USF recruiters fare well in Seminole territory

By Darrell Laurant  |   Thursday, May 22, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

South Florida Bulls
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Although the University of South Florida football team will be playing in-state rivals Miami and Florida over the next few years, there are no immediate plans to confront the third established Sunshine State power, Florida State. Nevertheless, USF recruiters are already challenging the Seminoles on their home turf.

Earlier this month, USF received a verbal commitment from North Florida Christian linebacker Chase Griffiths, who had 92 tackles, eight tackles for loss and four sacks for his school last season. Griffiths is currently listed at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, and Bulls coaches think he might eventually grow into a defensive end.

East Carolina, Rutgers and North Carolina State had expressed serious interest in Griffiths, who had also been contacted by Auburn and Notre Dame, among others. Florida State wasn't mentioned as a front-runner, but the Seminoles obviously had Griffiths on the radar.

Meanwhile, USF signee B.J. Daniels achieved a rare double when he became the first local prep athlete ever named as both football and basketball player of the year by the Tallahassee Democrat.

Although he's only 6-1, Daniels used his well-muscled 195 pounds to finish at the rim, averaging 27 points and a couple of dunks a game for Lincoln.

"He's like a shorter version of LeBron James," East Gadsen High's Sam McLaurin -- co-recipient of the Democrat's basketball award -- told the newspaper. '"When he wanted to go to the hole, they couldn't stop him because he was so strong."

Daniels also quarterbacked the Lincoln football team, leading it to the state playoffs and being recognized as the 44th best nationally at his position. Even more impressively, he was singled out by Rivals.com as having the fifth strongest arm nationally.

With Matt Grothe and competent senior backup Grant Gregory returning in 2008, it would seem logical that Daniels would be red-shirted for football, barring injury. But he also plans to play basketball this winter.

As for Griffiths, the Democrat reported that he was offered a scholarship by Bulls assistant Mike Canales as he stood sweating on the practice field.

"It was different," Griffiths said, who becomes the third player (with Daniels and WR Daniel Bryant) to embrace South Florida for 2009.

As a junior, he led the Eagles to the state championship game, and he probably would have risen up the prospect charts as a senior. But, he said of South Florida, "It was pretty much everything I wanted. I like where the program is going."

And USF likes where Griffiths is going.
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