2005 Football Recruiting Class at 22


Including Jarriett Buie, a defensive end who signed last year and becomes eligible in 2005, and Cedric Hill, a tight end/wide receiver who enrolled in January, USF's 2005 Recruiting Class stands at 22 players.

All-State quarterbacks Matt Grothe and Carlton Hill were among the earliest signees this morning, headlining a group that includes players across all positions, including an incoming kicker in Mike Benzer.

Grothe was Florida's Class 4A Player of the Year and led his Lake Gibson team to the state championship game. Hill won Class A all-state honors at Jefferson County High School in Monticello.


R.J. ANDERSON
DEFENSIVE BACK
5-11, 165
TAMPA, FLA.
ARMWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

Two-time all-state player in Class 4A and a member of back-to-back state championship teams at Armwood…Ranked as 30th top prospect in Florida by Tampa Tribune and 37th by Orlando Sentinel…First team all-Suncoast in St. Petersburg Times and rated as the ninth best player in the Tampa Bay area…All-Hillsborough County by Tampa Tribune…Eight interceptions, including two for touchdowns of 97 and 27 yards in 2004 senior season…Also had 22 pass breakups…Ouststanding outfielder in baseball, he is said to be one of the best defensive players in the nation…MLP prospect…Born November 1, 1986…Given name is Ronnie Anderson…Coached by Sean Callahan.


MIKE BENZER
PLACEKICKER
5-8, 185
LONGWOOD, FLA.
LYMAN HIGH SCHOOL

Class 5A second team all-state…First team all-conference and all-district…Made 11 of 15 field goals as a senior, including career-long from 55 (school record)…Had six field goals of 50 yards or longer…Had 42 touchbacks on kickoffs…Lyman’s Outstanding Special Teams Player as a junior and senior…Rated number one kicker in Florida by OneonOneKicking.com…Listed among top kickers nationally by Street & Smith…Outstanding student with a 3.5 gpa and a 1220 on his SAT…Also plays soccer.

JARRIETT BUIE
FRESHMAN
DEFENSIVE END
6-4, 240
TAMPA, FL
ARMWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

Signed in February 2004 but gains eligibility in 2005…Ranked 22nd best defensive end by Rivals.com…Ranked as 25th best player in the state by Tampa Tribune and 39th by Orlando Sentinel…Ranked number two overall player in Tampa Bay area by St. Petersburg Times and also a member of that paper’s all-Suncoast team…First team Class 4A all-state for state champion Armwood High…Hilllsborough County Defensive Player of the Year by Tampa Tribune…44 tackles prior to state playoffs, including nine sacks and 14 tackles for loss…Also had two caused fumbles…Had a combined five sacks, seven tackles for loss and 12 quarterback hurries in back-to-back games against Middleton and Plant…Coached by Sean Callahan.


BEN BUSBEE
TIGHT END
6-4, 240
MOBILE, ALA.
McGILL-TOOLEN HIGH SCHOOL

Honorable mention all-state in Class 6A…All-region…29 catches for 503 yards in 2004…Indoor state champ in shot put…Finished sixth in state in outdoor season…Born November 5, 1986… Given name is Ben Lloyd Busbee…Coached by Steve Savage.

GENE COLEMAN
LINEBACKER
6-0, 245
LAKE WALES, FLA.
LAKE WALES HIGH SCHOOL
PEARL RIVER C.C.

Originally signed with USF in February 2003 before enrolling at Pearl River Community College in Pearl River, Miss…Pre-season JUCO All-American in 2004 sophomore season…Went on to win MVP of the Junior College National Championship Game when he had two interceptions to help Pearl River to the 35-14 win…Helped Pearl River to state championship in a 24-13 win over Hinds…Class 3A first team all-state at Lake Wales High School…Ranked 39th in the state by Orlando Sentinel…Had 183 tackles with two interceptions, including one for a touchdown as a senior…Named to Lakeland Ledger all-area team and won MVP in South Central All-Star Game…Class 3A all-state second team as a junior when he had 175 tackles, 20 for run losses, six sacks and two interceptions…Also ran for 900 yards and 22 touchdowns…Coached by former USF quarterback Chad Barnhardt…Also wrestled for two years, and played one season of baseball.


