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USF transfer Reilly Gibbons declared eligible by NCAA

 
Published June 13, 2015

TAMPA — USF will receive some much-needed help on its offensive line this season after all.

Stanford transfer Reilly Gibbons, a former four-star recruit out of St. Petersburg Catholic, was declared immediately eligible to play by the NCAA on Friday.

The decision, first reported by 247Sports, concluded a long series of appeals for the 6-foot-6, 305-pound redshirt freshman, who transferred to USF in the fall. Gibbons was originally told by the NCAA in February he would have to sit out a year after a waiver of the transfer rule — requiring players who move from one Division I-A program to another to sit out a season — was denied.

Gibbons signed with Stanford in February 2014 and took two summer classes. But after straining a knee ligament on the second day of preseason camp, he never participated with the team again.

His father, Shannon, said Bulls coach Willie Taggart called Gibbons on Friday afternoon to deliver the long-awaited news.

"He was elated and so excited when Coach Taggart called him," Shannon Gibbons said. "It's a blessing, it really is. It's great for Reilly and the whole family."

Gibbons is expected to provide stability to an offensive line that lost three key seniors, including center Austin Reiter, who was selected by the Redskins in the seventh round of May's NFL draft.

Ex-Gibbs star upset; Florida 2nd

EUGENE, Ore. — Gibbs High graduate Trayvon Bromell, last year's national champion in the 100 meters, finished second in that event for Baylor on Friday at the Division I Outdoor Track And Field Championships.

Andre De Grasse of USC won in a wind-aided 9.75 seconds to edge Bromell (9.88 seconds). Florida State's Kendal Williams (9.98) was fifth.

De Grasse also won the 200 meters in a wind-aided 19.58 seconds, denying Bromell and Florida's Dedric Dukes, who both finished in 19.86. Williams (20.45) was eighth. Both the 100 and 200 were the fastest NCAA races ever, though wind-aided.

The Florida men finished second with 56 points, 29 behind host Oregon, which won its second straight title. FSU (10) tied for 19th.

UF's Marquis Dendy earned his seventh career national title, and fourth outdoors, in the triple jump at 58 feet, 11/4 inches. FSU's Jonathan Reid (54-21/2) was fifth and USF's Matthew O'Neal (52-103/4) was ninth.

Florida's Najee Glass was fourth in the 400 meters. UF was second in the 4x400 relay and sixth in the 4x100. In the 3,000 steeplechase, UF's Mark Parrish of Chamberlain High was sixth and FSU's Zak Seddon eighth. Florida's Eric Futch was seventh in the 400 hurdles and Andres Arroyo was eighth in the 800.

Basketball: North Carolina State forward Lennard Freeman is recovering from surgery to repair a broken right leg. He will need three to four months before he can resume full activities.

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ACC windfall: The ACC's revenue surpassed $300 million for 2013-14, the Daily Press in Newport News, Va., reported. The paper reported that about $272 million was split among 15 member schools with FSU getting $20.2 million.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.