Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Top football recruit Bo Scarbrough moves to Tuscaloosa County from Northridge

Published: Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at 10:52 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at 2:02 p.m.

Scarbrough, a running back/wide receiver who is rated as a four-star athlete by Rivals.com, has officially enrolled at TCHS after playing three seasons at Northridge. Scarbrough is the No. 2-rated prospect in the state and No. 21-ranked player in the nation.

Scarbrough isn't the only high-profile player to transfer to TCHS in the offseason. Quarterback Seth Franks has transferred from Brookwood to Tuscaloosa County, and Scarbrough said that University of Florida commitment and former Northridge tight end Cyontai Lewis will also to transfer to TCHS. Franks, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound prospect, already holds a scholarship offer from Jacksonville State and has spent this week competing at Alabama's camp.

Scarbrough confirmed his transfer.

"I enrolled Wednesday," he said. "We first talked about moving in April. My mom brought it up to me, and we talked about it and decided it was the best thing for me and my family.

"I haven't talked with anybody at Northridge, but I love (Northridge) Coach (Mike) Smith like he was my own daddy."

Smith said Northridge will manage without the highly ranked recruit.

"Really, I don't have a lot to say. I'd rather talk about a kid that's in my program now," Smith said. "You just keep going. There was football before Bo Scarbrough at Northridge, and there will be football after him.

"I get paid to coach Northridge, and that's all I can do. What's done is done."

Scarbrough joins a Tuscaloosa County team that went 9-3 in 2012, advancing to the second round of the 6A playoffs.

Scarbrough can immediately work out and practice with Tuscaloosa County, but before he can compete for the Wildcats in 7-on-7 offseason events or games he must be ruled eligible by the Alabama High School Athletic Association. The AHSAA requires players transferring from one in-state school to another to make a "bona fide move."

According to the AHSAA website, "A bona fide move occurs when a student's parents move completely out of one school attendance zone into another."

The AHSAA guidelines for determining a bona fide move include:

- The household furniture of the family must be moved into an unoccupied house or apartment.

- All principal members of the family must reside in the new place of residence.

- The original residence must be closed, rented or disposed of and not used by the family.

- Nine months at the new residence will be required to make a move bona fide.

TCHS coach Lee Gibson knows the process.

"As far as him with us, it's like with any transfer, there's steps that we'll have to take," Gibson said. "There are forms that we'll have to fill out ... some transfer forms. (Tuscaloosa County principal Mark) Franks has already contacted the state. We'll have to make sure it's a bona fide move according to the Alabama High School Athletic Association. We'll go out to the old residence and to the new residence and make sure everything is as it should be according to the rules. It's called the bona fide rule forms, and it usually takes a couple of days."

Scarbrough said he switched schools for academic reasons.

"We thought County High would be the best place academically," Scarbrough said. "We just think that they have stuff different that helps you more with your school work, tutoring and stuff like that."

Smith, Scarbrough's coach at Northridge, said the 6-foot-2, 222-pound player's attributes are obvious.

"It's pretty evident," Smith said. "He's big and fast. I'd like to see what he did after a whole season. He never made it a whole season."

Scarbrough sustained a knee injury near the end of his sophomore season and missed the playoffs. Smith said Scarbrough injured an ankle his junior year. Scarbrough broke an ankle as a freshman.

"He'll mesh with what we already have," Gibson said. "My conversation to him is to buy in to what we try to do as a team. It's Tuscaloosa County High first.

"He is what he is as a player, though. We're looking forward to see how he can help us offensively. We're going to look at him as a receiver and as a running back. That's how he fits into what we need."

Scarbrough finished his junior season with 792 yards rushing in six games, averaging 132 yards per game and 6.9 yards per carry. He rushed for 768 yards and six touchdowns through the first five games. In the opener against Bob Jones, he gained 214 yards and scored three touchdowns in a 40-30 victory. Bob Jones coach Kevin Rose called Scarbrough "the best running back in America."

Scarbrough gained 164 yards and scored a touchdown on a 30-yard run against Hillcrest. After the game he announced a commitment to Alabama. He had 159 yards and a touchdown in a win over Minor. Hoover, which beat the Jaguars 55-7, limited Scarbrough to 87 yards rushing. He rushed for 144 yards and scored touchdown in a loss to Pelham.

Scarbrough did not play in the Oct. 5 game against Tuscaloosa County, which the Wildcats won 19-0. Smith said after the game that Scarbrough's return would depend on his "attitude."

Scarbrough played briefly in a loss to Hueytown. He had a 20-yard gain before being injured in the first quarter.

The quarterback, Franks, completed 71 of 148 passes (48 percent) for 966 yards, averaging 138 yards per game in seven games last season. He threw seven touchdown passes and five interceptions.

"At Tuscaloosa County there is better competition, and I'll be competing against good guys for a chance at the starting job," Franks said. "There'll be better players pushing me to get better.

"I think that's pretty important. At Brookwood there was no one pushing me. The competition helps me to stay on my game every day. It makes me work to get better."

He will compete for the starting job along with Justin Hall, Steven Dover and Justen Little.

"He's still competing with the other guys, but he adds the fact that he's had some varsity experience and he's had some good exposure at camps that he's been to," Gibson said.

Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0229. Andrew Carroll contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20130604/news/130609933

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