ANTWANE COX
DEFENSIVE BACK
6-0, 170
MIAMI, FLA.
KILLIAN HIGH SCHOOL

Second team all-Dade County for Class 4A-6A (Miami Herald)…Played in Dade-Broward All-Star Game…Helped team to Class 6A state title in 2004…Born February 11, 1986…Given name is Antwane Lamar Cox…Also ran track.


CHRIS DeARMAS
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
6-4, 275
MIAMI, FLA.
SOUTHWEST HIGH SCOOL

Played for Team Florida in the CaliFlorida Bowl this year…Also named to Nike South Florida All-Star Game…Ranked 44th top prosepct in Florida by Tampa Tribune...Three-star prospect by Rivals.com, ranked as the 19th best offensive guard in the nation and the 49th ranked prospect in Florida, regardless of position…Ranked as 33rd best prospect in Florida by Orlando Sentinel…Class 6A third team all-state in senior season…Two-time all-Dade County selection…Played in 2004 Dade-Broward All-Star Game.


ISHMEAL GRANT
WIDE RECEIVER
6-2, 175
BLOUNTSTOWN, FLA.
BLOUNTSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL

Class A first team all-state…25 catches for 674 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior…Also had 10 punt returns for 168 yards, 12 kick returns for 474 yards and four interception returns for 56 yards…Six kick returns went for touchdowns and three punt returns resulted in touchdowns…Also had 63 tackles as a cornerback…16 touchdowns on returns in his final two seasons…Team reached state championship game…Third team all-state as a junior when he once had three kick returns for touchdowns in one game…Also plays basketball and runs track…Coached by Bobby Johns…Born April 24, 1986.


MATT GROTHE
QUARTERBACK
6-1, 190
LAKELAND, FLA.
LAKE GIBSON, FLA.

Class 4A Player of the Year and a finalist for Florida’s Mr. Football…First team Class 4A all-state as a junior and senior…Led team to state title game against Armwood High…Lakeland Ledger Player of the Year as a junior and senior…Ranked 21st best prospect in Florida by Tampa Tribune and 23rd by Orlando Sentinel…Ranked 24th dual-threat quarterback in the nation by Rivals.com…93rd overall prospect in Florida according to Rivals…Threw for 2700 yards and ran for 1,250 as a senior…33 passing touchdowns and 15 rushing touchdowns…Passed for 2,004 yards as a junior, along with 1,100 rushing yards…25 passing touchdowns as a junior and 14 more on the ground….Born September 8, 1986…Coached by Demyer.


JESSIE HESTER, JR.
WIDE RECEIVER
6-0, 270
BELLE GLADE, FLA.
GLADES CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

Ranked as 38th top prospect in Florida by Tampa Tribune...Ranked as the 57th best receiver in the nation by Rivals.com, who rankes him 76th best player in Florida, regardless of position…Ranked as 97th top prospect in Florida by Orlando Sentinel…Played senior year at Glades Central after two years at Wellington High…First team all-county and all-conference…Ran sprints for track team…Born November 1, 1986…Son of former Florida State (1981-84) great Jessie Hester, who played for the Raiders, Falcons, Colts and Rams, as well as the Tampa Bay Bandits (USFL) between 1984-95…He led the Seminoles in receiving in 1983 and 1984 when he had a combined 73 receptions and 15 touchdowns.


