By Jeff Odom
One of the highest regarded local prospects in the state won’t be joining the University of South Florida football team next season.
Wharton High senior quarterback Chase Litton announced on his Twitter page July 26 that he has decided to back out of his verbal commitment with the Bulls to explore other options.
“I want to apologize to USF, but I will be decommitting and opening my recruitment up for my senior year,” Litton tweeted.
Litton’s decision comes a month after he made the choice to join the program alongside first-year Bulls coach Willie Taggart in front of a live television audience on Bright House Sports Network.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Rivals.com, Litton was on a trip to Gainesville July 27 and 28 to visit the University of Florida. He also has offers from several other Division I programs including Louisiana State University, South Carolina, Florida, Miami and Notre Dame.
As a junior, Litton compiled an area-leading 2,732 yards with 23 touchdowns with 10 interceptions for the Wildcats. He was also the top quarterback this summer for the IMG Academy’s Team Tampa 7-on-7 squad, which won its second consecutive national championship.
If the 6-foot-6 Litton kept his commitment to USF through National Signing Day in February, the three-star recruit would have battled returning starter Matt Floyd, Penn State transfer Steven Bench, Mike White of Fort Lauderdale High School and former Jesuit standout Tommy Eveld for the starting job.
–Follow Jeff Odom on Twitter @JOdomLaker
