Talented Hillsborough RB Lindsey Lamar had scholarship offers from programs such as Boston College, Duke, Michigan, South Carolina and Wake Forest, but in the end he has chosen to stay close to home.

Very close.

He will be a USF Bull.

Lamar, who averaged more than 11 yards per carry as a senior and was a Times first-team all-county selection, committed to USF just a few minutes ago.

"I'm real excited," Lamar told the Times. "My family is even more excited. They get to see me whenever they want."

Last fall, the 5-foot-9, 165-pound Lamar rushed for 1,377 yards and 18 touchdowns. At USF, the speedster, who also is a sprint standout and plans to run track for the Bulls, will likely split time between RB and WR, much like Percy Harvin does at Florida.

Lamar was high on several of the other previously mentioned programs, but felt "at home" at USF. In the end, USF, Duke and South Carolina were his finalists.

"I feel like if I got the opportunity to play college football and do my thing, I might as well do it in my backyard," Lamar said.

Lamar is one of the state's premier sprinters (he runs the 100 and 200 meters). You can find his results from the 2008 state track and field meet HERE.

Lamar is the second high-profile Hillsborough County recruit to pledge to the Bulls in recent days. As the Times was first to report,  Armwood DE Ryne Giddins, a consensus four-star recruit, committed to USF Saturday.