• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Featured Video
    • Foodie Friday
    • Monthly ReCap
  • Online E-Editions
    • This Week’s E-Editions
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

       

Click to join our weekly e-newsletter

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
    • Reasons To Smile
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Sponsored Content
    • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits
  • Public Notices

Baltimore Ravens

Pasco High gets new football coach

January 16, 2019 By Kevin Weiss

Pasco High School will have a new head football coach roaming the sidelines, for the first time in more than a decade.

The school recently announced its next head coach is Jason Stokes — a coaching mainstay in the Tampa Bay area, most notably at Gaither High School.

Jason Stokes has been named Pasco High School’s football coach. (File)

Stokes, 43, replaces longtime Pasco coach Tom McHugh, who was relieved of his coaching duties following four consecutive losing seasons, including a 2-8 mark this past year.

Stokes most recently coached at Lake Region High School, in Polk County. The perennially struggling program went winless in his lone season there.

Stokes has achieved coaching success elsewhere, however.

In 2017, he served a season as offensive coordinator at Indian Rocks Christian High School, which went 9-3 and reached the 2A regional finals.

He’s best known for his time at Gaither, from 2011 to 2016 — steering that program to playoff appearances in each of his first three seasons. (He later resigned in the middle of the 2016 season after reports surfaced about using ineligible players, which led to three games forfeited that year.)

Before that, Stokes was the head football coach at Bloomingdale (7-5 in 2008) and Middleton (10-10 combined record in 2009-10) high schools.

In taking over for McHugh, Stokes undoubtedly has big shoes to fill.

McHugh compiled an 86-50 mark in 12 seasons, winning six district titles (2007-12) and two regional titles (2008, 2011).

He is the county’s fifth winningest coach in public schools, behind John Benedetto (195 wins at Land O’ Lakes), Tom Fisher (124 wins at Zephyrhills), John Castelamare (103 wins at River Ridge, Mitchell) and Scott Schmitz (94 wins at River Ridge, Mitchell).

McHugh also coached a trio of Pasco players who would go on to the NFL— Josh Johnson, a former San Diego Charger and Jacksonville Jaguar cornerback who now plays for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League; Janarion Grant, a wide receiver currently on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad; and, Joey Ivie, a defensive tackle currently on the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad.

Yet, the Pirates have struggled in recent years under McHugh, going a combined 10-30 the past four years. Moreover, the program suffered four straight defeats to crosstown foe Zephyrhills High School in the annual 9-Mile War rivalry game, losing those games by an average margin of nearly 40 points.

Despite the difficulties of late, the Pirates do have a young roster stocked with promising players.

That includes linebacker Gabriel Barnes, tailback Malcolm Gibbs, receiver Darrion Robinson and lineman Savion Spaights, who will all be juniors next season, as well as rising seniors in quarterback Desmin Green, defensive back Jordan Mclaughlin and offensive/defensive tackle Cody Rand, among others.

New Sunlake football coach Trey Burdick, left, pictured with former Sunlake all-star linebacker Adam Jarvis. (Courtesy of Trey Burdick)

Meanwhile, Pasco isn’t the only local school to undergo a coaching change this offseason.

In early December, Sunlake High School named assistant Trey Burdick as its next head coach, to replace the now-retired Bill Browning, the only head varsity football coach in the school’s history.

Burdick, 36, has been an assistant at Sunlake since 2008, where he’s coached linebackers, tight ends, special teams, and served as the team’s recruiting coordinator; he’s also been the school’s head track coach for six years, a role he’ll continue as head football coach.

Prior to Sunlake, Burdick was an assistant for two years at Tallahassee Godby High School, working under Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Famer Shelton Crews. He also played football for Tallahassee Lincoln High School, where he was a member of the 1999 6A state championship team.

Sunlake is coming off back-to-back 4-6 marks. Before that, from 2010 to 2016, the Seahawks strung together seven consecutive winning seasons and four playoff appearances.

Published January 16, 2019

Locals make 2018 NFL rosters

September 19, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

The NFL season is underway and a handful of athletes from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area wound up making rosters, proving themselves worthy throughout training camp and preseason action.

Here is a look at the locals now playing at football’s highest level:

Janarion Grant
(Courtesy of the Baltimore Ravens)

Janarion Grant, receiver—Baltimore Ravens
College: Rutgers University (Piscataway, New Jersey)
High School: Pasco High School; graduated in 2013

The 5-10, 173-pound shifty athlete overcame the odds as an undrafted rookie—and nagging injuries his last two college seasons—to make the Baltimore Ravens’ 53-man roster.

