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Fargas looking for chance to carry ball
Associated Press
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Justin Fargas went to Michigan as the
top-rated running back in the country.
Three seasons later, he's transferring as a backup safety and
will not be with the Wolverines when they play Auburn
in the Citrus Bowl.
"He wants to play back home," his father, Antonio Fargas, said
Monday.
Fargas rushed for 6,352 yards and 77 touchdowns at Notre Dame
High School in the Los Angeles area.
UCLA, USC and California are on his short list of schools he
would like to transfer to.
After sitting out next season, Fargas will have just one season
of eligibility left unless the NCAA grants him a sixth year.
"That's the sacrifice he's making with this decision," Antonio
Fargas said. "If it doesn't work out, he'll get one year to get
ready for the next level or just to play ball, get a degree and
move on with his life."
Fargas missed the entire 1999 season after breaking his leg
during his freshman season.
This year, he gained 85 yards on 18 carries as Michigan's third-
or fourth-string running back before asking to switch to free
safety after four games.
He made 10 tackles and forced a fumble as a backup in the
secondary and on special teams.
Fargas would have had to battle for a starting job at free
safety or running back next season if he decided to stay.
Why didn't it work out for Fargas at Michigan?
"It's been a complicated mix of things," said Antonio Fargas,
an actor who once played the character Huggy Bear on the TV show
"Starsky and Hutch. "He wanted the challenge of playing there,
then he got hurt. Then he got frustrated when he came back trying
to look for playing time.
"He spoke with Lloyd (Carr) a couple of weeks ago about this
and he was just really disappointed that Justin would not be
realizing his dreams there."
Carr and Justin Fargas, who is taking final exams this week,
were not available for comment.
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