USF lands talented local running back

At 5-foot-9, 220 pounds, Adaris Bellamy has tremendous strength that is matched only by his terrific feet. The Dunnedin, Fla. running back could end up being one of the top running backs in the state of Florida in 2008. The University of South Florida hopes so because Bellamy decided on Sunday that he will be a Bull.

On Sunday, while at USF for a Junior Day, Bellamy saw all he needed to see but he had a good feeling going into the weekend.

“I went to previous practices before and talking to some of the coaches and some of the players and seeing how practices went it seems like a real family environment,” Bellamy said. “The players are real down to earth. The coaches are real down to earth.”

While actually on campus on Sunday, the family atmosphere is what finally sealed the deal for the running back.

“When I was at the Junior Day I was talking to the coaches and they just made me feel like part of the family,” he said. “I took my little brother with my and they made my little brother comfortable. It felt like home. I thought about it and went to Coach Levitt and told him I wanted to commit. He was real excited about it, real happy.”

Bellamy will be joining a new family at South Florida but the hometown school will allow him to stay close to his real family.

“[The distance] was important,” he said. “I didn’t want to go too far. I can see my family whenever.”

Though the commitment is coming very early in the process, Bellamy insists that he didn’t plan it that way.

“It wasn’t something that I had planned,” he confirmed. “I really didn’t know when I was going to commit. When I went down there I just fell in love. It’s good to get the weight off my shoulders but then again, it’s not off my shoulders because I can always change my mind.”

Claiming offers from Clemson and Ole Miss along with USF, Bellamy will likely have his offer list continue to grow despite his commitment but he claims he won’t be seeking out any new offers. However, Bellamy is still keeping an open mind.

“I’m gonna go out with an open mind,” he said. “I’m going to listen to anything, take everything in. Hopefully in the long run South Florida is going to be my number one.”

The commitment is the first in the class of 2009 for South Florida.