Tampa Bay Times
by Joey Knight
Tampa, Fl
July 24, 2020
As the S24 draft ever approaches for the DSFL scouts are racing to find the perfect players for them to draft. GMs are planning which players they can take where in order to maximize the skill of their player pool. But one player in particular that some GMs and news publications might be sleeping on this year comes straight from the local area in USF.
Two years ago when the young man from Osaka, Japan started as a red shirt freshman under Charlie Strong’s offense many did not know what to expect. They were quickly dazzled by the speed and intelligence of the young samurai and slid through opposing secondaries like a hot knife through butter. The coaching staff and more importantly the fans finally had something to be excited for. While his first season may have wowed fans his second season did so much more. Breaking 2,000 yards in only his second season and attaining the Doak Walker Award was a feat nobody expected. Declaring for the draft after only his sophomore year is a big step. Will his youth and inexperience turn away potential scouts or will his statistics speak for themselves?
Hailing from the large southern city of Osaka in Japan Terry Yaki was born with football in his genes. Being the son of X-League legend Hayato Arima and a US ambassador Alice Yaki American football his life. At the behest of his father Terry tried out for the high school football team in Osaka and made it. After showing poor play at several positions the coaches moved him to running back due to his speed and never looked back. Terry skill took his team all the way to the Christmas Bowl, the highest level of High school American football in Japan, two years in a row. Winning his only one in his final year there. This talent unknown outside the US may have gone unnoticed if not for the scouting department at USF. After contacting Mr. Yaki the scouting department said they got an immediate reply with a one word answer, Yes.
He proved immediately in training camp that he was the preeminent back at the Tampa based school. After struggling to show his full potential under Charlie Strong’s offense the speedster roared out the gates the next year in new Head Coach Jeff Scott’s offense. Quickly amassing a surprising amount of yards against weak opponents within the American conference it was time to prove himself against Big 12 powerhouse Texas. Though he only ran for 151 yards his fourth quarter 49 yard touchdown sealed the game. Though the team did not make it to the CFB Playoffs they came with full force at the Orange Bowl. With Yaki running for 212 yards in the first 3 quarters the game was all but over.
With such a boisterous end to his sophomore year Terry Yaki has taught a new challenge at the professional level. As this season’s draft approaches the Yaki’s name is beginning to pick up some ground swell among scouts and may prove to be a sleeper in this upcoming draft. Only time will tell how far this young samurai can take his professional career.
(532 words)
by Joey Knight
Tampa, Fl
July 24, 2020
As the S24 draft ever approaches for the DSFL scouts are racing to find the perfect players for them to draft. GMs are planning which players they can take where in order to maximize the skill of their player pool. But one player in particular that some GMs and news publications might be sleeping on this year comes straight from the local area in USF.
Two years ago when the young man from Osaka, Japan started as a red shirt freshman under Charlie Strong’s offense many did not know what to expect. They were quickly dazzled by the speed and intelligence of the young samurai and slid through opposing secondaries like a hot knife through butter. The coaching staff and more importantly the fans finally had something to be excited for. While his first season may have wowed fans his second season did so much more. Breaking 2,000 yards in only his second season and attaining the Doak Walker Award was a feat nobody expected. Declaring for the draft after only his sophomore year is a big step. Will his youth and inexperience turn away potential scouts or will his statistics speak for themselves?
Hailing from the large southern city of Osaka in Japan Terry Yaki was born with football in his genes. Being the son of X-League legend Hayato Arima and a US ambassador Alice Yaki American football his life. At the behest of his father Terry tried out for the high school football team in Osaka and made it. After showing poor play at several positions the coaches moved him to running back due to his speed and never looked back. Terry skill took his team all the way to the Christmas Bowl, the highest level of High school American football in Japan, two years in a row. Winning his only one in his final year there. This talent unknown outside the US may have gone unnoticed if not for the scouting department at USF. After contacting Mr. Yaki the scouting department said they got an immediate reply with a one word answer, Yes.
He proved immediately in training camp that he was the preeminent back at the Tampa based school. After struggling to show his full potential under Charlie Strong’s offense the speedster roared out the gates the next year in new Head Coach Jeff Scott’s offense. Quickly amassing a surprising amount of yards against weak opponents within the American conference it was time to prove himself against Big 12 powerhouse Texas. Though he only ran for 151 yards his fourth quarter 49 yard touchdown sealed the game. Though the team did not make it to the CFB Playoffs they came with full force at the Orange Bowl. With Yaki running for 212 yards in the first 3 quarters the game was all but over.
With such a boisterous end to his sophomore year Terry Yaki has taught a new challenge at the professional level. As this season’s draft approaches the Yaki’s name is beginning to pick up some ground swell among scouts and may prove to be a sleeper in this upcoming draft. Only time will tell how far this young samurai can take his professional career.
(532 words)