Knights' Pringle commits to Youngstown State

What might go down as the turnaround story of the year in Hillsborough County for the 2011 football season will culminate Wednesday when Robinson ATH Byron Pringle signs with Division I-AA Youngstown State.

Knights coach Mike DePue confirmed to the Times that Pringle, who missed all of the 2010 season following his arrest that summer for his involvement in a local crime spree, has committed following a weekend visit to the Ohio school.

Bethune-Cookman was Pringle's only other offer.

"He's a bigger steal than Javier (Arenas) going to Alabama," said DePue, referring to the former Knights standout who became a University of Alabama all-American despite flying below the collective recruiting radar. "A lot of teams sniffed but they didn't jump because of the legal problems."

Pringle's commitment coincides with various reports that Youngstown defensive coordinator Rick Kravitz -- a St. Petersburg native who recruited Pringle -- had been let go. DePue said Pringle, a Times first-team all-county receiver this past season, has his paperwork in hand.

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