His prowess on special teams was a big reason why; penciled in as the team’s starting kick and punt returner.

Grant, 24, showcased that skillset in Week 1, with a field-flipping 51-yard return in the Ravens 47-3 home win over the Buffalo Bills, breaking several tackles, and utilizing his agility and straight-line speed.

Path to the pros
Grant’s path to the NFL wasn’t without some hardship, particularly in regard to staying healthy.

While at Rutgers, Grant suffered an ankle injury early in 2016 that forced him to miss all but four games and later gain a medical redshirt. He also battled ailments the following year as a fifth-year senior, able to play in just seven contests.

Despite limited action his final two collegiate seasons, Grant wound up becoming Rutgers’ all-time kickoff return yardage leader (2,857 yards) and tied for the NCAA record for combined kick return touchdowns (eight).

Meanwhile, Grant left a lasting legacy at Pasco High School, where he was a four-year starter and still holds the county record for most career touchdowns (77) by a skill player. The two-time All-State selection also tallied over 5,000 career all-purpose yards in his prep career.

Joey Ivie
(Courtesy of the Kansas City Chiefs)

Joey Ivie, defensive tackle—Kansas City Chiefs
College: University of Florida
High School: Pasco High School; graduated in 2013

The 6-foot-3, 295-pound defensive tackle is now on his fourth NFL franchise since being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round (228th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Ivie, 23, was recently signed to the Chiefs practice squad after brief stints with the Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks, respectively.

He spent most of the 2017 regular season on the Falcons’ practice squad after being waived by the Cowboys before the start of that season.

Though he’s not yet seen any regular season action as a practice squad player, NFL teams seem to value his motor, energy and overall athleticism. Lack of desired mass and power as a run-stopper has been a knock, however.

Path to the pros
Ivie was a strong contributor to the Florida Gators since his freshman year. His best campaign came as a senior in 2016, starting 10 of 11 games while battling a thumb injury (26 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks).

Like Janarion Grant, Ivie himself shined for Pasco High School, where he posted a combined 142 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, and 20 sacks as a junior and senior. The skillset and production on the line helped him become a prized four-star recruit, with more than 20 Division I scholarship offers. Meanwhile, the Pirates went a combined 36-3 mark and captured three district titles in the three seasons Ivie spent on varsity.

Alex McGough
(Courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)

Alex McGough, quarterback—Seattle Seahawks
College: Florida International University
High School: Wesley Chapel High School (freshman year only), Gaither High School; graduated in 2014

Selected by the Seahawks in the seventh round (220th overall) of this year’s NFL Draft, the

6-foot-3, 214-pound signal-caller proved himself worthy of making the team’s practice squad roster after showing signs of potential throughout the preseason — completing 58 percent of his passes for 416 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, and rushing for 59 yards.

The Seahawks certainly seem to like the 23-year-old McGough, considering he’s the NFL’s third-highest paid practice squad player, according to NFL.com reporter Tom Pelissaro, earning $28,235 per week, totaling up to $451,760 for the entire season. (The minimum amount a team can pay their practice squad player is $7,600 per week totaling up to $120,000 for the regular season.)

McGough is one of three quarterbacks on the Seahawks roster, behind four-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson and fourth-year veteran Brett Hundley.

Path to the pros
McGough became FIU’s most decorated passer and set numerous school passing records across four years as a starter.

For his career, he completed 807 of 1335 passes (60.4 percent completion rate) for 9,091 yards, 65 touchdowns and 37 interceptions. He also rushed for 535 yards and 16 touchdowns.

McGough, surprisingly, was rather under-looked coming out of Gaither High School — where he tallied nearly 5,000 passing yards and more than 50 passing touchdowns in three varsity seasons — earning just two college scholarship offers (FIU and Colgate University, in upstate New York).

He’s certainly proved any doubters wrong, becoming just the fifth player from a Hillsborough County high school to be drafted as a quarterback in the last 50 years. The others are Robinson’s John Reaves (1972), Leto’s Gary Huff (’73), Chamberlain’s Dean May (’84) and Plant’s Aaron Murray (2014). (McGough transferred from Wesley Chapel High School to Gaither following his freshman year.)

