TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

USF's Leavitt Proud Of "Powerful" Class

ADVERTISEMENT

By BRETT McMURPHY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 4, 2009

TAMPA - University of South Florida coach Jim Leavitt's press conference on National Signing Day has concluded and if you had over 6 1/2 on the number of times he used the word "powerful," cash your tickets, you're a winner.

Leavitt went through the entire 28-player class, mentioning an item about each player.

His take on the overall class: "I'm elated, absolutely elated" and "on paper, it looks to be a tremendous class."

We'll obviously have more on USF's best class ever, but here are a few quick notes:

The final numbers: USF signed 28 players, 26 that played high school in Florida, one from California and one from Georgia.

The breakdown by position: 1 QB, 2 WR, 3 RB, 5 OL, 1 TE, 7 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB, 2 Athletes.

USF's last signee was Kevin Williams, an athlete from Los Medanos College in California who played at St. Pete Gibbs.

"We were not involved with him until 37 minutes ago," Leavitt said.

USF also is expected to sign Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College LB Jacquian Williams, of Riverview, on Thursday. Williams, who verbally committed to USF, was in the process of getting his letter of intent signed by his parents.

With the addition of Williams on Thursday, the Bulls will be up to 29 signings. They're limited to 25 and about three or four have not qualified yet academically. If all 29 get accepted into school, USF would "greyshirt" some players, moving their enrollment back to January 2010.

New offensive coordinator? Leavitt did not address his coaching staff during the news conference, but for those into reading the tea leaves, here's another indication it will be WR coach Mike Canales:

Canales and former offensive coordinator Greg Gregory have traded offices. Canales and Gregory both would not comment on their new digs or new responsibilities.

Let's go for a walk in the park: Leavitt gushed several times about Armwood DE Ryne Giddins, USF's first Parade All-American, who chose USF over Florida.

"Giddins, I love him, he's the best," Leavitt said.

Leavitt later said he spend some time with Giddins, eating a pizza or walking in the park.

"They asked him 'Why South Florida?' He said 'Why not?' To me that's so powerful," Leavitt said. "Because that's the way I feel as the head football coach.

"For Ryne to say that makes me want to hug him and – just – I want to hang out with that guy. I want to be around him. I want to go get pizza with him or go walk in a park with him. I want to be around that. That mentality."

Repeat after me: Apparently the deciding factor for Monsignor Pace DB Kayvon Webster choosing USF over Miami was pretty simple: all Leavitt had to do was open his news conference Wednesday by saying "Kayvon Webster."

After apologizing for arriving late, that's exactly what Leavitt did.

"Kayvon Webster," Leavitt said. "I told Kayvon those would be the first two words out of mouth if he came to the University of South Florida. So Kayvon Webster I'm doing that because I'm a man of my word."

Don't expect a Christmas card: DE Jason Pierre-Paul, one of the nation's top junior college recruits out of Fort Scott Community College, signed with USF, but it wasn't easy.

Leavitt said Fort Scott coach Jeff Sims was pushing Pierre-Paul to Nebraska.

"A young man that had to put up with a whole lot," Leavitt said. "His junior college coach was pushing him hard to Nebraska and he had to fend all that off. That was a long day for him.

"He stood up to his junior college coach and everyone else and signed with the University of South Florida because that's where his heart is. That was a pretty tense process a little bit today. I'm really proud of Jason Pierre-Paul. Wish we would have had a little more support out of the junior college head coach, but that's the way it is."

Pop Warner experience a plus: Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College OL Jamar Bass played guard in junior college, but could get a look at center this fall.

"Bass can play tackle, guard or center," Leavitt said. "I asked him if he had ever played center and he said 'in Pop Warner.' I said 'good enough. That'll work.' "

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT