12/16/2002 football Edit

Rivals100 LB makes pick

Dave Peters

Publisher

Tavares Gooden, a Rivals.com four-star prospect, just returned from his Ohio State visit. The South Florida native is now ready to make a decision on where he’ll spend the next four or five years of his life.

The lucky winner is?

“I committed to Miami today, “Gooden, who plays his high school football at Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas, said. “Coach Hargreaves (Miami) came down to my school today, and I told him that I was committing to Miami."

With so many schools to choose from why did the 6-foot-1 and 220 pound linebacker settle on Miami?

“I wanted to play for a winning program,” he said.

“Why leave home if you don’t have to. It would be unwise of me to leave home because I ‘m going to be able to play early at Miami. D.J. Williams and Vilma will have one more year of eligibility so I have chance to start as a sophomore. Miami has excellent academics and athletics.

What about Ohio State?

“I had a great time on my visit there and it’s a great program, but I’m from South Florida,” he said.

Gooden, who is academically qualified, chose Miami over Ohio State, Oklahoma and Louisiana State.