CARLTON HILL
QUARTERBACK
6-3, 215
MONTICELLO, FLA.
JEFFERSON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

Class A first team all-state…Four-star ranking by Rivals.com…Also rated as 20th best “athlete in the nation

This is probably WVUs best class ever on paper....ranks in the somewhere in the top 30

Jackson


Quinton Andrews: Outstanding safety for Coach Joe Zaccheo at Miami's Monsignor Edward Pace High ... first team all-state and all-Dade ... 85 tackles, 3 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles as a senior ... also caught 26 passes for 637 yards and 8 scores ... Spartans won state title his junior year ... Dade-Broward all-star game ... Scout.com 3-star rating ... part of the state championship basketball team his sophomore year and a track letterman ... son of Laurela Andrews and Kelvin Baye ... wants to study engineering



Scooter Berry: Talented fullback from North Babylon High, the Long Island Class II champions at 10-1 ... all-Long Island linebacker for Coach Terry Manning ... 68 tackles, 7 sacks as a senior ... 1,341 career rushing yards, 20 TDs ... three-time all-county and twice all-state ... son of Richard Berry and Renetta Wise ... half-brother of fellow recruit Jason Gwaltney ... wants to study criminology



Jetavious Best: Productive speedster from Palm Beach Lakes High ... first team all-county, all-area, all-state ... led Coach Dan Sanso's Rams to an 8-2 record and the 6A state quarterfinals ... gamewinning kick return vs. Deerfield ... Palm Beach Post player of the year ... Florida 101 ... rushed for 1,246 yards with 19 scores, and had 543 yards receiving ... Outback Bowl ... son of Ella McRae ... will major in business



Ryan Brinson: Stark County player of the year for Coach Brian Cross at Canton McKinley High, leading the Bulldogs to the state title game ... holds the school game (339), season (2,402) and career (4,769) rushing records ... team MVP and all-Ohio first team ... Marion Motley Award ... three-year track letterman ... also plays basketball ... son of Felicia Smith ... plans to major in broadcast journalism



Jarrett Brown: 6-A all-state quarterback from Palm Beach Lakes High ... Sun-Sentinel player of the year ... passed for 1,800 yards, 18 touchdowns as a senior, with 485 yards rushing ... led Coach Dan Sanso's Rams to an 8-2 record and the state quarterfinals ... more than 7,100 career passing yards and 73 TDs ... Outback Bowl ... Florida 101 ... Lou Groza player of the year finalist ... Scout.com and Rivals.com 3-star rating ... also a basketball letterman ... son of James and Sherry Brown ... will be a business major



Darren Brownlee: Talented receiver from Maryland 3A state champion Northwest High ... team captain and first team all-county for Coach Randy Trivers ... second team all-state, all-Montgomery Gazette and Washington Post all-metro ... 105 career receptions for 1,526 yards and 18 touchdowns ... Washington TD Club Super 44 ... Michael Cornejo Award ... state qualifier in the high hurdles, high jump and long jump ... son of Willie and Darlene Brownlee ... will study engineering



Jeremy Bruce: Athletic receiver who was named first team all-state as a junior and senior and 2004 Parkway Conference MVP ... team captain for Coach Joe Hamilton, gaining 3,600 career rushing, 600 receiving and 6,000 all-purpose yards, with 45 touchdowns ... set Blackhawk season record with 1,767 yards rushing as a junior ... team advanced to WPIAL semifinals his junior and senior year, winning the 2004 league title ... Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25, Harrisburg Patriot-News Platinum 33 ... state track qualifier at 100 meters ... son of Charles and Karen Bruce ... plans to study sport management


Selvish Capers: All-Louisiana tight end for Coach Tyrone Payne at New Orleans' St. Augustine High ... 10 catches for 176 yards and 4 scores as a senior ... first team all-district, all-metro and all-state ... also a three-year starter in basketball ... son of Selvish Sr. and Deborah Capers ... will major in computer engineering

Frank Carduff: First team all-state lineman at Shenandoah Valley High ... 70 tackles and three sacks as a senior for Coach Nick Sajone ... Anthracite 8 conference and Schuylkill County lineman of the year ... WNEP Dream Team, Harrisburg Patriot-News Platinum 33, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 30 Best, Pottsville Republican, Hazelton Standard-Speaker, PaFootball News all-star teams ... also a baseball, basketball and track letterman ... Student Council member ... son of Frank and Barbara Carduff ...wants to study physical therapy



