The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 28

THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, Wednesday. August 31. 1983 Some ups and downs of area players 1 i 1 Oops Hudson High School assistant coach Buck DeWitt, left, was pictured incorrectly in Tuesday's Tribune. The person who was suppose to appear was Head Coach Keith Newton, far left Lineman Joe Naporano, also appeared Tuesday, but was not BROOKSVILLE Ricky Feacher is set George Floyd is out for the year. Jerome Brown is having an excellent pre-season.

1 Billy Watson is adjusting to a new position. John Brantley has made the traveling squad. Vito McKeever is flying high. Ricky Easmon is starting. Roger Sibbald is hanging tough.

I Barry DeWitt is struggling. Larry Key is gone. That in a nutshell is the status of area pro football and major college athletes today. Feacher, a seven-year veteran of the National Football League wars, will start at wide receiver Sunday for the Cleveland Browns. It's the second straight year the graduate of Hernando High School has earned a starting spot in the NFL.

Several fans of the 5-11, 170-pound speedster were concerned that his days with the Browns were numbered, because of his lack of playing time in preseason. He saw service in a half of one Jame. During this time he caught four "passes for 51 yards for an average catch of 15.3. His longest grab was for 23 yards. It's the second straight year Feacher has rode the pines in pre-season.

This seems to be the way for most veterans who have made it in the big time. Last year Feacher caught but two aerials in pre-season. Feacher, who started the last five games of the 1981 season, is going to be the deep threat once again for the Browns, according to team officials. Well done, Ricky Feacher. As long time "Godfather" Lorenzo Hamilton said: "George (Floyd) played throughout high school (Hernando), college (Eastern Kentucky) and one year in the pros (New York Jets) without getting hurt, I guess it just caught up with him." That it did.

The promising defensive back, who doubles as a punt and kickoff return man, suffered torn ligaments in his right knee last Saturday night in the final preseason game against New Orleans. On Sunday, George was operated on at Lennox Hill Hospital and will miss the 1983 season. The operation was a success, according to team officials. The Jets anticipate good things for George next year. The frustrating thing was Floyd was having such a super pre-season for the Jets.

He was moved from safety to cor-nerback and was considered the first sub in for either starter in only his second year. He was the team's punt returner (a 15.2 average) and also the leading kick-off return man with an average return of 30.2. The 5-11, 195-pounder also was credited with one pass interception. A Jets official told me Floyd just didn't appear to be at home playing safety last year, but took to cornerback like a duck to water. I was told Floyd's injury was identical to the one Johnny Lynn had in 1980.

The 6-3, 220-pounder was a fullback-linebacker at LOL. Alexander said Watson is fourth-string, but is working very hard. "We are satisfied." said Alexander. Watson isn't on the traveling squad for the Florida game, but knowing Billy Watson, you can bet before the year is out, he will make his presence known. Former Wildwood star Brantley has made coaches sit up and take notice at the University of Georgia.

The freshman has made the traveling squad at the Southeastern Conference school. The 6-4. 210-pounder is thirdstring defensive end for the Bulldogs. Brantley is on the kickoff team and will see some action Saturday night when the Bulldogs open up against UCLA on national television. John was the backbone of the Wild-wood defense that reached the semifinals of the State 2A playoffs last year.

He's another one of those players from small schools who were considered questionable by some major colleges. As is Sibbald, Easmon and McKeever. The "Dunnellon Connection" will see considerable action Saturday against the Miami Hurricanes. Sibbald is listed on the second unit of the Gator depth chart at strong safety, as is McKeever at right cornerback. Easmon will start against Miami at left cornerback.

The Gator secondary is deep and talented. After McKeever went out last year with a knee injury (he missed five games), Easmon came in and did a fine job. Now, Easmon is starting and McKeever is just a hair behind Bruce Vaughn on the other side. Sibbald is solid at strong safety and the Gators wouldn't be a bit surprised if the former junior quarterback ended up starting soon. The young men all played major parts in the Tigers winning back-to-back 2A state championships, going unbeaten in the process.

Three outstanding young men. DeWitt walked on last year at Florida after a successful prep career at Hernando. The 5-10, 170-pounder earned a starting spot for the junior varsity club and this season is as the varsity's fifth strong safety. Keep after it, Barry. Key appears to be the only player in the entire group we have talked about who has reached the end of his football career.

The former Citrus High star and outstanding running back at FSU was cut Monday by the Tampa Bay Bucs. He had some great years in the Canadian Football League. He thought he could do the same in the NFL, but it wasn't to be. He gave us all some great thrills. li mn' -rrniM i.i -iiiii i AMERICAN auto 115 American Plaza Land O'Lakes Walt Riddle Ricky Feacher, former Hernando star, again will start for Cleveland.

And after one year the Jet defensive back had returned in excellent shape. The reconditioning program places all the pressure on the athlete. Knowing George Floyd, I am sure if it's medically possible, he will be back in stride in 1984. The University of Miami won a strong recruiting war and signed Brown this spring. And the Ail-American from Hernando hasn't let the Hurricanes down.

The 6-4, 250-pounder is listed on the depth chart as the second string left defensive tackle. "He's just playing super," said Hubert Alexander, who recruited Brown. "He has done everything asked of him. It seems whenever you turn around he's sacking the quarterback or tackling a back for a loss, or at the line of scrimmage." Brown has made the traveling squad and will be in Gainesville Saturday playing against the Florida Gators, one of the very few schools who felt Brown wasn't a prospect Way to go, Jerome. It's going to take Watson, a graduate of Land O'Lakes High School, a little longer to break into the action at Miami than it has Brown, because Billy is learning a new position defensive end.

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