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Bulls Battle To Bring In 'Big-Time Class'

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By BRETT McMURPHY bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 5, 2009

TAMPA - University of South Florida recruiting coordinator Carl Franks joked Wednesday that by signing Hillsborough's Lindsey Lamar and Monsignor Pace's Derrick Hopkins the Bulls "have a chance to win that 4-by-100 relay in the Big East."

The Bulls also certainly improved their chances of winning their first conference football championship after signing the best class in program history.

USF's 28-player class ranked No. 24 (ESPN.com), No. 25 (Scout.com) and No. 30 (Rivals.com) in the nation. All three recruiting services ranked USF second in the Big East.

Ironically, the Bulls' best class - they had never sniffed the Top 40 before - came a few months after their worst Big East season (2-5). The reason, in part, was because of USF's success two years ago, when the Bulls reached No. 2, Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Jamie Newberg said.

"You see signs the program is taking the next step," Newberg said. "It's a big-time class, but obviously time is the tell-tale sign on how successful it is. It's a solid class, though, no question about it."

While Lamar and Hopkins, among the top five prep sprinters in America, are the fastest of the group, Armwood defensive end Ryne Giddins was easily the biggest signing.

Giddins, the first Parade All-American to sign with USF, chose USF over Florida, marking the first time the Bulls beat UF head-to-head for a recruit.

"They asked him 'Why South Florida?' He said 'Why not?' To me that's so powerful," USF coach Jim 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 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."

Getting Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, one of the nation's top junior college recruits, to sign was anything but a walk in the park because Jeff Sims, Pierre-Paul's junior college coach, pressured him to sign with Nebraska.

The Bulls also won major recruiting battles for Monsignor Pace defensive back Kayvon Webster (USF over Miami) and Jacksonville Parker linebacker Sam Barrington (USF over Miami and Illinois).

"I felt like at South Florida I'm going to have a bigger impact," Webster told the Miami Herald. "They don't have too many leaders on their team, and I feel like I can go there and set the example."

Franks said the overall athleticism was the strength of the class, which included five offensive linemen and seven defensive linemen. "Down the line, the guys we signed on the offensive and defensive lines can become the anchor of a great football team," Franks said.

USF also dipped into the junior college ranks more than ever. East Mississippi Community College defensive tackle Leslie Stirrups, of Hillsborough High, was one of five junior college products to sign, and Fort Scott Community College linebacker Jacquian Williams has committed and is expected to sign today.

In the program's first 11 years, the Bulls signed nine junior college recruits. They've signed 10 the past two classes.

"Obviously there's a lot of different ways to skin the cat," Newberg said. "There's a reason why they're at a junior college. I just think it's more of a risk than high school recruits, plus they have less time in the program. Leavitt is taking a gamble."

Franks said the Bulls, who must replace four starters on the offensive line, were looking for players "that can step in and help us in a hurry." He also said USF is always interested in bringing former state high school players at junior colleges back to Florida.

USF Signees

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928

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