Nature Coast running back Matt Breida plans to sign with Georgia Southern next week, Sharks coach Charles Liggett said Thursday evening.
The 5-foot-10, 160-pound senior established himself as one of the North Suncoast’s top running backs by rushing for more than 3,000 yards over the last two seasons.
In 2011, he led the area with 1,613 rushing yards – one of the top marks in Hernando County history – while rushing for 20 touchdowns.
Breida racked up almost 1,400 yards this fall and rushed for 17 TDs. He earned first-team all-North Suncoast honors both seasons.
The two-star recruit also had offers from Toledo, Akron, Ball State and UMass and received interest from Duke and Boston College. But Georgia Southern continued to push hard for him late. Eagles head coach Jeff Monken visited Breida last week.
Breida will have some company from Hernando County in the backfield at the next level. Hernando ATH Tyrail Hawkins also plans to sign with the Eagles on Wednesday morning – about an hour before Breida will do the same.
Georgia Southern is one of the powerhouse programs in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Eagles finished 10-4, reached the national semifinals and finished third in the national rankings.