CaliFlorida Bowl: Stirrups part of tough defense

ANAHEIM, Calif. - One major piece of an impressive Florida defensive line this week for the Air 7 CaliFlorida Bowl is Rivals250 defensive tackle Leslie Stirrups.

The 6-foot-2, 274-pound South Florida bound prospect is rated as the No. 8 defensive tackle in the country and is doing his part to back up that lofty ranking. Known through three days of practice as a vocal group, the four-star is definitely a big instrument in the machine. If you ask Stirrups about his performance though, he'll say that he could still be doing better.

"It's nice being out here because I'm eased up after making my commitment, but I still have to work," Stirrups said. "The grass is tough to run on out here so you can't really show of all of your moves. I'm pushing it though out here – we all are as one defensive unit."

When Stirrups made his pledge for South Florida, it was one of the biggest recruiting pickups for the Sunshine State school. There top notch future defensive tackle says that he likes how he and his future school are kind of on the same path.

"South Florida is a pretty good school and a young team," Stirrups said. "They have a long way to go to progress, but that's what I like about them. When I take a look at them, it's like looking at me. They have a lot of talent to work with, but a ways to go to get better. I think it's an up-and-coming program and I'm trying to get better as well."

Stirrups says this week, with his college choice made, he just wants to perform well and show people what all the talk is about.

"I just want to play my game," he said. "They already know what I bring to the table. Now, I just want to prove that they're right about what they're saying."

Stirrups is rated as the No. 15 overall prospect in the state of Florida.