Aycock turns to USF for 2nd chance

Posted Jul 12, 2010 by Scott Carter

Updated Jul 12, 2010 at 10:23 PM

Hey folks, finally caught up with former Chamberlain High standout Dontae Aycock this afternoon to get in his own words that he is going to walk on at USF.

USF fans will be glad to know that Aycock, who redshirted at Auburn last season, has applied to USF and expects to be enrolled by the time the Bulls open camp Aug. 4.

Also caught up with Notre Dame defensive back Spencer Boyd this evening. Boyd and his family are still in South Bend for a couple of days, but they’ll be cruising down I-75 later this week now that Boyd has passed a final summer course at Notre Dame. He sent his application in to USF last week and like Aycock, plans to be enrolled in school by the time fall camp starts.

Both players must sit out a season according to NCAA transfer rules, but Aycock and Boyd add depth and talent to USF’s roster as Bulls coach Skip Holtz builds for the future.

I’ll have more from Boyd on the blog Tuesday—if all goes as planned, his first game with the Bulls will be in ... South Bend vs. his old team to open the 2011 season. For now, here is a story on Aycock running in Tuesday’s edition of The Tampa Tribune, plus a quote from Boyd on his interest in USF:

By SCOTT CARTER
The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA— Former Chamberlain High standout Dontae Aycock, the 2008 Guy Toph Award winner, has spent the majority of his summer seeking a second chance.

After redshirting his freshman season at Auburn, Aycock was dismissed from the team for an unspecified violation of team rules in May. Aycock said Monday that he’ll resume his football career at South Florida this fall.

Aycock, who had not spoken publicly since USF made him an offer as a preferred walk-on this month, says he is excited about returning to his hometown.

“What mainly attracts me to USF is that it’s closer to home,’’ Aycock said. “That’s where I want to go. I wanted to come back home and play football and be with my family.’‘

Aycock was recruited by USF coming out of high school, but former coach Jim Leavitt and his staff wanted Aycock to move from offense and develop into a linebacker. Aycock, who played quarterback at Chamberlain, preferred to remain on offense after rushing for 1,406 yards and 28 touchdowns and throwing for 1,491 yards and 17 TDs as a senior.

He signed late with Auburn as a running back after verbally committing to play quarterback at Georgia Tech earlier in the recruiting process.

The year away from home and the change in coaching staffs at USF prompted him to contact USF about a roster spot.

“Everyone I’ve talked to on the coaching staff is great,’’ Aycock said. “They have a young team and a young quarterback, who in years to come is only going to get better. They had a good season last year. They have a brand new coaching staff. That excites me.’‘

Aycock said he will be enrolled in the fall semester and plans to join the Bulls when they open camp Aug. 4. Aycock must sit out a season due to NCAA transfer rules but is eligible to practice and hopes to earn a scholarship in the spring.

“I’m not planning on changing any position,’’ he said. “I’m planning on playing running back for USF.’‘

While Aycock could transfer to a junior college and play immediately, or sign with another Division I school and be placed on scholarship immediately, that’s not in his plans.

“Really, I haven’t taken any calls from other colleges,’’ he said. “USF is where I’m going.’‘

In other USF news, former East Carolina FB/TE Kevin Gidrey, who played for Skip Holtz the past three seasons, is expected to play his final season for the Bulls if he is admitted into graduate school. Gidrey has also shown an interest in coaching and is a candidate to perhaps join the staff as a graduate assistant once his playing eligibility expires following next season.

Also, former Cape Coral defensive back Spencer Boyd, an early enrollee at Notre Dame last spring, is transferring to USF.

“After I decided to transfer, that was the only school I was going to pursue,’’ Boyd said Monday. “I’m transferring for family issues, and that’s as close to home as I could get. I can’t wait to get started.’’