TBO.com - Live in the moment

RECRUITING

Jefferson Tops County As Tradition Continues

By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON The Tampa Tribune

Published: Feb 8, 2007

TAMPA - Gary Garcia represented his son, Stephen, who already had enrolled at South Carolina, during signing day ceremonies at Jefferson High School.

The 53-year-old might be the only person at Jefferson on Wednesday who did not sign a football scholarship.

Jefferson had nine players, and even a former athlete who played two years at a junior college, ink their names on scholarship offers during National Signing Day. The Dragons had more players sign than any other school in Hillsborough County.

During former coach Mike Simmonds' eight-year tenure, 75 players signed scholarships. First-year coach Mike Fenton continued the tradition.

"We set a couple of goals here every year. One is winning football games, and sometimes more importantly than that, getting kids ready to play football at the next level," Fenton said. "We have a sign that I put out in the practice field in spring that reads, 'Dragons Den: Gateway To College.'

"It's an expectation we have, it's a goal we set, and it's a big reason why every year we do have a high amount of kids who sign scholarships."

Jefferson also will have a large group of players heading to Murfreesboro, Tenn., this summer.

Defensive back Kevin Brown, lineman Mike Williams, lineman Demarcus Cleveland and tight end Byron McLeod signed scholarships with Middle Tennessee State University. Meanwhile, defensive back Marcus McGee will use his 5.03 grade-point average to attend MTSU on an academic scholarship and grant, but will receive an athletic scholarship in January.

"That's a special part about it. That is what made Tennessee really special to me. Not a lot of guys get to go to college period, and the fact that I'm going up with four or five of my best friends is something special," Williams said. "We all worked hard together, and we're already a family. It's great to go up there with our friends."

Also signing scholarships Wednesday were receiver Evan Cromer (Eastern Kentucky), defensive back Trey Hill (Wayne State), defensive lineman Tyler Hardin (Air Force) and former Jefferson and Mesabi Range Community and Technical College running back Nigel Smith (Virginia Wesleyan College).

"It was real emotional. The whole process was something different," Brown said. "These are the guys I played with for three years, and those three years were the best years of my life. These are guys that if I never played football again, we'd still be a part of a brotherhood."

Cleveland agreed.

"This is where it started. We understand we have a chance to go on and do bigger things, but this has been our home for the last four years," he said. "We're happy we have a chance to go on, but we have to start over and prove ourselves again. It's bittersweet."

Reporter Anwar S. Richardson can be reached at (813) 259-8425 or arichardson@tampatrib.com.