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The Daily OrangeBull figther: USF's Selvie finishes quest from ignored recruit to NFL prospect
By Brett LoGiurato
Posted: 9/30/09, 10:17 PM EST Section: Sports
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As a lifelong Duke basketball fan, Pollard, the head coach of Pine Forest High School in Pensacola, Fla., has cheered on former Blue Devils point guard Greg Paulus for the last four years.
With Paulus suiting up as the starting quarterback for the Orange these days, Pollard will be watching one of his favorite players go up against one of his former players, USF's defensive end Selvie. But Pollard's preference as to which one comes out on top is clear.
"It'd be great if (Selvie) hits him," Pollard said. "I'm all for George. I hope he has nine sacks this weekend."
Five years ago, though, it would've been crazy to think that Pollard would be talking about Selvie on a national scale at all.
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound sack machine has become the scariest face in Big East football the past three years, defying the odds that have been stacked against him since he was a toddler to become a force on the Bulls' defensive line. Currently, he's second in Division I in active sack leaders with 26.5.
During his four years with South Florida, Selvie has become arguably the most recognizable defensive player in the Big East conference.
But the improbable part is how Selvie got to the defensive side of the ball in the first place.
Selvie has heard all of the criticism against him. He's too small. He can't play defensive end. He'll never play in the NFL.
The one thing he doesn't remember hearing, though, is the Buick that rolled off a car jack and onto his head when he was just a year old. The gash required eight stitches and left a scar that serves as the only reminder of the incident.
"You just always thank God for blessing you," Selvie said. "After something like that as a toddler, you're not even supposed to be here right now."
Perhaps that was the first hint Selvie would have tough skin.
Pollard noticed more unique signs from Selvie when he first set foot in Pine Forest High's gymnasium for freshman orientation. Pollard was recruiting freshmen for his team when he saw a 6-foot, slender kid approach him, accompanied by his mother, a minister and his father, who served 20 years in the Navy.
Pollard immediately thought he had a quarterback, running back or wide receiver.
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david
posted 10/01/09 @ 1:03 PM EST
f-i-g-h-ter
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