“Killer B’s”: Two four-star backs in South Florida’s future

By Darrell Laurant  |   Thursday, June 12, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

South Florida Bulls
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South Florida's latest football commitment for 2009 is a running back named Bradley Battles. And according to his high school coach, that name is appropriate.

"He gets stronger as the game goes on," coach Rob Armstrong of Mariana High School (Florida), told the St. Petersburg Times recently. "He's better on his 27th or 28th carry than he is on the first five carries."

According to ESPN's Billy Tucker, "This kid may only check in at 5-foot-9, but he is compactly built and just a tough, physical runner with deceptive power and strength. Equally effective utilizing his quickness and burst to make defenders miss through the hole or bouncing it to the outside."

The Bulls have also received a commitment from 5-foot-9, 215-pound Adaris Bellamy of Dunedin, who has similar size, speed, stats and four-star rating as Battles. Bellamy is the 21st-ranked running back in his class, according to Rivals.com, while Battles is ranked 12th among "athletes." Call them the "Killer B's."

"I'm a Florida athlete, and I wanted to stay a Florida athlete," Battles said.

As a junior, he rushed for 2,200 yards and 23 touchdowns, also adding 70 tackles on defense. Because Marianna is located in the relatively remote Florida Panhandle, however, it may have taken a little longer for Battles' reputation to grow than if he were performing in Miami or Tampa. Nevertheless, he has also received scholarship offers from Louisville, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Colorado.

In addition to Battles and Bellamy, Jim Leavitt's Bulls have gotten commitments from linebacker Chase Griffiths, quarterback B.J. Daniels and WR Daniel Bryant, all Sunshine State products.
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