Recruiting article from Florida

[Tigermike 3,053]

Auburn is recruiting this kid. Who knows, with Carnell & Ronnie both graduating, we may sign him.

Entire community backs Blue Devils

By Charles Elmore

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Sunday, December 12, 2004

GAINESVILLE — A whole town — and then some — transplanted itself. More than 8,000 people sat behind Pahokee High School's bench during Saturday's Class 2B state championship game at Florida Field, assistant principal Eddie Rhodes estimated.

To get an idea what that means, consider that the entire population of Pahokee was 5,985 in the most recent census.

What a whole town drove for more than four hours to see represented a new high-water mark in the sports history of Pahokee High School. On the same day, the Blue Devils won a second straight state football championship and became the first school in Florida ever to produce multiple Mr. Footballs, honoring the state's best overall player.

Even the band uniforms, bought with $65,000 in donations from the public, arrived for this game after months of delay.

"It's the best moment for the town itself, really," Rhodes said.

Pahokee has proved a fertile nursery for NFL players from Rickey Jackson to Anquan Boldin, and the Blue Devils won back-to-back state basketball titles in the 1980s. But Rhodes, a former coach and athletic director who saw plenty of glory days himself, could not remember any day quite like this.

Antone Smith ran 25 times for 276 yards and three touchdowns in a 43-9 rout of Pensacola Catholic, and he could have run for 400 if the Blue Devils did not take occasional breaks to highlight the skills of other players. He left no question he deserved the Mr. Football trophy, which Boldin won before him, along with the fevered recruiting attention of the nation's best schools.

The Pahokee band played in crisp red, white and blue uniforms that were supposed to arrive at the start of the season, but made it just in time for this game.

"I was about to cry I was so happy," senior clarinetist Lawrena Govan said.

Smith tried to explain to reporters from other parts of the state what Pahokee is like.

"It's a small city," he said. "We have limited resources. All we have is crops. We're all we got."

Smith flashed gold teeth as he uttered the phrase "limited resources." The topic soon turned to how well he ran in The Swamp, and whether he would consider Florida.

"I think Urban Meyer's going to turn things around," Smith said. " It should be interesting. (Outgoing coach Ron) Zook brought in a lot of good players."

For now, though, Auburn is his only scheduled visit, he said. He has more than 30 offers. Schools he mentioned that he is considering include Miami, Florida State, Ohio State, Georgia and LSU.

In running style, Smith sees himself in the tradition of Clinton Portis and Willis McGahee (the comparisons alone probably will make Miami recruiters happy). At 5-9, 192 pounds, Smith probably is the fastest major prospect in the country this year with 4.28 speed.

Smith reminds Dwight Thomas of a running back he coached in high school in the Florida Panhandle — Emmitt Smith. At the time, a lot of people said Emmitt was a little too short and squat to make it big in college or the pros.

"He has that same running style," said Thomas, now a recruiting specialist for an Illinois firm, LRS Sports Software. "This kid's faster than Emmitt was. Emmitt may have been a little bigger in the thighs, but they have some of the same moves — when they make that cut, it's decisive. They're getting up the field. "

Character and work ethic don't seem to be a problem, so the only question, in Thomas' judgment, is the level of competition he has faced week in and week out.

"He's definitely the No. 1 running back in Florida," he said.

And right now, Pahokee is feeling like the No. 1 place.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/highschools/c...lmore_1212.html

[Tigerdog 0]

Interesting that he said he had only one official visit and it was to Auburn. Maybe his mind is made up already, but just wants to see what Auburn is about.

I think he is a miami lock.

[WarTim 3,457]

Surely this is a mistake!...Hasn't he been told about the young coaching wizard in west al. and his 10-14 record?

[AUTaxMan 0]

Word has it that it is between AU and Miami. Miami has a loaded backfield, and he wants to play early, so who knows? I've seen highlight reels from all of our RB recruits, and he is definitely the best.