Spring football gives coaches time to test out players who are new to the sport or evaluate players who have seen little varsity action. • Here are four of the North Suncoast’s secret weapons who saw little or no varsity time last fall but could become game changers this upcoming ...
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Thu. May 16, 2013 at 3:02 p.m. | Matt Baker
TAMPA — While big names like East Lake’s Mason Cole, Lakewood’s Isaiah Wynn and St. Petersburg Catholic’s Reilly Gibbons head up a class of offensive linemen that might be Tampa Bay’s best ever, the river of talent across the line of scrimmage this year is a deep one, running from ...
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Sat. May 11, 2013 at 3:11 p.m. | John C. Cotey
BROOKSVILLE One of Hernando’s biggest challenges this spring is to find a replacement for Tyrail Hawkins, the do-it-all athlete who lined up everywhere from quarterback to defensive back to returner and signed with Georgia Southern. • “We won’t have just that one guy,” Leopards coach Dwayne Mobley said. “We’ve got ...
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Wed. May 08, 2013 at 3:49 p.m. | Matt Baker
Hernando County recruiting is having one of its biggest springs ever. Hernando lineman Connor Foradas is the latest piece of evidence. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound senior earned his first college offer Tuesday, from Purdue, Foradas said in a text message. Foradas was one of the top linemen for the Leopards last ...
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Tue. May 07, 2013 at 10:49 p.m. | Matt Baker
Two North Suncoast prospects landed scholarship offers Monday. UMass became the second program to offer Hernando LB/RB Jeremiah Jackson, the Leopards senior said in a text message. Purdue has also offered Jackson, a hard-hitting 6-foot, 215-pound all-North Suncoast prospect. Last fall, he rushed for almost 500 yards while racking up ...
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Mon. May 06, 2013 at 6:51 p.m. | Matt Baker
Quarterbacks get the headlines, the pressure and the scrutiny — even in spring ball. The North Suncoast didn’t graduate any superstar passers, but it lost several veteran starters and ended last season with a few battles still brewing under center. Here’s a quick look at some of the quarterback situations ...
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Thu. May 02, 2013 at 8:45 p.m. | Matt Baker
Hernando DB Troy Grant Hambrick has received his first college offer, from FAMU, he said Friday afternoon in a text message. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound athlete was one of Hernando County’s top defensive backs as a junior. He intercepted four passes, broke up 14 and averaged 4.5 tackles per game for ...
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Fri. April 26, 2013 at 5:29 p.m. | Matt Baker
Hernando OL Andrew Timmons has orally committed to Graceland University, Leopards coach Dwayne Mobley said Wednesday morning. Timmons, a 6-foot-1, 290-pound senior, was a key lineman for the Leopards. He had one pancake block as a senior and helped open holes for the run-heavy offense and Georgia Southern signee Tyrail ...
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Wed. April 24, 2013 at 11:12 a.m. | Matt Baker
Palm Harbor University’s offseason has been filled with football players changing schools. Shane Dixon, the team’s leading receiver, bolted for IMG Academy. Starting fullback Connor Dorris transferred to Clearwater Central Catholic. Backup quarterback Brevet Killett left for Gibbs. But starting quarterback Tyler Kaminski has stayed. It would have been easy ...
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Sat. April 13, 2013 at 3:02 p.m. | Bob Putnam
TAMPA — Ray Ray McCloud is still waiting for his first offer. But it’s offseasons like the one he is having that pretty much tell you he won’t be waiting long. McCloud (5-10, 187) was recently named the offensive MVP at a Rivals Underclassman Camp, which he entered as a ...
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Sat. April 06, 2013 at 6:10 p.m. | John C. Cotey
Hernando assistant Mark Latsko is headed home. The Leopards defensive coordinator confirmed Thursday that he will be the next head football coach at Gainesville High, his alma mater. “It’s a little bit of a homecoming for me,” Latsko said. “I’m excited, and I’m ready to go get to work and ...
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Thu. March 21, 2013 at 4:46 p.m. | Matt Baker
Hernando LB Darren Hambrick has agreed to go into a pre-trial intervention program that could result in charges being dropped from his December arrest. Prosecutors agreed to place Hambrick into a pre-trial intervention program. His charges will be dropped if he completes community service, attends an anger management class and ...
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Tue. Feb. 19, 2013 at 3:22 p.m. | Matt Baker
BROOKSVILLE — Hernando senior Darren Hambrick strolled into the office with a new haircut and a freshly trimmed beard. He had traded in his jeans and T-shirt look for a pair of black slacks and a sharp purple shirt and tie with a silver pen poking out. “Your appearance makes ...
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Fri. Feb. 08, 2013 at 1:05 p.m. | Matt Baker
Hernando LB Darren Hambrick plans to sign with Nebraska-Kearney on Friday, Leopards coach Dwayne Mobley said Thursday afternoon. Hambrick initially told the Times in the fall that he was committed to Missouri. The two-star prospect had offers from Kent State, Western Kentucky and UMass, among others. Hambrick, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound ...
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Thu. Feb. 07, 2013 at 3:15 p.m. | Matt Baker
Hernando DL/LB Darren Hambrick has orally committed to Nebraska-Kearney, Leopards assistant Tom Bronson confirmed Tuesday in a text message. Hambrick was one of the top pass rushers on the North Suncoast over his career. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound senior racked up five sacks this fall and 5.5 as a junior. He ...
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Tue. Jan. 29, 2013 at 5:45 p.m. | Matt Baker