Former USF players coming up big with Tampa Storm

Amarri Jackson and Huey Whittaker, two former USF standouts, continued to spark the Tampa Bay Storm with their pass catching abilities.

Jackson, who played his high school football at Sarasota Riverview, caught three touchdown passes in the Storm’s 51-42 victory over the Spokane Shock on Saturday night while Whittaker caught a team high 11 passes for 123 yards and also had three touchdown passes.

It was the second straight victory for the Storm (4-6) and third consecutive multi-touchdown reception game for Jackson. He is second on the team with 55 receptions for 666 yards and 23 TD catches and leads the Storm with 12.1 yards per reception.

Another area product who is doing well is Sarasota Booker graduate Michael Hawthorne, who leads the Storm with two interceptions. Out of Purdue, he played three years with the New Orleans Saints and spent some time with Green Bay and the St. Louis Rams.

Whittaker tops Tampa with 91 receptions for 1,004 yards and 19 TD catches. The Storm backup quarterback is Grant Gregory, who played at USF and Kansas State. He has thrown for 1,014 yards with 20 touchdowns.