10-02-2008, 07:25 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
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PHS star headed to South Florida | pnj.com | Pensacola News Journal
Quote:
Anthony Hill was Florida State's first commitment in the football recruiting class of 2008. The Pensacola High graduate made it well known that he was an FSU guy.
But six months after signing his letter of intent, after sensing the Seminoles are not as interested in him, Hill has now opted for a change of scenery.
Hill, a News Journal All-Area first-team defensive tackle and Class 3A all-state selection in 2007, has decided to leave his commitment to Florida State and will enroll at the University of South Florida in January.
"I really told myself I was going to open up my recruitment a few days ago," said Hill, the No. 51-ranked defensive tackle in the nation last year according to Rivals.com. "I made it official on Monday night. I called my coaches at Florida State and I finally talked to them. I hadn't been talking to them much. I told them how I was feeling and I told them I was ready to go."
Hill committed to FSU just days after National Signing Day in February of 2007, a year in advance. He signed his letter of intent with the Seminoles in February of 2008.
Florida State opted to "greyshirt" the 270-pound Hill for the 2008 season. Relatively small for a defensive tackle at the next level, the greyshirt would Hill time to put on weight and develop his skills.
Greyshirts do not officially enroll in school and are not allowed to practice with the team. They do, however, retain all four years of eligibility and still have a redshirt at their disposal. After greyshirting this season, Hill planned to enroll at FSU in January and be ready for spring practice.
Hill was never against that decision.
"The greyshirt didn't really have too much of an effect (on the transfer)," Hill said. "I looked at it as a positive. It just gave me time to develop myself even more. I didn't hold that against anybody."
Hill's interest in FSU waned when he couldn't get coaches on the telephone this fall, namely defensive line coach Odell Haggins.
"I felt like a small fish in a very big pond," Hill said. "They weren't responding to calls at all. I don't need everyone treating me like a superstar or anything, but I felt like I should at least get some love."
Even with a commitment to the Seminoles throughout his senior season at PHS, South Florida continued to show interest in Hill.
That, combined with best friend and former PHS standout Terrell McClain on the roster, made USF a desirable destination. Including McClain, a starting defensive tackle with the Bulls, USF has five Pensacola-area players on its roster.
Hill talked with McClain for more than an hour last week as he contemplated the move.
"(USF) recruited me a whole lot," Hill said. "Even when I had committed to FSU, They were still telling me how much they wanted me to be there. That just tells me right there that I was valued."
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'08 FL DT Anthony Hill (Florida State signee; transfer to USF)
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