College Sports

By HAROLD WILSON Staff Writer One Steer still bleeds purple and gold.

X'Zavier Bloodsaw showed where his true colors belonged when the junior quarterback from Houston returned to the Texas College football team for the beginning of fall camp earlier in the week.

After starting the majority of his first two years as a freshman and sophomore, Bloodsaw transferred to Texas Southern in his hometown last spring. Not long afterward, he experienced a change of heart.

"I really missed my team to be truthfully honest," Bloodsaw said following a second practice Friday at the Texas College practice field. "I didn't want to go, but I had to make that move for my family. I'm excited about this year. We have a lot of new guys in, a lot of freshmen that want it. That's why I'm glad to be back."

Based on the latter half of Friday's practice, Bloodsaw figures to pick up where he left off. He looked sharp attempting long, intermediate and short routes, and even leaked past a crowed pack at the line for a short rushing TD near the end of the workout.

The past two years offered flashes of brilliance at times, and frustration at others for Bloodsaw, who attended high school at Aldine Nimitz. In his first collegiate action off the bench, Bloodsaw passed for 220 yards to earn national player of the week honors.

Bloodsaw played in 10 games as a freshman, when he won the starting job from Kansas State transfer Allen Webb II, and 11 last year. In two years, he has completed 213 of 443 passes for 2,640 yards, 24 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.

The Steers, however, finished a dismal 4-7 both years after ending the 2005 season ranked No. 25 in the nation.

TC brings back roughly half its squad from last year (12 starters). But the Steers should especially benefit from having key experience at the quarterback, running back and wide receivers with Bloodsaw and seniors Curtis Shaw and Fred Dixon.

Joseph Carter, a sophomore product from North Crowley, handled the QB duties during the spring game, where he produced three touchdowns. TC also signed Garry Jefferson from Dallas South Oak Cliff. Jefferson produced nearly 2,300 yards of offense and 26 TDs while leading the Golden Bears to the Class 4A Division II regional semifinals.

With his experience, TC head coach Jay Brown penciled in Bloodsaw as the starter, but indicated all three were "battling."

"He's familiar with the offense," said Brown, who is entering his sixth year as TC coach. "(X'Zavier coming back) has helped tremendously."

In his short stint at Texas Southern, Bloodsaw floated around the field from quarterback to running back, receiver and in the secondary. In the meantime, pro QB prospect Bobby Reid transferred to TSU from Oklahoma State.

Ironically, TC plays TSU in its home opener on Sept. 20 at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium in what is being dubbed the "East Texas Rose City Classic." The TSU contest marks one of three for TC against schools from the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

"I think we have the highest chance of winning, playing against the SWAC schools and all the hype of that. We have as much a chance as they have," Bloodsaw said. "I'm glad to be back in my comfort zone. It was good to step out and see how it goes on in (those other) areas. Now everything is so easy, I know stuff I didn't know at first."