. He returns punts and kickoffs. He shows up early and stays late. Even in the post-practice autograph line at One Buc Place, he's around until the last fan disperses.

"Every day you come out here, you're painting a picture of yourself and adding to your own story,'' said Huggins, who was invited to camp with the Jets last season, while also earning tryouts with the Bills and Colts. "Where I come from [Irvington, N.J.], it's a tough area and you're fighting every day to prove yourself. It's the same thing in football.

"I can only be myself and control the things I can control. I have no idea about [the odds of making the team]. But every play I get here, I feel like I have a smile on my face, like a big little kid. That's my attitude about this opportunity.''

Huggins is working behind Clifton Smith, an undrafted free agent who made last season's Pro Bowl as a return specialist.

"He's a role model,'' Huggins said.

In the backfield, there's Earnest Graham, once an undrafted free agent and former practice-squad player himself, who matured into an 898-yard, 10-touchdown rusher in 2007.

Another role model.

"In that position [as an unheralded player], you have to be mentally tough,'' Graham said. "You have to get a little bit better every day. But the more you're around it, you come to realize that's how players like Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber are. They're always working. That's part of what the Bucs are all about.''

So how did Huggins get to the Bucs?

"Special treatment,'' said Morris with a wry smile.

The Hofstra/Irvington connection helped get Huggins in the door. But only his training-camp work will allow him to stay. So far, Morris likes what he has seen. Maybe he has seen a little bit of himself.

"We're cut from the same mold,'' Morris said. "I want to build [this team] from the bottom up. That 53rd person who's going to make this roster is going to be one of the hardest-working guys, a guy who picks up after himself and is going to score touchdowns every time you give him the opportunity. I want somebody who's hungry, somebody who's a football player.''

Burgess goes deep (twice)

Michael Burgess (Hillsborough), a former first-round pick now playing with Class A Potomac in the Washington Nationals' organization, had two home runs in Wednesday night's 11-6 loss against Frederick. Burgess, batting .231, has 18 homers (second in the Carolina League) and 61 RBIs.

Brown makes early impression

Right fielder Dominic Brown (Pasco), recently promoted from Clearwater to Double-A Reading in the Philadelphia Phillies' organization, hit a homer for his new team on Wednesday night, leading Reading to an 8-4 victory against Trenton. Brown also had a double and went 2-for-4.

Coghlan on a hot streak

Florida Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan (East Lake) is batting .474 (9-for-19). In the past two weeks, he has raised his batting average by 20 points (up to .268).

It's easy being Green

The ESPNU 150 – a list of the top 150 national high-school football recruits for the class of 2010 – was released on Wednesday. As expected, Tampa Catholic High School's star-studded duo had places of prominence.

Quarterback Christian Green was No. 50 and offensive tackle Chaz Green was No. 62. Neither player has orally committed to a college.

Other Tampa Bay area players mentioned were Bradenton Southeast safety Jonathan Dowling (committed to Florida) at No. 7, Gulf defensive tackle Leon Orr (Florida) at No. 69 and Hillsborough cornerback Terrence Mitchell (uncommitted) at No. 145.

New England connection

The New England Patriots already have acquired two former Buccaneers – wide receiver Joey Galloway and tight end Alex Smith – and a third ex-Buc could be on the way.

Defensive end Kevin Carter, a 14-year NFL veteran who has 104.5 career sacks (second behind Jason Taylor for active players), recently worked out for the Patriots.

"He works hard and he is a great leader,'' Smith told the Boston Globe. "I think that's some of the things they really stress on this team, so I think he wouldn't have a problem fitting in at all.''

Birthday wishes

Happy birthday to former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Ken Riley, the Bartow Union Academy and Florida A&M graduate who had 65 career interceptions, the fifth-highest total in NFL history. Yet, Riley still seeks induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Today, Riley, now a dean at Winter Haven High School, turns 62.

The Answer Man

Florida State's Bobby Bowden was the first college football coach to have a $1-million annual salary, reaching that level in November 1995.

Thursday trivia

Here's our daily sports trivia question, featuring a Tampa Bay/Florida spin. Try your luck by commenting below.

Which two former Hofstra University players have scored regular-season touchdowns against the Bucs?

Check for the answer in Friday's Wake-Up Call.

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