Locals placed on NFL injured reserve for the 2018 season:

TJ Mutcherson, safety—Seattle Seahawks
College: University of Central Florida, Iowa State
High School: Freedom High School

Trey Johnson, cornerback—Pittsburgh Steelers
College: Villanova University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
High School: Steinbrenner High School

Locals cut during the course of NFL preseason training camp

Jacob Pugh, linebacker—cut by the Seattle Seahawks
College: Florida State University
Schools: Godby High School (Tallahassee); Jefferson County High School (Monticello); Pasco Middle School (Dade City native)

Shaheed Salmon, linebacker—cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
College: Samford University (Homewood, Alabama)
High School: Land O’ Lakes High School

Published September 19, 2018

McGough, other local athletes get NFL shots

May 9, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

The 2018 NFL Draft has come and gone, and one athlete from The Laker/Lutz News Coverage area had the privilege of hearing his name called during the three-day event from April 26 to April 28 — Gaither High School product Alex McGough.

McGough was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round (220th overall) as a quarterback out of Florida International University.

Florida International University/Gaither High quarterback Alex McGough was selected in the seventh round (220th overall) by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2018 NFL Draft. (File)

A four-year starter, the 6-foot-3, 214-pound McGough cemented his legacy as FIU’s most decorated passer, completing 807-1335 passes (60.4 percent completion rate) for 9,091 yards, 65 touchdowns and 37 interceptions. He also rushed for 535 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Last season, he guided FIU to an 8-5 record — the program’s third-ever winning season and first since 2011 — a mark achieved in Butch Davis’ first season as FIU head coach.

“I couldn’t be happier for Alex,” Davis said, in a released statement on McGough’s draft selection. “His passion, leadership and performance last year was incredible. He played a huge role in our team’s success, and he has absolutely earned this opportunity to play in the NFL.”

In a post-draft media conference call, McGough said he’s “beyond grateful” to get chosen by the Seahawks, adding he’s “ready to get to work.”

Said McGough, “I wanted to come into the draft just kind of open-minded, and obviously, whatever happened, happened…The only thing I could control was the work I put in. I’m very happy with what I put in, and Seattle saw that and they took me.”

Though he didn’t earn an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine in March, many NFL draft analysts viewed McGough as a late-round sleeper, spotlighting his physical tools, poise, and red zone accuracy, while also spotlighting his limitations.

An ESPN.com draft analysis characterized McGough as “a good athlete with a good frame, though his hands (9 1/8 inches) are on the smaller side. His 30:19 touchdown-to-interception ratio over the past two seasons isn’t ideal.”

Seattle brought McGough in for a private workout a few weeks prior to last month’s draft. During his visit McGough said he developed a connection with quarterbacks’ coach Dave Canales and came away overall impressed with the organization.

“It’s an organization full of great people, and they want to win bad,” McGough said.

McGough was one of 13 quarterback prospects taken in this year’s draft and the

first by the Seahawks since Russell Wilson was selected in the third round of the 2012 draft.

Besides Wilson, Seattle’s starting quarterback and a four-time Pro Bowler, the roster includes two other quarterbacks — seven-year veteran Austin Davis and second-year player Stephen Morris.

McGough likely will have to beat out one of those backups in training camp and preseason to solidity a roster spot.

“I’m a competitor that wants to win and I’ll do everything to win,” McGough said. “I just want to play football and succeed.”

Though he’s facing a relative uphill battle, McGough is no stranger to perseverance, nor proving doubters wrong.

He most recently underwent a full recovery from a broken left collarbone he suffered in the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl in December.

And, despite a noteworthy high school career — amassing more than 5,100 career passing yards and 52 touchdown passes in four varsity seasons — McGough was rather under-looked. He earned just two football scholarship offers (FIU and Colgate University, in upstate New York). He went on to achieve instant success at FIU, setting numerous school passing records and then becoming the program’s eighth player to be drafted in its 14-year football history.

Meanwhile, McGough joins rare company as just the fifth player from a Hillsborough County high school to be drafted as a quarterback in the last 50 years. The others are Robinson’s John Reaves (1972), Leto’s Gary Huff (’73), Chamberlain’s Dean May (’84) and Plant’s Aaron Murray (2014). (McGough transferred from Wesley Chapel High School to Gaither following his freshman year.)

Besides McGough, a handful of other athletes with ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area have been given shots with various NFL teams, signing as either priority undrafted free agents or invited tryout players.

Each will have an opportunity to stick with their respective teams at rookie mini-camps, which run from May 11 through May 14.

