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Signing Day Celebrated

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By DAREK SHARP, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 13, 2008

PLANT CITY - The administration at Plant City High School has gotten accustomed to holding signing day parties, but this one beat them all.

A week ago, National Signing Day produced numerous ceremonies across the country including the one to celebrate the work of Raiders seniors Mark Popek and Keith Dawson.

"This was fun. This is the first time we've done it up like that in the media center, since I've been here at least," Raiders head coach Kevin Kelley said.

Family and friends were on hand for Popek, headed to the University of South Florida on a football scholarship, and Jacksonville University-bound Keith Dawson. Feb. 6 was the first date that prospective college recruits could sign their scholarship offers.

Kelley realized before Popek's senior season began that the offensive tackle was high on USF's list.

The coach accompanied Popek to a senior showcase hosted by USF at Raymond James Stadium, an invitation-only event for the area's top senior players.

"There were somewhere from 80 to 100 players - and he really stood out," Kelley said. "First of all, literally with his size (6 feet 7 inches tall, 313 pounds), but then the coaches got to see how great his footwork is for someone that size. He's not just one of those kids who's big but clumsy."

Many of the drills the offensive linemen were asked to do were the same ones run at Plant City practices, and Popek excelled at them.

Dawson's recruitment to Jacksonville was a more recent development, though not a surprising one. In the past few years. Plant City has sent quality players to Jacksonville University, namely Austin Bennett and, more recently, Charles Lusk, who just completed his senior season as a tight end.

He was used as a tailback at Plant City, but Dawson will likely be used as a receiver for Jacksonville.

"I think they see him lining up in the slot," Kelley said. "He did that some for us. I'm sure he'll return kicks, too, like he did here. He can do a lot of different things."

Reporter Darek Sharp can be reached at dsharp@tampa trib.com.

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