PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Sharrif Floyd got to travel the country this summer for a brief time. The George Washington High School 6-foot-3, 311-pound senior defensive tackle also worked about 10 hours a day out in the raging heat doing landscaping, and in between that, worked out and got stronger.
Floyd is one of the most sought-after players in the country (No. 33 in the MaxPreps Class of 2010 Top 100) and he just completed one of the most crucial summers of his life, getting a little bigger, a little stronger, and adding a little perspective to what promises to be a very intersting season coming up.
What Floyd does come into this season with is a general idea of where he might want to play his college football. That all-important list includes Miami, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Boston College, Rutgers, Michigan and Ohio State, plus, he said, one of three California schools that could include USC, UCLA and Stanford.
Sharrif Floyd, George Washington (Philadelphia, Pa.)
“I didn’t have goals, college-wise, going into the summer,” Floyd said. “But I have to say it was a great summer. I got to travel, I got to go down to Florida, and to South Carolina, Georgia. I got to visit Florida, Miami, Florida International, South Florida. I got to visit all those schools unoffically and see what they were all about.
“My idea of the ideal school is a simple one. I’m not looking for anything specific, just a chance in life to improve myself. I’m not looking for the glamorous life, just an opportunity for an education and a chance to play football.”
Floyd completed his summer by attending the Top Gun Showcase, in Paisley, Fla., in July. Then it was off to work, grinding away under a harsh sun for 10 hours a day doing landscaping.
“It’s tough, hard work, but I did manage to get a lot of things done this summer,” said Floyd, who’s gained two pounds and went from bench pressing 405 pounds to 415 pounds, and moving his squat up from 500 pounds to 600 pounds, and deadlifting over 600 pounds. “There were definite goals I wanted to hit in my workouts and I’m pretty happy, because I hit them all.
“I just can’t wait for the season to begin. I’ve spent the summer working out, loading up for a big year. We’re going to have a great team and the way my summer went, I may push my commitment time back to around February or March. That’s because I’m looking to schedule two official visits during the season and take my other three visits after the season. I just don’t want anything to get in the way of my season.”
Projected by many highly-respected recruiting outlets already as the No. 1 defensive tackle in the nation, Floyd has been consistently graded as the No. 1 player in every combine he’s attended.
This will mark the first time in high school that Floyd will go both ways, playing offensive guard and defensive tackle, with the chance of moving to defensive end and maybe playing a little linebacker. Floyd has alternated time in the past on offense and defense, but never was a fulltime two-way player. That will change this year.
“It’s a challenge and I can’t wait for it,” Floyd said. “I’ll be all over the field defensively. I’ll have to build up my endurance, but I’ll be ready for it.”
Floyd has placed some lofty goals on himself. He’s looking to get 20-plus sacks this season, and average seven tackles a game. As the Aug. 17 date approaches for all high schools to open training camp in Pennsylvania, Floyd said he’s beginning to start getting increased media attention. It’s trickling in slowly, though “I don’t have to have to be on billboards smiling or anything."
“The bottom line is getting ready for the season, and us having a good year,” said Floyd, who carries a 3.0 GPA and has scored an 800 on the SAT. “We won the [Philadelphia] city championship last year by beating a good LaSalle team. We have most of our defense coming back and with the state playoffs, who knows how far we can go. I had a great summer and it’s a great way to build up for a great senior year. I have an idea what schools I’m interested in.”
Washington has its first scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 22, against Central Bucks West, a traditional Southeastern Pennsylvania power.
“I can’t wait, I’m counting down the days,” Floyd said. “I just can’t believe this summer went so fast. For me, it couldn’t end fast enough. I can’t wait to play.”
Joseph Santoliquito covers high schools for the Philadelphia Daily News and is a contributor to MaxPreps.com. He can be contacted at JSantoliquito@yahoo.com.