Here’s a closer look at the others:

Janarion Grant, receiver — Baltimore Ravens (mini-camp tryout invitation)
College: Rutgers University (Piscataway, New Jersey)
High School: Pasco High School; graduated in 2013

(File)

When healthy, the 5-foot-9, 177-pound receiver was one of the most electrifying offensive playmakers in college football, chiefly in the return game. But, Grant struggled to stay on the field of late, playing in a combined 11 games the last two seasons, dealing with an ankle injury and other nagging ailments. Despite limited action in 2016 and 2017, Grant

became Rutgers’ all-time kickoff return-yardage leader (2,857 yards) and tied for the NCAA record for combined kick return touchdowns (eight). That skill on special teams perhaps gives him a leg up on other tryout players the Ravens signed.

Before college, Grant left a lasting legacy at Pasco High School, where he was a four-year starter and still holds the county record for most career touchdowns (77) by a skill player. He was also a two-time All-State selection.

Also notable, Grant is the grandnephew of Lacoochee native Jim “Mudcat” Grant, a 14-year MLB veteran and two-time All-Star, who, in 1965 became the first black pitcher to win 20 games in a season in the American League and the first black pitcher to win a World Series game for the American League.

Trey Johnson, defensive back—Pittsburgh Steelers (priority undrafted free agent)
College: Villanova University (Villanova, Pennsylvania)
High School: Steinbrenner High School; graduated in 2013

(Courtesy of Villanova University Athletics)

A standout defensive back at a small school in the FCS ranks — 45 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one interception and 13 pass break-ups in 2017 — Johnson further landed on NFL scouts’ radars after showcasing elite athleticism at Villanova’s Pro Day in late March. At the sanctioned workout, the 5-foot-11, 177-pound Johnson touched 36 inches in the vertical jump, reached 10-foot-8 in the broad jump and posted a sizzling 4.37-second 40-yard dash.

Johnson becomes the first Steinbrenner High graduate to sign an NFL contract. There, Johnson earned four varsity letters in football, as well as three in basketball and two in track. He was also inducted into the National Honor Society.

Jacob Pugh, linebacker — Seattle Seahawks (priority undrafted free agent)
College: Florida State University
Schools: Godby High School (Tallahassee); Jefferson County High School (Monticello, Florida); Pasco Middle School (Dade City native)

(Courtesy of Florida State University Athletics)

A decorated high school player and highly-touted blue chip prospect who won state championships at two different north Florida programs, the Dade City native never seemed to fully blossom at Florida State, where he posted a combined 108 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven sacks and two interceptions across four seasons.

Solid numbers, sure, but a bit anticlimactic considering Pugh was named an Under Armour High School All-American and widely viewed as one of the nation’s top five linebacker prospects in the 2014 recruiting class.

Blessed with length, agility and athleticism in a sturdy 6-foot-4, 246-pound frame, Pugh has moldable traits to stick on an NFL roster.

Pugh attended Pasco Middle School before his family moved to the Panhandle, where he began, and ended, his prep career.

His ties to east Pasco run deep. His uncles, Darren and Troy Hambrick, led Pasco High to the county’s only state championship (1992) before spending five years each in the NFL. He’s also related to Pasco High alums Janarion Grant (Rutgers) and Josh Johnson, a former NFL who now plays in the Canadian Football League. Pugh is also cousins with fellow Auburn wide receiver Nate Craig-Myers, a Dade City native who attended Tampa Catholic, where he was one of the most prized football recruits to come out of the Tampa Bay area in years.

Shaheed Salmon, linebacker—Tampa Bay Buccaneers (mini-camp tryout invitation)
College: Samford University (Homewood, Alabama)
High School: Land O’ Lakes High School; graduated in 2014

(File)

The 6-foot-2, 232-pound outside linebacker solidified himself as one of the most dominant tacklers in the FCS ranks the last two seasons, racking up a combined 202 tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks in 2016 and 2017. Though an undrafted player from a lower-level division of college football, a path to the NFL isn’t out of the question for Salmon, as more than 150 FCS players made NFL active rosters in 2017.

At Land O’ Lakes, Salmon was a four-year starter and an All-State selection as a senior. He also competed in basketball and track.

Published May 9, 2018

DuJuan Harris patiently awaits next NFL shot

October 25, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

Once or twice a week, a veteran NFL running back can be found training at Wesley Chapel District Park, readying for another shot to play on Sundays.

