The Long Snapper (2/26/10)
Mike Ford
no more. The former blue-chip recruit running back who gave Bulls’ fans high hopes for the 2010 season after his dominant performance in the International Bowl
from the
USF
football team for a violation of team rules. Rumors are rampant concerning the reason for his dismissal, but regardless of what occurred, he is gone (there is even some talk about the NCAA being involved). Ford was the highest-rated talent to ever commit to the Bulls, ranked as a five-star prospect coming out of Hargrave Military Academy. Big things were expected of Ford. With USF only being a year removed from back-to-back 1,300-yard seasons from
Andre Hall
, the Bulls thought they had found their next star back. Ford had his moments, but never fully lived up to the promise, in part because he had trouble getting himself on the field consistently. But occasionally he would come back and show some of that talent that got him so highly rated in the first place. His last game was one of those moments. In the 2010 International Bowl – a 27-3 win over
Northern Illinois
– Ford carried the ball 20 times for 207 yards. It was a career-high that nearly doubled his season total. Good things were expected from Ford in
Skip Holtz’s
system. A system that while in place at
ECU
produced
Chris Johnson
. Unfortunately we’ll never get to see it. Ford is gone. His last game as a Bull has been played. Ford is handling the situation as best he can. He has apologized for his mistake and taken responsibility for his actions. He hopes to continue classes at USF and then be able to play his final year elsewhere.
Wide receiver Donald Bowens is a few months away from graduating from NC State, after which he may finish his college career at USF. Bowens has one year of eligibility left and could spend it with the Bulls. After a productive season in 2007 (41 catches, 598 yards, three touchdowns), Bowens missed all of 2008 and parts of 2009 due to injuries. With one season left, it appears as if he wants to be a Bull: “I want to play at USF. I’d love to be at home for my final college season.” Bowens is a St. Petersburg High alum who was recruited by the Bulls out of high school. Adding him to the receiving corps can only be a plus for a team whose leading returning receiver only had 26 catches in 2009. Any addition to the depth at WR is a plus. If I’m counting correctly (which I far from guarantee), Bowens has more career catches than any current Bull receiver. Nothing bad about bringing him in for his final year.
Former Florida quarterback John Brantley, father of current Florida quarterback John Brantley, is battling prostate cancer, however, it is being reported he has an extremely treatable form of the cancer and a very high rate of recovery based on the surgery he will have in March. For the elder Brantley, the diagnosis came at a time he had been waiting for. A time when his son was ready to take the practice field as the starting quarterback at the University of Florida. Something the entire family had been patiently waiting for. Best wishes to Brantley and his entire family with his recovery. And continuing to look forward to seeing the younger Brantley on the field.
A look at the Premier Showcase of New Jersey where some of the area’s top juniors get a chance to show their stuff. And one where Florida signee Sharrif Floyd picked up top lineman honors last year. Scroll down until you get to Damiere Byrd. Byrd had the fastest 40 time of any junior at the U.S. Army National Combine earlier this year and could be one of the quickest prospects in the country. While he hasn’t received offers from some of the nation’s top programs just yet, he is hearing a lot from them, including Florida which used the magic words. Byrd has said the Gators want to put him in the Percy Harvin position (a position I still wonder why Florida is trying so hard to fill…adapt people!). He can play wide receiver or defensive back at the next level, but Byrd would like to focus on the offensive side of the ball.
One year after being the jewel of Auburn’s 2009 recruiting class, Tyrik Rollison is leaving the Tigers, and in a roundabout way, the Gators could have had something to do with his desire to transfer. Rollison redshirted in 2009 and was expected to make a push for the starting job at quarterback. Then Auburn brought in a transfer familiar to Florida fans. A transfer – Cameron Newton – who is expected to assume the starting role. Rollison might have still had a chance to earn serious playing time, but will instead transfer to Sam Houston State, close to his home of Sulphur Springs, Texas. He could have garnered interest from a number of top programs, but Rollison didn’t want to go another year without seeing the field. At Sam Houston State, he will be eligible immediately and could hold the starting job for several years.