Months after his release from the University of Miami, former standout Tampa Plant quarterback Robert Marve has announced he will transfer to Purdue University.
Florida’s Mr. Football award-winner in 2006, Marve chose a scholarship offer at Purdue over walk-on status with a scholarship opportunity down the line at the University of Tennessee.
The decision ends Marve’s Miami odyssey that included him missing his freshman season for the Hurricanes due to injuries suffered in a serious car crash, splitting time as a sophomore with Jacory Harris and being suspended twice, including for Miami’s Emerald Bowl appearance in December.
Marve completed 116 of 213 passes for 1,293 yards with nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions last season for Miami.
Marve, who led Plant to the Class 4A state title in 2006, had narrowed his choices down to Purdue, Tennessee, South Florida, Central Florida and LSU. He will be eligible to play in 2010.
Track and Field: Jesuit runner out with back injury
Tampa Jesuit standout distance runner Connor Revord will not run during the summer after suffering a serious back injury.
Revord, who won the Class 2A state championship in the 1,600-meter run, fractured two vertebrae in his lower back in April while running. He is not expected to train this summer.
A senior, Revord is headed to Penn State in the fall.
In addition to the 1,600 title, Revord helped the Tigers claim the 4x800 relay state title and was a standout cross country runner during the past several seasons.
Baseball: Hawks ace headed to Tallahassee
Armwood pitcher Robert Benincasa will play for Florida State. Benincasa, who has helped the Hawks reach the Class 5A state semifinals, is 12-0 on the season. He has posted a 1.09 ERA this season with 85 strikeouts in 71 innings.
A 6-foot, 180-pound right hander, Benincasa emerged as a standout hurler this season as the Hawks played well at the Tony Saladino tournament during Spring Break and through the district and regional rounds.
At 24-5, this is the furthest an Armwood team has advanced since 2000.
Meanwhile, St. Petersburg Shorecrest Prep soccer player Stephen Spanos will attend Washington University in St. Louis. Spanos led Pinellas County in scoring with 49 goals last season, netting more than 100 during his career. Spanos helped led Shorecrest to the region semifinals in each of the past three seasons.