“I’ll get that call soon. I know how the game goes,” he says.

Indeed, Brooksville native DuJuan Harris knows pro football all too well.

Since 2011, the 29-year-old has bounced around to eight NFL franchises across both coasts, in various capacities.

Since 2011, the 29-year-old Brooksville native has bounced around to eight NFL franchises across both coasts, in various capacities. That included a stint with the Green Bay Packers, from 2012 to 2015. (Courtesy of NFL.com)

It has included multiple stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2011, 2017), and stops with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2012), Green Bay Packers (2012 to 2014), Minnesota Vikings (2015), Seattle Seahawks (2015), Baltimore Ravens (2015) and San Francisco 49ers (2015 to 2016).

He’s spent just weeks with some teams, and months with others. He’s been on practice squads and active rosters. He’s even been a starter multiple times.

For Harris, it’s all been a “blessing.”

“I’ve bounced around to a lot of different places, but I got to meet a lot of great guys. I played side by side with some future Hall of Famers and some Hall of Famers now, so it’s been amazing. It’s been tough, but I wouldn’t try to change it for anything; every team has been fun.”

More recently, Harris spent preseason and training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars, until he was released in September.

It’s not the first time he’s been cut, and it surely won’t be the last — should another NFL opportunity arise.

“Every year you’ve got to prove yourself, so it’s a grind,” Harris says. “It’s a different kind of life, definitely. It’s been a struggle throughout my career…”

The average NFL career is 3.3 years, according to the NFL Players Association.

It’s undoubtedly shorter for undrafted free agents, like Harris.

“You can make the same mistake as a first-round guy, and (coaches) are going to pat him on the back and say, ‘Oh, it’s OK.’ You make that same mistake (as an undrafted player), you’re going to be gone,” Harris explains.

The circumstances entering the league don’t matter anymore to Harris.

Instead, he bides his time, relishing the chance to prove himself once again as a veteran player.

“It’s something that I hold my head up for when I go to new teams,” he says. “I don’t get nervous about anything. I feel like you see someone new come in that door, you’re going to have to worry. That’s how it is in the NFL. That’s what I tell some younger guys, ‘Don’t get down when you get released.’”

Whatever the reason, Harris consistently has been overlooked as a football player.

Despite starring at Central High School in Brooksville — where he recorded 3,000 career rushing yards and 45 touchdowns, and holds a Hernando County record for the most yards in a single game with 363 yards and five touchdowns — Harris only had offers from Troy (Alabama) University and Florida A&M University.

And, after a prolific four-year college career at Troy — nearly 3,200 scrimmage yards and 32 touchdowns — Harris didn’t receive an invite to the NFL combine.

Perhaps it’s his stature. He stands at just 5-foot-7.

It’s certainly not his athleticism or aggressive running style.

At 206 pounds, the chiseled Harris recorded the highest vertical leap (41.5 inches) and fastest 40-yard dash time (4.37 seconds) on his college team.

But, an eye-opening pro day workout wasn’t enough to have Harris’ name among the 254 chosen during the 2011 NFL Draft, either.

“I didn’t mind even not getting my name called on draft day,” Harris says. “I really just wanted to hear my name called for my family. Just for them to hear it and for them to cheer about something. Other than that, my mindset is, ‘I’m going to play football anyway. I’m going to be in the NFL, I’m going to get my respect one way or another, if I’m going to get picked or not.’”

He’s done that year in, year out.

In 38 career NFL games, Harris has tallied 590 rushing yards, 244 receiving yards and three touchdowns. In regular season action, he’s proven to be a productive back, averaging a career 4.1 yards per carry, and a reliable pass-catcher, with 21 receptions.

Harris, meanwhile, is confident he can still make plays, at 29 years old — aging by NFL standards.

“There’s older guys that can still do it, and I feel like if they can, then I can, too. It’s doable,” he says.

His newfound athletic trainer, Bebe Roberts, also shares the sentiment.

“He’s amazingly fast, but I didn’t know he was that fast,” Roberts says of observing Harris in a recent workout.

Roberts is a former Wesley Chapel High School track star. He’s worked out other NFL hopefuls through his athletic training company, Fast Sprint Quick Performance LLC.

His relationship with Harris dates back to high school, when they went head-to-head in local track meets — where Roberts beat the NFL player in the 100-meter dash. “He brings that up all the time,” Roberts jokes.

