Bellamy's USF commitment now 'very soft'

Ah, recruiting. It's hard to keep up with Dunedin running back Adaris "Darius" Bellamy, who was USF's first commitment toward the 2009 class back in spring. Bellamy tells the Times' Bob Putnam that his commitment to USF is now "very soft" -- if I'm counting commitments, that's "very nonexistent" -- and that he'd like to visit Iowa State, FSU and Florida, though only the Cyclones have offered.

Bellamy is a four-star recruit, so losing him would be significant, but USF has picked up another running back commitment since Bellamy in Tallahassee's Bradley Battles and remains in the hunt for several top-tier backs. Onto the links ...

-- Former USF shortstop Addison Maruszak is off to a solid pro debut with the Staten Island Yankees, ranking fifth in the New York-Penn League with a .331 average. More on him from the Staten Island Advance.

-- Again, pointing toward national respect, a columnist in Opelika, Ala., picks USF as one of three national sleepers to not sleep on.

-- Congrats for being ranked No. 19 ... "South Florida State." The Olympian, a paper up in Washington state goofs on the headline in picking up a team preview from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. And the Detroit Free Press wrote last week that a recruit was considering "Southern Florida." Same for a newspaper in California that at least points out that "Southern Florida" is a "Division 1" school.

-- The Times' Izzy Gould and Joey Knight have an update on USF commitment Kamran Joyer, a senior lineman at Wesley Chapel who has dropped 25 pounds in the offseason, much like his future USF linemates.

Comments

Opelika? Isn't that some kind of disease?

[Delray]

The bottom line is when we win the Big East, recruits like the one mentioned above will have to stand on line and take a #....case closed!

[RR]

Example #678,903 of why verbal commitments should be viewed with a very subdued level of excitement.

But you goobers will never learn. You'll continue to name your firstborn after the linebacker from Sheboygan who verbally commits during his junior year, only to change his mind 19 times between then and signing day.

Poor goobers. Poor, poor goobers.

[goober]

RR,

You are obviously not a USF Fan, so why are you wasting your time reading and posting on a USF blog?

And from the looks of the comments, doesn't look like anyone is too worried about some 18 year olds verbal to come or not come to USF.

USF will be fine with or without this kid, but as for you...get a life. It really is sad you have nothing better to do.

[G.A.]

Kids, kids. Don't make me turn this blog around.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Started a new job in DC the other day and my co-workers mentioned that "southern florida" had a good football team and "arent they the mustangs?"

[cg]

That's it. Call off the season. We will now be winless for a decade.

[JR]

Greg, were you at USF's practice this morning? Any injuries occur in the recieving core?

[Norb]

Maybe we just need to give couple million dollar signing bonuses to 15 year old Dominicans to guarantee their verbal commitment sticks... ooops, wrong sport :)

USF scouting has been superb up to this point, look at what they've accomplished with 3 star and lower recruits. As posted above, as USF rises in the ranks, defections will be less prevalent. I'm not worried about the recruits we don't get, we'll continue getting recruits that really want to be Bulls and will help the program keep rising. All the 4 & 5 star Divas, I mean recruits, that FSU signed recently hasn't helped their cause.

Sorry, I'm all over the place today.

[G.A.]

JR, you know something? Wasn't at practice this morning, so we had Joe Rienzi covering for the Times.

[Dave W]

I like Bellamy a lot; he's powerful (though not like Ford). I think he's better than Jamar Taylor, for what that's worth. But Battles should be the top target, and from what I've read, Rodney Scott would be a great get. The fact that Bellamy doesn't have the best offer list indicates that 4* is a little optimistic. Offer lists are more important that stars!

[RR]

Goober:

Oh, geepers creepers......you've found me out. You've exposed me for the fraud I truly am.

I am actually a UT-Martin Skyhawks fan here to rattle your cage before we bring the wood to your little Bulls.

Yeah, so not really. Nice try, though. I'm guessing you think I'm a UCiFer. Can I infer from your defensive words that you are one of the goobers of which I spoke?

[Eric Cullison]

As great of a recruit and power runner bellamy is, we picked up victor marc. Remember, he is by far are best recruit and even though he plays qb in high school he is projected to be a dynamic running back at the college level. He will get a shot at qb but odds are running back.

[goober]

RR,

Never called you a fraud, but you proved my point.

Nothing defensive about my comment.

Thanks.

[Nick Lachey]

Goober tells RR to get a life, then defends his defensive comments as not being defensive?

Oh, vey.

Reminds me of when Jessica thought she knew what she was talking about, but really was off in left field, clueless of reality.

GA...if goobers like....well, Goober, keep commenting on your blog, I'll have to insist that you discontinue this blog all together. I'm a celebrity from a 90's supergroup boyband, so I can make demands like that.

[cg]

You know, sometimes I just don't get you guys.

[G.A.]

Hard for me to take advice from a guy who let Jessica Simpson get away, no? Isn't there a soon-to-be-cancelled reality series you should be hosting?

[GP]

Hey Greg, what was the deal with stopping the twitter updates and then the restart?

[Herman Momart]

Nick Lachay has plenty of options himself im sure...I dont care how hot she is, the hair-headed, im dumb but im cute looks always gets old...In the great words of an old, newly relocated friend Ari Hinkelberger..."find me a hot chick, and i'll find you a guy who is tired of %8*3#4& her."

In USF relevance, good to see Addison doing well at the next level so far.

[G.A.]

On the Twitter, the Times' online folks wanted to check on a few things before having me continue. It's a go now, shouldn't have any more glitches ... Up to 50 people following at twitter.com/gregauman ...

[The Truth]

I've heard contrary reports, I believe his commitment is still solid, if the Gators offer though, anything could happen

[Grothe>Tebow]

if he can't qualify at Florida I am sure that we can still get him to wear the green & gold!!!