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Griffin Alstott's Purdue offer comes on his own merit

 
Quarterback Griffin Alstott, right, threw for 1,725 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior last season at Northside Christian.
Quarterback Griffin Alstott, right, threw for 1,725 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior last season at Northside Christian.
Published March 17, 2016

Griffin Alstott grew up watching his father play fullback for the Buccaneers. But when it came time for him to play the game, he always wanted to be a different player than his famous dad. That's part of the reason he opted to compete at quarterback.

Alstott has been the starting quarterback at Northside Christian for the past two seasons. At 6-foot-2 and nearly 200 pounds, he has the build and arm strength to attract the attention of college coaches. He threw for 1,725 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior.

Recently, one of the colleges to offer Alstott was his father's alma mater, Purdue. Alstott said the offer didn't come because of his father, Mike, though.

"It was great to get an offer from Purdue, as well as the other schools that offered me,'' Alstott said. "There was no influence from my dad for Purdue to offer me. Purdue reached out to us after watching my film.''

His other offers are from Appalachian State, Akron, Troy and Coastal Carolina. He has already visited Troy and Appalachian State and has plans to visit the other schools soon, he said.

Alstott also said those schools are interested in him as a quarterback and not another position, like, say, fullback. As he enters his senior season, Alstott isn't in a hurry to commit.

"I'll let the recruiting process take place and I will figure out what's best for me academically and athletically,'' he said.

CCC the epicenter for college recruiters

With running back/defensive back Rashaad Stewart picking up an offer from Marshall this week, Clearwater Central Catholic now has five players who are either committed to or hold offers from a Division I-A program.

Dillan Gibbons, an offensive lineman who transferred from Northside Christian, already has committed to Notre Dame. The others with offers are receiver/defensive back Amari Burney, athlete CJ Cotman and linebacker Deandre Fitzhenley.

The Marauders are not finished.

First-year coach Chris Harvey said five more players — kicker Tyler McDonald, running back/defensive back Jervon Newton, defensive lineman Jerquan Newton, quarterback Jakob Parks and receiver/defensive back Dylan Scargle — could have offers in the spring.

Harvey said he has heard from at least 70 colleges who will visit this spring.

"There will be a lot of traffic here," Harvey said. "I can only imagine what it was like when Riley Cooper and Colin McCarthy were here. Well, we've got about eight or nine guys who could potentially go Division I."

Bogie's Beaton breaks through

After a stellar junior season that included 72 tackles and six passes defended, Boca Ciega defensive back Letayveon Beaton is starting to get some attention.

He picked up his first offer from Toledo last month and Pirates coach Max Smith expects more once coaches come down and see Beaton in person during spring football.

At 6-foot, 196 pounds, Beaton already has the size programs covet.

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Now, he has the speed.

Beaton ran the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds at the Nike Opening Regional in Orlando. His time could improve considering Beaton is running track this season.

Another Boca Ciega prospect that could pick up his first offer this spring is receiver Sam Thompson. He had a breakthrough as a junior with a team-high 764 yards receiving on 45 catches.

"There is a lot of interest for Sam," Smith said. "I think all it will take is for coaches to see him in the spring for things to start rolling for him."