Roberts’ job is to maintain the NFL veteran’s speed and flexibility, through hip stabilizers and other routine running back drills.

“He’s a running back, so we don’t want him to get tight, especially in the offseason,” Roberts explains. “I did a lot of research on him, so I could help make him a better athlete.”

Those personalized workouts are critical to Harris, who’s fighting to stay in the sport that skews young.

“Every year since my rookie year, it’s been the same thing. Just pretty much trying to work on everything. In this league, you learn something every year—and people get better every year,” he says.

“You just got to stay prepared. You could have a skill set that’s pretty good, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to work for you all the time. You’ve got to keep working at it.”

Harris has temporarily settled in Wesley Chapel with his family, while he awaits his next football opportunity.

With ample downtime, he’s been assisting in his wife’s custom wig business, DarVida by Keysha.

“She makes the wigs, and I take care of everything else; we make a good team,” says Harris, noting he developed the professional website.

Interestingly, it’s not the first non-NFL job he’s had.

Harris garnered national headlines in the 2012 season, when he went from working at a Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge dealership in Jacksonville to the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad, eventually working his way onto the active roster as a starter.

That year, Harris took the sales job to supplement his income, as he awaited his next NFL roster spot.

Harris recalls the unique circumstance:

“I’m not a big spender, but during the offseason there’s only so far that your money can stretch. I didn’t have enough to get me through an offseason and some of the season, so I had to get up and work. I couldn’t just sit around and wait for something to happen.
“The process of getting a job was new for me. I never had to go in for an interview, dress nice and everything else. It all was new to me. I was only there for a week —didn’t sell a car, but came close on a couple.

“It was fun, and I was thankful for them giving me the opportunity. I was doing workouts in between, got a call from Green Bay, and they asked me if I wanted to fly out the next day.”

Now Harris hopes for a similar call, from any of the 32 NFL franchises — or even the Canadian Football League.

It may come sooner than later, as injuries mount and wide-eyed rookies make mistakes.

“In this game, if a young guy’s not doing too well, they’re going to go to a vet, no matter what. I’ll get my name called soon,” he said.

Additional Q-and-A with veteran NFL running back DuJuan Harris

On having his No. 20 jersey retired at Central High School’s Sept. 29 Homecoming game:
“It didn’t hit me until I got on the field. I was thinking, like, ‘Wow, nobody in this school is ever going to wear my number again.’ It kind of just hit me. My wife was trying to ask me, ‘Did it really set in yet?’ She saw, once I kind of got some tears in my eyes.”

On the challenge of bouncing from various NFL franchises, with a family at home:
“That’s when it got hard. When I was by myself it was simple. …Just bouncing around from place to place, sometimes I’ve got to leave my wife, and for her to take care of things on her own—I hate having to do that. When you get to a new city and she has to go, now she’s in a new place by herself. So, that’s another thing that I’ve got to try to worry about on top of all the new (stuff) I’ve got to get ready for. So, it’s difficult, but it is what it is. We’d rather go through all of it now.”

On the feeling of getting released:
“You might feel like you’re an outcast when you leave ‘here’ and get released ‘here,’ and you might feel a little embarrassed, and you want to be in your shell. But, when you get a call from another team and go there, there’s guys in that locker room that are going to worry because, ‘Hey, they just brought in a new running back, who’s going to go?’ And in this league, it’s a numbers game. You just can’t really think about all the negativity in the league because there’s a lot. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

On what he misses most about the NFL:
“Just pretty much being in that (locker) room. Just that atmosphere itself, it’s amazing, and it’s something that a lot of people wish they could be apart of. If I get another opportunity to prolong my career, it would be a blessing…”

On the difficulty of learning an NFL playbook, especially in a short period of time:
“It’s definitely not like the video games. You’ve got to learn a new language pretty much. It’s a little difficult. One word might mean something for one team and it means something else for another. And then the routes, they call the routes a little differently. But, it’s a copycat league. Everything you pretty much learn from other teams, you end up running that same play. …I go to one team, and I just try to learn the basics and then go from there. You’ve just got to put in the time. There’s a lot more to it than people think.”

Published October 25, 2017

Saint Leo University hosts anti-bullying event

February 5, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Quinton Aaron doesn’t look as if he could ever have been the target of bullies. After all, at 6-feet-8-inches, he is a sizeable presence.

