Preseason video series: Top running backs

Our preseason video series continues with our look at the area's top running backs. Next up: Top playmakers.

Previous videos (including our elite 8 teams):
Top defenders
Top quarterbacks
No. 1 Plant
No. 2 Armwood
No. 3 Largo
No. 4 Hillsborough
No. 5 Tampa Bay Tech
No. 6 Tampa Catholic
No. 7 Countryside
No. 8 Nature Coast
Highlights from the first day of practice

Notes from the U … Palm Harbor U.

PALM HARBOR -- Because the Palm Harbor University football team returned only three starters from last year, the Hurricanes needed an exhibition game more than most.

Just to see what they have.

Well, it turns out what they have might not be so bad.

In a 28-14 win over Clearwater Central Catholic last week, PHU was far from perfect, but coach Mark Haye’s youthful team did enough things right to give fans of the program reason for hope.

“All in all,” Haye said, “it wasn’t a bad start.”

Here are some notes from the game:

-RB Scott Santangelo, one of the team’s most electrifying players, started at tailback and rushed for 80 yards. "He runs extremely hard and has great vision,” Haye said. “He’s not a blazer, but he’s a very, very strong runner.”

The hit of the year … so far ... courtesy of Gulf's Tyshawn Peters

Two days ago, I blogged about what I called the “the best hit I’ve seen in recent years.”

It was produced in the third quarter of Friday’s Gulf-Tarpon Springs game (won by Tarpon 27-2) by the Bucs’ Tyshawn Peters, who absolutely flattened a Tarpon Springs receiver on a pass near the sideline. In the process, he separated the opposing player from the ball and drew a roar from many in the crowd.

Thanks to Gulf‘s sensational video crew (specifically Jeff Miller), you can see what I saw.

Enjoy ...

--KEITH NIEBUHR

Hit Parade: Former East Lake star Chris Coghlan sets new Marlins team record

Former East Lake standout and current Florida Marlins rookie Chris Coghlan has had quite a month.

A record-breaking month.

With a fourth-inning single Sunday, Coghlan set a new Marlins team record for hits in a month with his 46th hit of August.

It's also the most hits in a month by a rookie in 55 years, when Cardinals outfielder Wally Moon had 52 hits in July 1954.

Coghlan hit .390 (46-for-118) in August.

``I think being on this platform, being up here, this is a lot more special than any month I've had in my life,'' Coghlan told the Miami Herald Sunday.

It's not the first time the 24-year-old outfielder has made club history since he was recalled from Triple-A on May 8. He had eight consecutive multi-hit games earlier this year, becoming the first rookie to accomplish that feat since Reds first baseman Dan Driessen in 1973.

Coghlan also leads all current rookies with a .297 batting average.

-- EDUARDO A. ENCINA

Report: Ex-Gibbs coach Yusuf Shakir suspended from coaching duties

Former Gibbs football coach Yusuf Shakir, now at Tallahassee Lincoln, was suspended from his coaching duties Sunday just hours after being arrested and booked for DUI, the Tallahasee Democrat reports.

According to the paper, "Lincoln administrators have chosen offensive coordinator Mike Zatoris as the Trojans’ interim head football coach."

Shakir's arrest came Sunday morning. He was released at 8:53 a.m.

The Democrat reported Leon County Jail records show "Shakir was booked at 6:01 a.m. after Florida Highway Patrol Trooper William Grissom observed Shakir driving a 1972 orange Oldsmobile convertible at 87 mph in a 55 mph zone."

“He’s just a good man that made a mistake and we’re going to try to keep the kids focused,” athletic director Paul O’Halloran told the Democrat. “Hopefully the situation will be resolved.”

Gainesville Sun: Dexter McCluster is Ole Miss’ best player

The Gainesville Sun has given major props to Largo grad Dexter McCluster.

In the paper’s SEC season preview, it called McCluster Ole Miss’s top player -- not stud QB Jevan Snead, who some believe is a Heisman Trophy candidate.

Says the Sun: “Snead gets much of the credit for the Rebels’ turnaround a year ago, but the speedy and versatile McCluster was just as important (ask Florida). He’s a smaller version of Percy Harvin the way he makes plays running and receiving.”

McCluster, a senior, did well against the Gators last year and that certainly didn’t hurt his cause with the Sun. In an upset over the eventual national champs, he rushed for 60 yards and a touchdown.

--KEITH NIEBUHR

PHU’S Mark Hansson shines in classic

PALM HARBOR -- During the summer, several college programs told Palm Harbor University senior offensive tackle Mark Hansson they wanted to see video of him in action this fall before deciding whether to offer a scholarship.

Hansson apparently took that to heart.

According to Hurricanes coach Mark Haye, the 6-foot-6, 260-pound senior excelled in Friday night’s 28-14 classic win over Clearwater Central Catholic.

“He had several pancakes,” Haye said. “He’ll be able to put a ton of plays from that game on his highlight (video).”

Hansson currently holds scholarship offers from Colorado State, Florida International, Indiana and New Hampshire. Auburn, Connecticut, USF and Harvard also are showing interest.

“He’s very fundamentally sound,” Haye said. “The way he finishes plays through the whistle is by far above everyone else on the field.”

--KEITH NIEBUHR

Ex-Gibbs football coach Yusuf Shakir arrested for DUI

Former Gibbs football coach Yusuf Shakir, now coach at Tallahassee Lincoln (his alma mater), was arrested Sunday morning and booked for DUI by the Florida Highway Patrol.

The arrest came at 6 a.m. He was released at 8:53 a.m..

The Tallahassee Democrat reports that records show this is the first DUI arrest for Shakir, 31.

Shakir replaced Kyle Rice at Lincoln. Rice resigned in March after leading the Trojans to the Class 4A state championship game, where they lost to Plant.

"I wouldn't say it's a dream job," Shakir said at the time he took the job. "But it's nice to go back."

Two years ago, Shakir took over at Gibbs, where he had an overall record of 11-9, including a playoff appearance in 2007, the school's first since '04.

--KEITH NIEBUHR

Countryside’s Tyler Moore to visit Florida

CLEARWATER -- Countryside offensive tackle Tyler Moore, believed to be among the state’s top juniors, has scheduled an unofficial visit to Florida the weekend of Sept. 12, his father said Saturday.

Moore currently favors, in order, Nebraska, Florida, Ohio State and Penn State.

According to his father, Moore is likely to commit sometime in the near future.

“He will probably announce this fall,” Brian Moore said.

Nebraska clearly is the team to beat.

Brian Moore played tight end at Nebraska from 1983-85. One of Tyler Moore’s uncles (former NFL QB Vince Ferragamo) also played for the Cornhuskers, as did two of his cousins --Jay Moore and Kyle Moore.

"They're the leader," Brian Moore said.

Lunchtime feast: Football notes from East Lake

TARPON SPRINGS -- Like most area football teams, East Lake hoped to use its kickoff classic to see how far it had come since fall practice began and how far it had to go to be ready for next week’s regular-season opener.

Mother Nature had other plans.

When lightning came at halftime of the Eagles’ game Thursday against Land O’Lakes, play was halted with East Lake leading 14-7. That score, however, is a bit misleading because the teams used their junior varsity players in the first quarter, which the Eagles won 14-0.

The result, however, wasn’t important .. but here’s what was:

East Lake was able to only run 12 offensive plays over three possessions. The first and second series ended with interceptions.

“We never got into a rhythm,” Eagles coach Bob Hudson said. “We didn’t get into a comfort zone at all. We were hoping for that in the second half.”