Washington’s Floyd headed to Florida
One minute Sharrif Floyd was wearing a helmet, kicking butt and not bothering to take names in a national high all-star football game.
One minute Sharrif Floyd was wearing a helmet, kicking butt and not bothering to take names in a national high all-star football game.
The next his head was bare, and four hats were in front of him. Along with brights lights and cameras.
Welcome to modern times, and how things sometimes get done.
Floyd, a 6-3, 310-pound senior defensive tackle at George Washington High, announced his college commitment, to a national TV audience, at halftime of the U.S. Army All-America Bowl, played Saturday in San Antonio.
"We came off the field and went right into the room," Floyd said yesterday by cell phone, after arriving back in Philly. "All my family got around the table and then they asked me where I was going. Coach Cohen put the hat on me to tell them which one was my choice."
The winner: Florida. The also-rans: Ohio State, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Floyd acknowledged the accuracy of earlier rumors...Ohio State had indeed been the favorite.
"Then it was basically jumping back and forth between Florida and Ohio State," he said. "Based on talks I had with the coaches, I started falling further away from Ohio State and closer to Florida. That's what I decided, and that's what I'm going to stick with.
"I started leaning to Florida the day after I got there. The weather had nothing to do with it. It was just where I felt more comfortable."
Florida is adding quite the motherlode. Three other all-star game participants - defensive end Ronald Powell (Calif.), defensive back Matt Elam and linebacker Gerald Christian (they're teammates at Dwyer High, in Florida) - also will be Gators.
"We didn't recruit each other," Floyd said. "Just turned out this way. We all had our own ideas of where we wanted to go, and why. We all did what was best for us. All week I was picking guys' brains and giving them my insights, too."
Despite Floyd's best efforts, East fell to West, 30-14.
"I felt as though I had a great game, and that it showed," he said. "Now I have to keep working hard and go into Florida and show them what I can do. The possibility of starting is there. It'll depend on my level of play. I'm at least looking to get early playing time."