Ed Collington: Leading rusher in the WPIAL with 1,700 yards and 22 scores ... team captain and Penn Hills rushing recordholder for Coach Neil Gordon ... team was 29-7 during his career, advancing to the WPIAL semifinals three straight years ... averaged 9.2 yards per carry ... Mercury Award finalist ... Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22, first team all-conference, second team all-state, East Elite team ... Big 33 Game ... Scout.com 3-star rating ... son of Jessie Collington ... plans to major in business



Carmen Connolly: Terrific athlete who led Seton LaSalle to the conference and WPIAL championships ... set a state record his senior year with 116 catches for 1,580 yards and 16 TDs, the eighth highest reception total nationally ... three-year all Century Conference for Coach Lou Cerro ... leading tackler three years in a row, with 184 tackles, 17 forced fumbles, 16 interceptions and three defensive scores ... ... Mercury Award finalist ... first team all-state ... 221 career catches for 3,019 yards and 33 touchdowns; 1,100 career rushing yards with 10 scores ... two-year team captain ... Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Tribune-Review player of the year ... also an all-conference basketball player ... National Honor Society ... son of Tom and Donna Connolly ... will major in computer science



Zac Cooper: Sam Huff Award winner as the state's top prep defender ... team captain for Coach Tony Filberto who led the Red Raiders to the state semifinals as a junior and senior ... 105 tackles and 1,125 yards rushing as a senior ... two-time first team all-state and the captain of the 2004 all-state defense ... 350 career tackles ... second in Weir career rushing behind Quincy Wilson ... Rivals.com 3-star rating ... also a basketball letterman ... National Honor Society ... son of Thomas and Carrie Cooper ... will enroll in general studies



Ryan Dawson: Two-year first team Class AAA all-state receiver from Parkersburg South High ... 115 catches for 2,200 yards and 39 scores ... two-year team captain for Coach Mike Devol ... Patriots were state finalists in 2002 and state champs in 2003 ... nominated for U.S. Army All-American Bowl ... Rivals.com and Scout.com 3-star rating ... three-year starter in basketball, winning all-state honors ... Patriots were 2003 basketball state champions ... honor roll student and Herff-Jones Leadership winner ... son of Rick and Kathy Dawson ... will enroll in general studies

Ovid Goulbourne: Productive linebacker prospect who led Coach Steve Shiffert's Rovers to the LVIAC and district championships ... rushed for more than 2,500 yards as a junior and senior ... all-county and all-LVIAC ... first team all-area from the Morning Call and Express-Times ... Scout.com and Rivals.com 3-star rating ... a track letterman ... Student Senate ... son of Nardia Bailey and Paul Goulbourne ... will enroll in general studies


Jason Gwaltney: Five-star running back from North Babylon High, the Long Island Class II champions at 10-1 ... 2,882 rushing yards, 45 touchdowns, 282 points scored as a senior, all Long Island records ... first-ever two-time Carl Hansen Award winner for Coach Terry Manning ... Long Island and Suffolk County career records for rushing yardage (7,800), points scored (828) and touchdowns (135) ... New York state single-game records for rushing (437), touchdowns (9), and points scored (54) ... 27 scores of 50 yards or longer ... Parade and Nike Camp All-America ... U.S. Army All-America Bowl ... #8 on Scout.com ... #15 in Rivals100 ... also runs track ... son of Richard Berry and Jeanine Gwaltney ... half-brother of fellow recruit Scooter Berry ... plans to major in criminal justice



Trippe Hale: Three-year starting defender from Mobile's St. Paul Episcopal High ... 92 tackles, 6 interceptions as a senior team captain for Coach Eddie Guth ... Alabama state spotlight of the week for 15 tackles, 3 interceptions against Sidney Lanier ... Weineacker and Black Watch awards ... member of the state runner-up track team ... son of Steve and Kathryn Hale ... father is executive director of the Senior Bowl ... will enroll in general studies



