Scott leaves USF for NFL draft in surprise move

To what seems to be everyone's surprise, USF running back Darrell Scott has decided to forego his senior year and opt for the NFL draft.

The decision ends a tumultuous ride for the 6-1, 239 pounder who came to USF two years ago from Colorado and sat out 2010 because of transfer rules.

Scott, rated the top high school running back in the country after his senior year of high school in California, led USF last season with 814 yards rushing (5.3 per carry average) and showed flashes of brilliance.

His best game came against FAMU when he rushed for a career high 146 yards. His other 100 yard rushing game came against Rutgers (19 carries for 100 yards) and against West Virginia in the season finale he rushed for 92 yards on 14 carries.

Scott's departure means the two most heralded running backs out of high school to play for USF never finished their careers for the Bulls. Mike Ford, the former Sarasota High star and single season rushing leader for Manatee and Sarasota Counties, was dropped from the team prior to his senior year for breaking school rules.

Ford signs with Toronto

Former USF running back Mike Ford signed a free agent contract with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League on Tuesday.

The signing ends a period of turmoil for the former Sarasota High running back. Early in the year he was dismissed from the USF football team and later arrested on charges of domestic violence.

The charges against Ford were recently dropped and Toronto, which had been reportedly keeping an eye on the 6-2, 225 running back, offered him a contract to be on its practice squad.

It is uncertain when Ford will be activated. He impressed a lot of people north of the border last January when he ran for a personal career high 207 yards in the Bulls victory over Northern Illinois, earning him the International Bowl MVP award.

A lot of people, including Manatee High Hall of Fame Coach Joe Kinnan believe Ford is the best high school running back the Manatee-Sarasota County area has ever produced. In his senior year at Sarasota High, he rushed for 2,836 yards (highest ever by a running back from Manatee or Sarasota County) and scored 37 touchdowns in being named the Class 5A Player Of The Year.

Ford 's troubles continue to mount

The recent arrest of former USF running back Mike Ford is another example that athletic ability doesn’t guarantee success.

Ford participated in last week’s Slam Jam celebrity charity basketball game at the Manatee Convention Center. He said he was headed for the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts, but now that seems to be another vanished dream.

Ford’s career has been on a downward spiral with a few bumps upward since the graduated from Sarasota High in 2005 as arguably the best high school running back the Manatee-Sarasota County area ever produced.

It took Ford two years to finally get into college and his three years at USF were marred by off the field troubles along with a disappointing ankle injury his sophomore year that ruined what most people thought would be his break-out season.

Ford was booted off the USF football team in the spring for violating unspecified team rules. There was talk he would transfer to Division II North Alabama or try his hand at professional football.

The 6-2, 225 pound running back has been arrested for traffic violations that included non paid tickets and driving without a license.

His most recent arrest is on a misdemeanor count of domestic battery, which he claims is not true. Regardless of how this case turns out, Ford is definitely running out of chances to play football.

In 2004 for Sarasota High, Ford rushed for 37 touchdowns and 2,836 yards, which is the sixth highest single season mark in state history. It is 82 yards shy of NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith, who recorded that number in 1985.