'09 FL RB Jarvis Giles (Tennessee Verbal)

[GoRU]

'09 FL RB Jarvis Giles



Running back
Tampa (FL) Gaither

Ht: 5-foot-11
Wt: 175 lbs
Forty: 4.5 secs
Class: 2009 (High School)


Prep Report - Recruiting Updates Sports - from TBO.com Blogs

Urban Meyer was a busy man on Thursday.

After visiting Plant High School, the University of Florida coach hiked over to Gaither High to get an up close and personal look at junior running back Jarvis Giles. Recruiting rules prohibit contact with underclassman this time of year, but Meyer was able to speak to an assitant coach about the Cowboys star tailback.

“He wanted to get an eyeball’s look at him in person after seeing him on film,” Gaither head coach Mark Kantor said.

Giles has already received offers from Tennessee and UCF.

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Prep Report - Hillsborough Sports - from TBO.com Blogs

Gaither junior running back Jarvis Giles’ scholarship offers are nearing double digits.

Giles received an offer from the University of South Carolina this week. Last week it was North Carolina State. Giles also has offers from Florida, Florida International, Tennessee and UCF.

One of Hilllsborough County’s leading rushers last season with 1,478 yards and 20 touchdowns, Giles is also receiving a lot of interest from Georgia.

Prep Report - Hillsborough Sports - from TBO.com Blogs

The offers keep on coming for Gaither junior running back Jarvis Giles.

Earlier today, the University of South Florida joined the mix. The Bulls will be competing with Florida, Tennessee and South Carolina for Giles’ services.

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Prep Report - Hillsborough Sports - from TBO.com Blogs

Add Boston College to the long list of offers for Jarvis Giles.

That’s the latest for the Gaither High running back. One of the county’s top backs the past two seasons also has offers from Florida and Florida State among others.

Prep Report - Hillsborough Sports - from TBO.com Blogs

Jarvis Giles hit double digits.

The Gaither High junior running back received a scholarship offer from Duke University, bringing his total to 10. One of Hillsborough County’s leading rushers the past two seasons, Giles also has offers from Florida, Florida State, South Carolina, Tennessee and USF.

Prep Report - Hillsborough Sports - from TBO.com Blogs

The Razorbacks want Jarvis Giles.

The University of Arkansas, with new head coach Bobby Petrino, became the latest to offer the Gaither High junior running back a scholarship.

Giles has produced back-to-back 1,000-plus yard seasons in addition to being one of the top track athletes in the state. Giles, however, is forgoing track season this year to focus on academics.

Prep Report - Hillsborough Sports - from TBO.com Blogs

As of right now, Gaither junior running back Jarvis Giles has 11 scholarship offers on the table. Surely, there will be more to come.

Cowboys coach Mark Kantor said Giles will likely narrow his list to three this summer. The schools Giles has to choose from include Florida, Florida State, South Carolina, Tennessee and USF.

Kantor and Giles are scheduled to attend Tennessee’s camp this summer. Giles, who produced back-to-back 1,000-plus yard seasons, is also expected to attend Florida State’s camp.

Giles is currently participating in the spring 7-on-7 league. One of the state’s fastest runners, Giles sat out track season to concentrate on his academics.

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Prep Report - Hillsborough Sports - from TBO.com Blogs

Rutgers University is the latest suitor after Jarvis Giles.

Rutgers is the 12th Division I school to offer the Gaither junior running back a scholarship. Giles will narrow his choices, which also include Florida, Florida State, South Carolina and Tennessee, this summer.

Giles and Gaither coach Mark Kantor are scheduled to attend Tennessee’s camp and also Florida State.

Prep Report - Hillsborough Sports - from TBO.com Blogs

UPDATE: Before the end of the school day, Gaither’s Jarvis Giles received his second offer of the day, this time from North Carolina.

The Tar Heels became the 14th Division I program to offer the running back a scholarship.

Troy University is the latest to offer Jarvis Giles a scholarship, Gaither coach Mark Kantor said.

The Gaither junior running back also has offers from Florida, Florida State and Tennessee.

Giles is expected to attend the Vols and Seminoles football camps this summer. He will also narrow his choices, which now stands at 13, at some point before the start of his senior season.

Prep Report - Hillsborough Sports - from TBO.com Blogs

Jarvis Giles picked up his third offer this week alone, bringing his total to 15.

On Thursday, Clemson offered the Gaither junior running back a scholarship, Cowboys coach Mark Kantor said.

Earlier in the week, Giles received offers from Troy and North Carolina on the same day.

