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Pierre-Paul draws a lot of notice

Staff file photo by JASON BEHNKEN

USF's versatile Jason Pierre-Paul is drawing a lot of attention as the NFL Draft approaches.

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By SCOTT CARTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 18, 2010

TAMPA - Former University of South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul is one of the most discussed players in this year's NFL draft. No player in the country has climbed the draft board as quickly as Pierre-Paul.

"Jason Pierre-Paul from South Florida, top 10 to 12," ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. said during a national teleconference Wednesday. "Right now, I have Pierre-Paul going eight to Oakland."

How did that happen? How does a player who focused on basketball in high school and started his college career at a school called College of the Canyons become a draft sensation?

It's not that difficult to imagine if you're College of the Canyons coach Garett Tujague, an offensive lineman at Brigham Young when Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Ty Detmer starred for the Cougars.

"He's a freak of nature," Tujague said Wednesday. "When one of my assistants first showed me film on him, I watched three plays, and I'm like, 'Are you kidding me?' Some of the things I was able to witness him do firsthand were unreal. You don't get to coach too many kids like that."

Pierre-Paul spent one season at College of the Canyons, located in Santa Clarita, Calif. That's a long way from Deerfield Beach, where he grew up. He transferred to Fort Scott Community College in Kansas as a sophomore, then arrived at USF for his junior season.

Next stop for Pierre-Paul is the NFL, where he should be able to use his 6-foot-5, 265-pound frame and enormous athletic ability to cause offensive linemen headaches.

How would Tujague have tried to block Pierre-Paul?

"He's so athletic, he's fast, he's strong, he's resilient," Tujague said. "Getting him to use his hands at first was real difficult. Since he was a basketball player, he didn't really like people putting hands on him.

"If I was to go against him, I would try to get his arms down. His arms are so freaking long. You have to do everything you can to stay in front of him."

The cost of a coach

NCAA hiring specialist Chuck Neinas charged USF $25,000 for his "consulting services for head football coach search."

Neinas is well-known in NCAA circles, often assisting schools in searches to fill high-profile athletic department positions.

According to an invoice obtained Wednesday through a public-records request by The Tampa Tribune, Neinas gave USF a $10,000 discount off his usual fee of $35,000, which is what Florida State paid Neinas during a search for an athletic director in 2008.

Bull bits

USF men's basketball coach Stan Heath said Wednesday he expects junior C Jarrid Famous to play Saturday against St. John's. Famous missed Tuesday's game with a knee injury. ... Pierre-Paul and USF women's basketball player Melissa Dalembert were engaged on Valentine's Day. ... The groundbreaking ceremony for the Pam and Les Muma Basketball Center is March 3. ... Soccer player Fernando Gonzalez, a former Gaither High standout, has been named to the player pool for the Puerto Rico U21 National Team.

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