The Times' Nifty Nine

Want to meet a coach from a big-time college football program? Stop by practice at a local high school this spring and you’re bound to bump into one. ¶ The Tampa Bay area has produced its share of gifted players, but you could argue that the Class of 2009 will be among our most talented to date. It includes an elite quarterback, a defensive tackle coveted by Southern California, two SEC-caliber running backs and perhaps the state’s premier defensive end. ¶ With spring practice to begin Thursday, here’s our list of the area’s nine best prospects:

Adaris Bellamy, Dunedin
Position: RB
Height/weight: 5-10, 215
Vital stats from 2007: Averaged more than 9 yards per carry and produced nearly 2,000 yards.
Top offers: Clemson, Mississippi, USF; USF commit
Scouting report: A back with breakaway speed who can go the distance any play, Bellamy also has the power to run over would-be tacklers. He typically inflicts more pain than he takes.

Orson Charles, Plant
Position: TE
Height/weight: 6-2, 220
Vital stats from 2007: 16 catches, 398 yards, three TDs.
Top offers: Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami
Scouting report: Charles has wide receiver athleticism and a tight end body. He’s strong enough to protect his quarterback and create openings for a running back. And with his hands, he’s a threat to score on any play.

Ryne Giddins, Armwood
Position: DE
Height/weight: 6-4, 235
Vital stats from 2007: School-record 21 sacks, including three each against Freedom and Wharton.
Top offers: Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Tennessee, USF.
Scouting report: Giddins has a great combination of size, strength (he had the second-highest bench press on the team last year) and speed (4.6 seconds in the 40). He overpowers some opponents, and goes right around others.

Jarvis Giles, Gaither
Position: RB
Height/weight: 5-11, 178
Vital stats from 2007: Rushed for nearly 1,500 yards.
Top offers: Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Tennessee, USF
Scouting report: Giles isn’t big, but what he lacks in size, he makes up for with speed. Giles was fourth at the 2007 state track  meet in the 100-meter dash (10.86 seconds).

Kamran Joyer, Wesley Chapel
Position: OL
Height/weight: 6-3, 315
Vital stats from 2007: First-team All-North Suncoast.
Top offers: South Carolina, Tennessee
Scouting report: An exceptionally strong interior lineman (he has a school-record discus throw) who possesses a massive upper body. He’d be ideal for a run-oriented team.

Mike Marry, Largo
Position: LB
Height/weight: 6-3, 210
Vital stats from 2007: Team-high 144 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, six INTs.
Top offers: Arkansas, Nebraska, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, USF
Scouting report: Marry has the ideal frame for a linebacker, and the football instincts to go with it. Simply put, he’s a playmaker. When you find the ball, you’re likely to see him near it.

Demonte McAllister, Alonso
Position: DT
Height/weight: 6-3, 250
Vital stats from 2007: Led Ravens in tackles for loss.
Top offers: Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Southern California
Scouting report: McAllister truly has it all. He’s big, strong and explosive off the ball (sometimes he comes close to taking away handoffs). He’s also persistent, and will chase a play 20 yards downfield.

Aaron Murray, Plant
Position: QB
Height/weight: 6-1, 198
Vital stats from 2007: 4,012 yards passing and state-record 51 TD tosses.
Top offers: Florida, Georgia, UCLA, Notre Dame; Georgia commit.
Scouting report: Strong arm, beautiful touch, great feet, tremendous football IQ and ridiculous poise. Arguably the top QB in the South, he doesn’t seem to have a weakness.

Petey Smith, Armwood
Position: LB
Height/weight: 6-0, 230
Vital stats from 2007: 80 tackles, three sacks for the area’s top defense.
Top offers: Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State
Scouting report: A hard-nosed, gritty player who has been a starter since the ninth grade. Smith has great football instincts and arguably is the region’s hardest hitter.

(Times photos -- Joseph Garnett Jr. (Bellamy), Lance Aram Rothstein (Giles), Times files (Murray). Click to enlarge.)

-- KEITH NIEBUHR, Times Staff Writer

Comments

[Word out of Dun Dun]

Word out of Dunedin is that Bellamy will not be eligible for spring and possibily fall. Teach grades not yardage. What good is a schlorship to USF if you can't cut it in high school

Bellamy will never qualify academically for USF. He will be lucky to pass the FCAT. If he passes the FCAT he will end up at a JC for two years. That is the best case scenerio. He should have stayed at SPC at least he would not have to worry about the FCAT. Typical Dun Dun.

Bellamy takes FCAT prep

[Falcon Fan]

Typical Dunedin, put all your eggs in one basket. Dunedin has a chance to be real good this year, espically on the defensive side of the ball, returning alot of good players with big stats. Talley,Chieb, Morris,Sunday, Krutter,Chismon and the addition of Kim Howard from Largo (couldn't play due to grade last year)Boggans (grades last year also).Defense could be best in county this year. Bellamy can be replaced by committee so don't pamper him Dunedin, make him grow up and suffer the consequences which he created.

[Packer Backer]

Mike Marry, how refreshing it is to hear of a kid that is a true student / athlete.Saw where he has a GPA above 3.0 and has the commitment to football also. My hat is off to a kid like this. BELLAMY you need to take some pointers from a young man like this.Great job Mike, all the luck in the future to you, you deserve it.

[Grades come first]

Arron Murry, what a great athlete and student. Will graduate half year and go to Ga. Need to hear more stories about kids like him and Mike Murry.

Donte Aycock should be on this list. He is the second best QB in the bay area and probably the best overall "football player".

Yeah Donte Aycock is going to the elite-11. He also has offers from all the big SEC schools. You read about him everywhere. He is much better than Arron Murray If you did a poll and did not mention where he goes to school I bet 8 out of ten could not tell you. Put down the crack pipe and watch some football game film.

[dunedin]

yo Bellamy can hes eligible but the coaches are making him dedicate his work instead of spring football

[Bogie Fan]

Dunedin, I hope you are not on the football team because you can't spell nor do you display good English grammar. I hope Bellamy will get his act together becaue he is a very good player.

[pete sampros]

Donte who???

May 1, 3:18

He is not even close to being a better QB than Murray. However, he is a great
"football" player. He will excel at RB or DB on the next level without question. He is one tough SOB. If Ga. Tech is looking for a QB to run their wishbone, he is it.

I am sure if Bellamy does not graduate from high school Leavitt will still find a way to get him in. Leavitt sucks.