Rivals 250 RB headed north
It's a deep year for running backs in the state of Florida and one of the very best is Carlos Hyde. Hyde, 6-1 and 230 pounds, is from Naples (Fla.) High School. There, he rushed for over 1,000 yards and 12 scores as a junior. Hyde's game is based on one thing, power.
"I am a power runner," Hyde said. "I am real strong between the tackles and just a north-south runner. I can catch well too. I just need to work on my pass protection."
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Hyde says he is sitting on 13 scholarship offers at this time. The big question is will this big back leave the Sunshine State and go back home?
"I am thinking about Ohio State. I am from Lincoln Heights near Cincinnati and Ohio State was my favorite school as a kid. We moved to Naples two years ago.
"Ohio State feeds the ball to their backs. I want the ball and they like big, physical backs. That's me. I plan on going up there sometime in June."
Florida State, Florida, West Virginia and Clemson all comprise the remaining schools of his top five.
"FSU is starting to run the ball more. I went to the spring game and I know they need help in the backfield. I met all those coaches up there at their spring game. Coach (Jimbo) Fisher is nice guy and he tells me they really need me there.
"Florida has a great campus and showed us a good time at their Junior Day. The coaches showed us how they get hyped up before the game and it got me fired up.
"West Virginia just has a really good team filled with a lot of athletes. I have been to the state but not to their university. I may wait for my official visit to see them.
"Clemson has great backs. I like them, lightning and thunder. That's what they call us (lightning is his teammate, running back Greg Pratt). They just have great running backs.
"Playing time, the coaching staffs and academics are three factors I am really looking at with these schools."
Hyde has seen the three in-state schools in FSU, Florida, Miami. He hopes to visit the Buckeyes this summer.
"I am not sure if I am going to have a chance to get out and see many schools but I do know that I am going to get big in the weight room."