Actor Quinton Aaron brought his anti-bullying campaign to Saint Leo University on  Jan. 27, as the university is founded on a core value of respect—one of six core values. (Courtesy of Jonathan Shoemaker)
Actor Quinton Aaron brought his anti-bullying campaign to Saint Leo University on Jan. 27, as the university is founded on a core value of respect—one of six core values.
(Courtesy of Jonathan Shoemaker)

These days, he also carries the added aura of being a charismatic actor who landed a breakthrough role in “The Blind Side.”

The movie depicted the story of Michael Oher, the Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman who was adopted when he was a homeless teenager and went on to become a first-round draft choice in the National Football League.

Life was different, though, Aaron said, when he was a skinny youth, with a big forehead and “binocular” looking glasses.

At that point, the actor said, other students often physically and verbally abused him.

And now, he’s determined that other students not suffer the way that he did.

In 2012, the actor started the Quinton Aaron Foundation to focus on anti-bullying and childhood obesity.

Last week he took his anti-bullying program to Saint Leo University where he spoke to a standing room only crowd of nearly 300 people at the Student Community Center.

His foundation and the university’s Office of Residence Life, as part of its Bully Prevention Lecture Series, sponsored the event.

Aaron, who lives in Pasco County, plans to take his program into local schools.

He’s also promoting a free mobile application – CensorOut – that can block hateful messages from being seen by students on social media sites. It is available to Instagram users, but within a month will also be usable with Facebook and Twitter.

“We want to blast this out to the country,” Aaron said.

CensorOut monitors for pre-programmed and self-programmed words or phrases. If hateful messages are posted online, repeat messages can be blocked from being posted. Parents can receive email notification and the message also will be saved as proof of what was said and who sent it.

“It allows kids to stop being bullied and parents to see what these kids are saying,” Aaron said.

Aaron asked the crowd to load the app and many audience members took out their smartphones and did.

“Anything with social media is a great way to get through to kids,” said Kayla Bryant, 19, who plans to become a public school teacher.

“I think it is amazing that he is using his popularity for such a cause. Most adults don’t want to talk about it,” said Bryant, a sophomore at Saint Leo, who herself was bullied in second grade through ninth grade.

The bullying stopped, she said, when “I stood up for myself. I encourage other people to do the same.”

Dade City resident Lucy Payne brought her 8-year-old son, Dallas Payne, and five foster children to Aaron’s presentation. She is past president of the Pasco County Foster and Adoptive Parent Association.

Children get bullied for all kinds of reasons, Payne said. The clothes that they wear, their speech, or just the way they look can make them targets for meanness, she added. “I see what goes on: It’s getting them past that.”

David Tyler, the foundation’s executive director, collected contact information from people interested in internships or part-time work with the foundation.

Tyler met Aaron two years ago in Tampa. He previously worked for actor Danny Glover.

Aaron and Tyler kicked off the anti-bullying program more than two years ago with a 45-day national tour to 66 cities and 32 states. They focused on high schools and middle schools.

Aaron was able to get students to open up about their problems by telling them about his experiences.

During his middle school growth spurt, Aaron shot up to 6-feet-4-inches, weighed more than 300 pounds and wore size 17 shoes.

He also had moved from New York to Augusta, Georgia, and didn’t fit in with the popular crowd.

His mother frequently visited his school to complain to administrators and teachers that school bullies beat and verbally abused her son.

She enrolled him in self-defense classes, and she gave him advice.

“There’s nothing that kid can say that can hold anything,” she told him. “What you have to do is show it doesn’t affect you because it shouldn’t affect you.”

Aaron encourages people to be proactive in standing up to bullies.

“Be vocal in your school,” he said. “I don’t care if you are called a tattle-tale. I just want ya’ll to protect yourselves and spread the word.”

Published February 4, 2015

Primary Sidebar

Search

Sponsored Content

FUNdamental Minds Makes Learning Fun

August 16, 2022 By Mary Rathman

Ariel Cortes, founder of FUNdamental Minds Education Services, knows firsthand the importance of academic support … [Read More...] about FUNdamental Minds Makes Learning Fun

Avalon Applauds Healing Hearts Cafe

August 9, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Congratulations to Healing Hearts Cafe for being applauded by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. Healing Hearts Cafe’s mission … [Read More...] about Avalon Applauds Healing Hearts Cafe

More Posts from this Category

What’s Happening

08/15/2022 – Animal Services temporary closure

Pasco County Animal Services, 19640 Dogpatch Lane in Land O' Lakes, will close to the public on Aug. 15 through Aug. 17. The PCAS team members will be training on a new pet management software, to better serve customers. Offices will re-open for regular business hours on Aug. 18. … [Read More...] about 08/15/2022 – Animal Services temporary closure