Prep Report - Recruiting Updates Sports - from TBO.com Blogs

Jarvis Giles may be on spring break, but that hasn’t stopped colleges from tracking him down.

Purdue offered the Gaither junior running back a scholarship on Wednesday, Cowboys coach Mark Kantor said.

The Boilermakers became the 16th Division I school to offer one of Hillsborough County’s leading rushers.

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Prep Report - Recruiting Updates Sports - from TBO.com Blogs

Louisville is the latest Division I school to offer Jarvis Giles a scholarship.

The Gaither junior running back has nearly 20 offers from colleges, including Florida, Florida State, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Giles will be visiting schools this summer to attend football camps. Florida State and Tennessee are among the colleges he will be visiting.

Prep Report - Recruiting Updates Sports - from TBO.com Blogs

Jarvis Giles picked up an offer from Nebraska on Thursday.

That makes 18 Division I schools that have offered scholarships to the Gaither junior running back.

Giles also has offers from nearly all the Florida colleges, including the Gators, Florida State and USF. Tennessee reportedly remains a front runner for Giles services.

Rivals $

4/30

Tennessee leads Arkansas, South Carolina, Clemson, Florida State and Florida.

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Vols appear to be strong leader for Giles : Football Recruiting : GoVolsXtra.com

Even with National Signing Day more than seven months away, Jarvis Giles is used to recruiting rumors.

That’s why the tailback from Gaither High School in Tampa, Fla., snickered when he heard the latest on the Internet: that he was days away from committing to Tennessee.

“That’s just a rumor,” the 6-foot, 185-pounder said on Thursday. “I’m not going to commit anytime soon.”

No commitment was needed this week to get Giles in the news. He was invited to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Wednesday. The San Antonio event invites what it deems the top 80-plus players to its all-star event each January.

Giles could have stayed in Florida for the nearby Under Armour All-American Game in Orlando. But you don’t have to talk to Giles long to realize any moment outside of Florida is a good one.

“I don’t want to stay in Florida,” Giles said, referring to his future college decision. “I’ve never seen anything different. I want to see different things. I’m not going to be trapped in Florida my whole life.”

But how about the warm weather?

“It feels like the heat is coming up from the ground,” Giles said. “I hate that feeling.”

But how about the ocean?

“These beaches are all the same,” Giles continued.

Therefore, Florida State, Florida and Miami are non-factors. And thanks to an early relationship with UT’s coaches, the Vols appear to be a strong leader.

“I mean, kind of, in a way,” Giles said with a chuckle when asked if UT was in good shape to land him. “I’ve been talking to them awhile.”

Giles is keeping his options open. Louisville, Clemson, Nebraska and Arkansas are still under consideration.

The Cardinals and Cornhuskers have been making a strong push for the tailback that is rated as the 99th best player in the nation and 13th best tailback by Rivals.com.

Giles said he hopes to make his decision before football season. Otherwise he’ll take some of his five allotted official visits. Only one visit is set in stone, a summer trip to Knoxville in mid-June for a UT football camp.

UT fans should thank first-year running back coach Stan Drayton for the early lead. Giles said his relationship with Drayton is all about trust.

“It’s like I’m just talking to one of my friends,” Giles said.

Gaither coach Mark Canter also knows Giles well. He watched Giles rush for 1,501 yards and 20 touchdowns on 224 carries last season.

“He’s a really good football player,” Canter said. “He can put his foot in the ground and get after it.”

Canter describes Giles as an “inside/outside, complete back.”

“He’s a guy that can take a lead play, run somebody over and get eight yards. Or take a lead play and get 60 (yards),” Canter said.

Canter said Giles is working on improving his pass receiving skills this offseason. Recruiting rumors, on the other hand, aren’t a concern.

“He’s worked this offseason at being more committed to catching the football,” Canter said.

Said Giles, “Recruiting is going good. I’m just sitting back and relaxing.”

But not at the beach.

[HotMic]

Scout $

5/11

From the FSU site. Giles has named a final four of Tennessee, Nebraska, Clemson and Florida State (all offered). He would really would like to go out of state for school, and notes that Tennessee leads.

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6/2

From the South Carolina site. Giles has put recruiting aside for now, and is working on improving his game. Concerning the rumor that he is a big Tennessee lean, he says that it isn't true and that he is open to everyone.

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Prep Report - Recruiting Updates Sports - from TBO.com Blogs

The University of Tennessee has long been a front runner for Jarvis Giles.

