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Hillsborough receiver makes his mark

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By ADAM ADKINS

aadkins@tampatrib.com

Published: November 4, 2009

Updated: 11/04/2009 04:19 pm

TAMPA - Earl Garcia doesn't mince words when it comes to Charles Lovett.

"He is the best receiver I've had," Hillsborough High's football coach states emphatically.

Garcia raves about Lovett, a player he says has "the total package." Lovett is smart (3.3 GPA), has an impeccable work ethic and is revered by his teammates. He also is deceptively fast (with 4.5-speed), has great hands and is athletic.

"But the best thing about Charles is the kind of person he is," the coach said, using words such as respectful and pleasant when describing Lovett's character. "I've been doing this coaching for 36 years. The older I get the more I appreciate having those good kids that keep you in coaching. The Charles Lovett's keep me in coaching."

Lovett has emerged as one of Hillsborough County's best playmakers.

Lovett has 32 receptions for 830 yards and seven touchdowns through the Terriers' first seven games this season, numbers that rank him among the best pass-catchers in the area.

"He comes to work every day in practice and gives all he has, and it shows up on game day," Terriers senior quarterback Tarean Austin said. "I've got a lot of confidence in him every time I throw the ball his way."

The ball hasn't stopped going Lovett's way since he cracked Hillsborough's starting lineup as a freshman in 2007. He finished as one of the Terriers' leading receivers that season, hauling in 14 receptions for 228 yards and two touchdowns. His numbers spiked as a sophomore to 34 receptions for 703 yards and nine touchdowns.

Lovett is on his way to his best prep season this year, and he'll enter Friday's crucial district showdown against King High coming off one of his best games, an eight-catch, 151-yard performance in a 34-21 loss to Armwood.

Although Lovett still has the remainder of this season - Hillsborough can clinch a state playoff berth with a victory over King on Friday - and the 2010 season remaining at the high school level, there already is little doubt he will get a chance to continue playing at the next level.

Although he might not have ideal size (he's listed at 5-foot-8 and 168 pounds), Lovett already holds scholarship offers from a pair of Division I programs - the University of South Florida and Florida International - and a host of other programs are showing interest. Garcia adds: "I've told everybody from Urban Meyer to Jim Leavitt to anyone who will listen, 'Don't worry about how tall he is; he's plenty fast enough to play. Give this kid a look.'"

Lovett's goal is to utilize all of his ability to become the best receiver he can. "If I work hard every day and do what I've got to do, I feel like the sky is the limit," Lovett said. "And I'm going to keep doing what I've got to do."

Reporter Bill Ward contributed to this report. Reporter Adam Adkins can be reached at (813) 259-7616.

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