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Popek Makes All-State Team

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By DAREK SHARP, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 26, 2008

PLANT CITY - Making the Hillsborough County all-star team was cool, but All-State?

Now that's really cool.

Such was the reaction of a Plant City High senior who is getting accustomed to having accolades thrown his way: offensive lineman Mark Popek.

Last week, Popek became a member of the Class 5A All-State Second Team. The Florida Sports Writers Association annually recognize the top players from around the state.

"My mom Sharon Popek showed me the news and I thought, 'Wow,'" Popek said. "All-county is nice, but there are a lot of players in the state of Florida. That's fine with me."

The 6-foot-7-inch, 300-pound offensive lineman will officially sign his scholarship to play for the University of South Florida on Feb. 6. Popek recently committed verbally to go to USF.

This week, Bulls head coach Jim Leavitt visited Popek at home - just to make sure the commitment was firm. According to Popek there's no reason for Leavitt to worry.

"I'm 100 percent committed to USF," Popek said.

Durant High had a pair of players receive honorable mention in Class 6A: senior tight end Royce Rose and junior offensive lineman Cole Gilliam.

At 6-feet 5-inches tall and 335 pounds, Gilliam caught a lot of people's attention this year.

"Next year, he's going to be one of the biggest recruits around," Durant head coach Mike Gottman said.

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

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