Today, Giles made them the clear-cut favorite. The Gaither High running back verbally committed to Tennessee on Friday after spending nearly a week on campus. With almost 20 Division I offers to choose from, Giles had recently narrowed the field to five, which included Clemson, Georgia, Nebraska and South Carolina.

“I’ve just never seen anything like this being from Florida,” Giles said. “I just feel real comfortable here. Everyone has been so nice to me.”

One of Hillsborough County’s leading rushers the last two seasons, Giles had always ranked Tennessee high because of the fact that he has family that lives close by, but also because of the sincere interest from the coaching staff.

Giles arrived in Knoxville on Sunday and has spent time touring the campus. He was impressed by the rather expansive weight room and also by the academic facilities.
“They showed me where Peyton Manning used to study,” Giles said. “That was really cool.”

Prep Report - Hillsborough Sports - from TBO.com Blogs

This is how badly Tennessee wanted Jarvis Giles - they rolled out the orange carpet complete with the school’s biggest star.

During his unofficial visit this past week, Giles met a lot of the coaches, including men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl, but one coach in particular had the biggest impact. Giles got to meet women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt. Tennessee football coach Phil Fulmer has said Summitt helps him during the recruiting process by making herself available. As the Tampa Tribune first reported, Giles verbally committed on Friday, but not until he made an impression on Summitt.

Gaither coach Mark Kantor said at one point during the meet and greet he looked over and Giles had Summitt in a bear hug.

“I’ve seen her on TV all the time,” Giles said. “I got light headed when she walked out. I almost fainted and she asked me if I was going to be OK. Then she showed me all the national championship trophies.”

Running back Giles picks Vols after trippin' visit : Football Recruiting : GoVolsXtra.com

First-year Tennessee running backs coach Stan Drayton put the Vols in the lead for Jarvis Giles. The city of Knoxville sealed the deal.

Giles, one of the top prospects in the nation, didn’t even need to step foot in East Tennessee to realize where he needed to be. The running back from Gaither High School in Tampa, Fla., saw his future home during his inbound flight.

“Oh my God! Is that a mountain? Is that a mountain?” the 5-foot-11, 178-pound Giles exclaimed Friday, recalling his emotions when he first saw Knoxville. “I’ve never seen anything like that. I was trippin’.”

Giles flew into Knoxville on Wednesday. A day later Giles committed, an easy decision once he met the town’s citizens.

“People I don’t even know walk up to me and shake my hand and ask me how I’m doing,” Giles said. “I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. Everybody here’s a family. I respect that.

“There’s a lot of love.”

One of those citizens Giles met was Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summit. Giles was admittedly starstruck.

“I love that lady to death,” he said. “I almost had a heart attack.”

Giles is UT’s second commitment in two days as the Vols hold their football camp this week. Offensive lineman Kevin Revis of Rhea County committed Thursday to UT.

Giles is rated as the 99th best player in the nation and 13th best tailback by Rivals.com. He also has been invited to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio.

UT beat out Georgia and Clemson, among many others, for Giles’ services.

“It’s a lot of relief off my shoulders,” said Giles, who ran for 1,501 yards and 20 touchdowns on 224 carries last season. “I’m pretty happy about it.”

Giles is a rare prospect. It’s not often that such a highly touted player from Florida has no interest in Florida, Florida State or Miami.

Such was the case with Giles all along. Each of Florida’s big three pursued Giles, but he said early and often that he was determined to leave the Sunshine State.

Giles is the second prospect committed to UT that is listed on Rivals Top 100 list. Receiver Je’Ron Stokes from Northeast High in Philadelphia is rated 51st best in the nation.

With high rankings will come high expectations. That doesn’t bother Giles.

“I’m not going to come in all cocky and think I’m going to run things. (But) I’m going to try to break the freshman (rushing) record and be a Heisman candidate,” Giles said.

Whatever happens on the field, it seems Giles will be happy in Knoxville, far away from the mean looks he says he receives in his hometown.

“I’ve never seen anything like this community,” he said. “Never.”

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Scout $

6/16

From the Tennessee site. Wanted to get his verbal out of the way so that he can enroll early. Tennessee has led for some time.

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ESPN - Sunshine State stocked with backs in the '09 class - Football Recruiting

Giles is the most sudden and explosive back of the three and perhaps in the entire country. Although he might not have the body structure to carry the load at this point, the Tennessee commit is very dangerous with his ability to find and hit the downhill seam very quickly and impressively reach top speed by his second step. We feel he will be most productive with 15-20 touches per game in a multipurpose role in Knoxville.