James Ingram: Defensive MVP for Coach Mike Jones at Cleveland Heights High ... first team all-LEL ... 64 tackles, 14 sacks 3 PBU and a 48-yard touchdown on a fumble recovery as a senior ... also a basketball and track letterman ... son of Jimmy and Iolanda Ingram ... will enroll in general studies



Scott Kozlowski: Highly rated punter from Royal Palm Beach High ... all-state and all-county for Coach Eric Patterson ... Sun-Sentinel and Palm Beach Post all-conference ... averaged 46.3 yards as a senior ... 2005 National Kicking Expo punting champion ... rated No. 1 punter in nation by Scout.com ... also throws the shot put and discus ... son of Scott and Lisa Kozlowski ... will enroll in general studies



Pat McAfee: Accurate, strong-legged kicker from Pittsburgh's Plum High ... first team all-conference for Coach Bill Rometo ... 80% of his kickoffs went into the endzone ... 7-7 on field goals with a long of 48 ... rated No. 1 kicker in nation by Scout.com ... 2003 national Punt, Pass and Kick champion ... won January's One on One kicking competition in Miami with a 65-yarder ... three-year first team all-WPIAL soccer ... honor roll student ... son of Tim and Sally McAfee ... will enroll in general studies



Marquis Melvin: All-state defender at Whiteville (N.C.) High ... 104 tackles, 7 interceptions as a senior ... scored 27 touchdowns as a junior and senior, five on punt returns ... 12 career interceptions ... all-state, all-county and all-Waccamaw honoree for Coach Mark Little ... Shrine Bowl ... three-year basketball letterman ... also played baseball and ran track ... talented performer in school and church choirs ... son of Scotty and Denise Melvin ... will major in education


Thor Merrow: Gwinnett defensive player of the year for Coach Dexter Wood at Atlanta's Buford High ... all-state and Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11 ... 109 tackles, 9 sacks, 23 TFL, 4 fumble recoveries as a senior ... team went 58-2 during his career, winning three state championships ... son of Jeff and Lisa Merrow ... father was an outstanding defensive lineman at WVU from 1972-74 ... will enroll in general studies



T.J. Mitchell: Talented quarterback who prepped last season at Hargrave Military Academy, leading them to a 7-3 mark ... piloted Coach Chris Beatty's Landstown High club to Beach District and Eastern regional championships ... Virginia state high school top 10 all-time in career, single season and single game passing yards and scores ... led Eagles to Group 3A Division 6 runner-up (13-1), setting a state record with 46 TD passes ... tied Virginia prep record with 36 completions in a game ... 6,168 career passing yards and 65 TDs ... totaled 739 yards passing and 10 TDs in Landstown's four playoff games ... Tidewater area player of the year ... all-state, all-district and all-region ... SuperPrep Virginia top 15 ... PrepStars mid-Atlantic all-region ... Rivals.com 3-star rating ... also a basketball letterman ... son of Daisy Shaw and Terry Mitchell ... will enroll in general studies



Charles Pugh: Hard-hitting defender from Edgewater High near Orlando ... led Coach Bill Gierke's squad to an 11-2 record and the state semifinals ... 105 tackles, 13 sacks as a senior ... first team all-county and all-metro ... 28 career sacks ... also a basketball letterman ... active in volunteer work ... son of Viola Pugh ... will be a business major



Kent Richardson: Speedy corner for Coach Maurice Bleser at Rickards High ... first team all-state and all-Big Bend ... recorded 75 tackles, 7 interceptions, 2 blocked punts and a forced fumble as a senior for the district champs ... outstanding sprinter in track ... National Honor Society ... son of Emma and Johnny Richardson ... plans to study computer science