08/16/2022 to 08/18/2022 – National Rarities buying event

Kiefer Fine Jewelers will host an exclusive buying event with National Rarities from Aug. 16 to Aug. 18, at both Kiefer locations: 37850 Meridian Ave., in Dade City (Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.), and 24144 State Road 54 in Lutz (Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.). Top dollar is expected to be offered for fine jewelry, coins and currency, scrap gold and silver, fine art, diamonds, sterling silver, watches, and antique toys and advertising. This event serves those looking for a professional evaluation of their items in a convenient setting. Estate specialists will share information about the items and help the seller to consider options. Payment is on the spot should the customer decide to sell, plus a 20% bonus if taken as store credit. The event also will feature an Estate Jewelry Trunk Show, presenting one-of-a-kind pieces. For information, call Dade City store at 352-567-2378, or Lutz at … [Read More...] about 08/16/2022 to 08/18/2022 – National Rarities buying event

08/17/2022 – Bat seminar

The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will present a master gardener seminar on bats on Aug. 17 at 11 a.m. Topics will include why bats are threatened and misunderstood. Masks are recommended. Registration is required online at PascoLibraries.org. … [Read More...] about 08/17/2022 – Bat seminar

08/17/2022 – Guardian ad litem sessions

Anyone interested in volunteering for abused, neglected or abandoned children in the Pasco County foster care system can attend one of these upcoming sessions for the Guardian ad Litem program: • The New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, will host a Volunteer Orientation on Aug. 17 at 1:30 p.m. Masks are encouraged. Register online at PascoLibraries.org. For information, call 813-788-6375. • The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will host an Information Session on Aug. 18 at 1:30 p.m. For information, call 727-834-3493, ext. 2929, or visit HeroToAChild.org. … [Read More...] about 08/17/2022 – Guardian ad litem sessions

08/18/2022 – ZooTampa Story Time

The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative will present “Story Time with ZooTampa: Senses in Nature” on Aug. 18 at 10 a.m., for ages 3 to 6, online. The program will use stories, action rhymes, songs and interactive activities to combine an animal experience with early literacy skills, to encourage reading readiness and social interaction. Register online through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org. … [Read More...] about 08/18/2022 – ZooTampa Story Time

08/18/2022 – ZooTampa story time

The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative will present “Story Time with ZooTampa: Senses in Nature” on Aug. 18 at 10 a.m., for ages 3 to 6, online. The program will use stories, action rhymes, songs and interactive activities to combine an animal experience with early literacy skills, to encourage reading readiness and social interaction. Register online through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org. … [Read More...] about 08/18/2022 – ZooTampa story time

More of What's Happening

Follow us on Twitter

The Laker/Lutz News Follow

Your home for weekly news that impacts your life and community. Serving Land O' Lakes, Lutz, New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills and Dade City.

LakerLutzNews
Retweet on Twitter The Laker/Lutz News Retweeted
mikecamunas Mike Camunas @mikecamunas ·
11h

Once again it’s 🐪 Day and the day to grab your copy of the @LakerLutzNews out of one of the many bins in #lutz, #landolakes, #wesleychapel, #zephyrhills and #dadecity!!!

Reply on Twitter 1559926898431590400 Retweet on Twitter 1559926898431590400 2 Like on Twitter 1559926898431590400 1 Twitter 1559926898431590400
Retweet on Twitter The Laker/Lutz News Retweeted
mikecamunas Mike Camunas @mikecamunas ·
11h

FYI, #lutz tweeps: the Lutz Branch library is still closed for plumbing repairs but also still offering curbside services. @LakerLutzNews

Reply on Twitter 1559920333502693377 Retweet on Twitter 1559920333502693377 1 Like on Twitter 1559920333502693377 1 Twitter 1559920333502693377
lakerlutznews The Laker/Lutz News @lakerlutznews ·
12h

THIS WEEK IN SPORTS: They be jammin’ to gymnastics, with story and photos from our own @MikeCamunas https://buff.ly/3QxaJjq

Reply on Twitter 1559918162006638592 Retweet on Twitter 1559918162006638592 Like on Twitter 1559918162006638592 Twitter 1559918162006638592
Load More

Archives

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Copyright © 2022 Community News Publications Inc.

    Wiki