For Colorado State University football fans hoping another Cecil Sapp comes along, their wish could come true next fall.
Gartrell Shavers, a record-breaking running back from Miami Springs, Fla., is expected to sign a letter of intent that will allow him to play in the upcoming season. Shavers this week visited CSU and Fort Collins and said he is ready to join the Rams.
"I'm coming," he said Thursday. "I'll be signing my letter when I get home."
Like Sapp, CSU's single-season rushing leader who is entering his second season with the Denver Broncos, Shavers hails from the Miami area. And like Sapp, the 6-foot, 210-pounder with 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash is big, powerful and mobile.
Shavers led Dade County in rushing last fall, gaining 1,639 yards while scoring 12 touchdowns for Miami Springs High School. He was a second-team all-state selection in talent-rich Florida, and Insiders.com ranked him the No. 87 back in the country.
"Gartrell is a phenomenal player," Miami Springs coach Gil Lora said. "He ran for almost 3,000 yards for us the last two seasons. People out there are going to really enjoy watching him."
Shavers drew lots of early recruiting interest from Ohio State, Florida State, Florida and others, but those schools backed off when Shavers failed to get a qualifying score on his college entrance exam. He took the test again and qualified, making him eligible to sign. Once word got out that he had passed his entrance exam, Shavers was wooed by Mississippi, Alabama and others.
CSU assistant coach Tom Ehlers, who recruits Florida, kept Shavers in mind throughout the recruiting process. CSU had another advantage in graduate assistant Mike Mackenzie, a former standout defensive tackle for the Rams who graduated from Miami Springs.
"I had a lot of schools interested in me, but they dropped out because of my test score," Shavers said. "The coaches here stuck with me, and I'm really excited to play here."
Added Lora: "Coach Ehlers did a phenomenal job of recruiting Gartrell. He had chances to go a lot of places but stuck with Colorado State."
The addition of Shavers gives a significant boost to an already deep and talented group of incoming freshmen at running back. Earlier, CSU signed Kyle Bell, Colorado's all-time leading rusher, and Tramell McGill, Arizona's offensive player of the year.
Lora said he encouraged Shavers to consider CSU because Miami Springs runs a one-back offensive similar to CSU's. Lora also watched Sapp, who graduated from Miami's Palmetto High School, earn Mountain West Conference player of the year honors in 2001.
"Gartell's style is very similar to Sapp's, so I think he'll be really successful there," Lora said. "He doesn't have breakaway speed -- he's not going to take it 90 yards, but he'll give you a really exciting 65."
Shavers said he hopes to forego a redshirt season and play right away.
"If CSU gives him a shot, I'll be surprised if he isn't on the first team," Lora said. "That's how good he is."