Rashad Roussell: Two-time all-state lineman for Coach Lou Valdan at Hahnville High ... all-metro and all-River Parish as a junior and senior ... preseason metro MVP ... district defensive player of year twice ... 63 tackles, 18 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 15 hurries as a senior ... Tigers went 15-0 his junior season and 12-1 his senior year ... Rivals.com and Scout.com 3-star rating ... son of Paulette Byrd and Kevin Roussell ... will study athletic coaching education



Steve Slaton: MVP of the Philadelphia Catholic League and a four-year all-conference selection ... led Coach Kevin Kelly's squad to a 10-3 record, rushing for 1,836 yards and 26 TDs as a senior ... first team all-state as a junior and senior ... rushed for more than 6,000 career yards and 73 scores, setting five school records ... Courier, Trentonian and Daily News all-star ... Scout.com and Rivals.com 3-star rating ... also a track standout ... active in community service ... son of Carl and Juanita Tiggett-Slaton ... will enroll in general studies


Nate Sowers: Kennedy Award winner as the West Virginia state player of the year ... led Coach Dave Walker's Bulldogs to a 50-5 record ... first team all-state, Martinsburg Journal all-area as a sophomore, junior and senior ... Journal and Herald-Mail player of the year ... 8,515 career passing yards with 113 scores ... 2,427 rushing yards with 38 scores ... Gatorade player of the year ... Rivals.com and Scout.com 3-star rating ... also a basketball and track letterman ... Student Council, National Honor Society, FCA, president of art honorary ... son of Tommy and Becky Sowers ... wants to study physical therapy



Sabree Thomas: Physical tight end with all the tools ... all-region, all-conference and Times-Union Super 24 at Ed White High in Jacksonville ... 40 pancake blocks as a senior for Coach Terry Gilliam ... second team Army All-America ... as a sophomore helped the Commanders win the district championship ... North-South Shrine Bowl ... Rivals.com 3-star rating ... also a basketball letterman ... National Honor Society ... son of Alefair and James Thomas ... will major in business management



John Walko: Dominant lineman from Maryland's Seneca Valley High ... three-year starter for Coach Fred Kim ... all-county, all-metro and all-state ... 27 pancake blocks as a senior ... Gazette-Post all-star ... no sacks allowed during career ... Eagles were state champions his sophomore year ... Tom Lemming Top 25 lineman ... Scout.com 3-star rating ... son of Bob and Pam Walko ... will study environmental sciences



Steve Weedon: Outstanding performer from Richard Montgomery High ... first team all-state, all-county, all-metro ... team MVP leading Coach Mike Bonavia's Rockets to the playoffs ... led county in rushing with than 1,800 yards and 20 scores ... 116 tackles, 8 sacks, 3 forced fumbles as a senior ... Rivals.com 3-star rating ... an all-county basketball player, averaging 22 points and 12 rebounds per game ... son of Iris Weedon and Steve and Lisa Weedon ... plans to major in sport management



Reed Williams: Captain of the all-state defense at Moorefield High for Coach Brian Powell ... Cumberland Times-News defensive player of year ... helped the Yellowjackets to state titles in 2001 and 2003, a runner-up finish in 2002 and the state semifinals in 2004 ... averaged 130 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 26 catches per year and 32.8 yards as a punter ... team was 45-8 during his career ... all-area and all-Potomac Valley ... Rivals.com 3-star rating ... outstanding in basketball and baseball as well ... class valedictorian, National Honor Society, Student Council, national science award ... son of Robert and Jacqueline Williams ... will major in accounting

UConn gets 26 ---

JOE AKERS

It looks like Louisville, West Virginia, Pittsburgh and South Florida did very well in recruiting this year. I can't wait for the Football season to start.

It looks like WVU reloaded especially with getting the RB out of NY. He looks like our Eric Shelton here at Louisville and he will be a stud from day one in Morgantown.

UC signs 24....Per Tom Lemming's ranking's UC inks 2 4-star players and 8 3-star players....This very well could be UC's best ever recruiting class.

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