Aycock turns to USF for second chance

Former Chamberlain High standout Dontae Aycock, the 2008 Guy Toph Award winner, has spent the majority of his summer seeking a second chance.

After redshirting his freshman season at Auburn, Aycock was dismissed from the team for an unspecified violation of team rules in May. Aycock said Monday that he'll resume his football career at South Florida this fall.

Aycock, who had not spoken publicly since USF made him an offer as a preferred walk-on this month, says he is excited about returning to his hometown.

"What mainly attracts me to USF is that it's closer to home," Aycock said. "That's where I want to go. I wanted to come back home and play football and be with my family."

Aycock was recruited by USF coming out of high school, but former coach Jim Leavitt and his staff wanted Aycock to move from offense and develop into a linebacker. Aycock, who played quarterback at Chamberlain, preferred to remain on offense after rushing for 1,406 yards and 28 touchdowns and throwing for 1,491 yards and 17 TDs as a senior.

He signed late with Auburn as a running back after verbally committing to play quarterback at Georgia Tech earlier in the recruiting process.

The year away from home and the change in coaching staffs at USF prompted him to contact USF about a roster spot.

"Everyone I've talked to on the coaching staff is great," Aycock said. "They have a young team and a young quarterback, who in years to come is only going to get better. They had a good season last year. They have a brand new coaching staff. That excites me."

Aycock said he will be enrolled in the fall semester and plans to join the Bulls when they open camp Aug. 4. Aycock must sit out a season due to NCAA transfer rules but is eligible to practice and hopes to earn a scholarship in the spring.

"I'm not planning on changing any position," he said. "I'm planning on playing running back for USF."

While Aycock could transfer to a junior college and play immediately, or sign with another Division I school and be placed on scholarship immediately, that's not in his plans.

"Really, I haven't taken any calls from other colleges," he said. "USF is where I'm going."

In other USF news, former East Carolina FB/TE Kevin Gidrey, who played for Skip Holtz the past three seasons, is expected to play his final season for the Bulls if he is admitted into graduate school.

Also, former Cape Coral defensive back Spencer Boyd, an early enrollee at Notre Dame last spring, is transferring to USF.

"After I decided to transfer, that was the only school I was going to pursue," Boyd said Monday. "I'm transferring for family issues, and that's as close to home as I could get. I can't wait to get started."