Postseason exploits gave Sparrow extra attention

Orlando Jones High running back Avarius Sparrow will likely be quite tired when Wednesday morning rolls around.

“I’m very excited,” said Sparrow, who is poised to sign a national letter of intent Wednesday to play football at West Virginia.

“I’m probably not even going to sleep [Tuesday night].”

There was a time when Sparrow didn’t figure he’d be signing with a Football Bowl Subdivision school, but after Jones extended its season five extra games and earned a trip to the Class 5A state final, Sparrow caught the eyes of a few more recruiters.

“At first I thought I was going to commit to a little school, but the state games showed how I really can play, so it brought more attention to me from coaches,” Sparrow said. “It helped me a lot because I had an extra 500 rushing yards or so, and thank God I had that because it really helped.”

Sparrow isn’t the only one — Jones defensive lineman Evan Anderson will sign with FAU. They are among 16 Jones players slated to sign scholarship papers this recruiting cycle, including Dominick Hill, who signed with South Carolina in December.

Orlando Edgewater running back Isaiah Connelly will also sign with an FBS program Wednesday after committing to Coastal Carolina. He is among 13 Edgewater players who are planning to sign with schools Wednesday after

earning a trip to the Class 7A state championship game. The Eagles’ FBS signees include offensive lineman David Anderton (USF), defensive back Davon Martin (Middle Tennessee State) and two-way lineman Daniel Green (Navy). They join safety Eric Doctor, who signed with East Carolina in December.

During Sparrow’s first spring as a football player, he lined up at linebacker, but Jones coach Elijah Williams saw something in him and asked him to switch to running back.

“I feel like I’ve played a big part in the team,” Sparrow said, “and with my position changing, it was just like a dream come true because I always wanted to play running back. I could never get what I wanted until I showed the coaches that I need to play this position.”

Sparrow had to convince college coaches to overlook his size. He attributes a lot of what he can do on the football field despite being just 5-foot-10, 190 pounds to skills he learned while going 29-4 as a wrestler his sophomore year.

‘At first I thought I was too small for an average running back,” he said. “I had to prove everyone wrong. I had to prove myself wrong too. Size doesn’t mean anything.”

Sparrow is explosive, can take hit and hit back. He’s fast, recording a 4.45-second time in the 40-yard dash.

“I really get my toughness from wrestling — my 29-4 record shows it,” Sparrow said. “I pinned somebody one time in less than five seconds. It helps my balance too. At first I wasn’t balanced. I wasn’t a quick guy on my feet, but when I started wrestling everything came into place. … Balance, toughness. It all came in place.”