Interview: Only an Ankle Injury Could Slow Down 2,000 Yard Rusher Cleo Floyd in 2015

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

There are a few benchmarks in sports that signify an outstanding season. As a player moves up from one level to the next, each benchmark becomes harder and harder to attain where natural talent alone cannot promise a .300 batting average in baseball, 10 rebounds a game in basketball, or a 1,000 yard rushing season.

Seeing a high school player rush for a 1,000 yards is a little more common place with all of the outstanding talent coming up through the ranks year after year but not necessarily easy to achieve. What is even more uncommon is a 2,000 yard season on the ground. That is exactly what Cleo Floyd did for Hot Springs High School in 2014.

To clarify, Floyd is an amazing athlete but did not scorch chumps in a small classification to get his yards. The 6’0.5”, 185 pound, talent did it against Class 6A players, the second highest classification in Arkansas. Adding to Floyd’s outstanding season, he had over 100 tackles. In all Floyd rushed for 2,060 yards, 29 touchdowns off 203 carries and had 116 tackles, seven interceptions, and six fumble recoveries primarily playing safety helping the Trojans to a 7-5 season that included a first round showdown against Little Rock Christian Academy 4-star running back Damarea Crockett (2016 verbal to Boise State).

The only thing that could slow down Floyd during his senior season was an injury, and that is exactly what happened. The first three games of the 2015 season went great. Hot Springs started out 3-0 and then by Game 4 a fluke accident on a scramble for a fumbled ball against Watson Chapel ended with Floyd having a sprained ankle. As all football players do, he toughed it out and kept playing, even continuing in the 14-7 loss against Watson Chapel but a part of his shiftiness and explosiveness was gone but not all was lost.

Floyd played the next six games finishing with 819 yards on 137 carries with six touchdowns and caught nine passes for 184 yards with two more scores. He also had 40 tackles, three tackles for a loss, one interception, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. All in all, he still had a really nice season but far below even his own expectations after such a phenomenal junior campaign.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Cleo to go over his last two seasons on the Arkansas high school gridiron to get the lowdown on his play and got a recruiting news update.

Interview

Cleo, looking back on the 2015 season, the Trojans finished 6-4. Were you pleased with how the season went as a whole?

“No sir. I wish we would have played to our abilities. Up to the level that we were capable of. We would have games of being unstoppable and then we would slack off.”

How did you junior season go for the Trojans?

“It was great. Me being a junior, we had good senior leadership. Everything clicked. We had great team chemistry. We were about business every game.”

You had an exceptional junior season but then you were slowed by an ankle injury in 2015. How did the enjoy take place?

“It happened against Watson Chapel. It was towards the beginning of the game. I rolled it after there was a fumble, and someone dived for the ball and their helmet hit my ankle.”

Did you miss any games?

“No I kept playing. I finished that one but only played defense.”

You line up all over the field, but which position is your favorite, running back or safety?

“That’s a hard decision. I like safety a lot, I love hitting people. I also like the ball in my hands. I like when the game is on the line with my hands on the ball.”

What was the best 40-yard dash time you’ve clocked?

“4.51.”

Where did you run your 4.5?

“At an Arkansas camp.”

What makes you a productive running back when healthy?

“When healthy, well, I don’t have blazing speed, but I have enough speed and power. I have real good field vision. It is easy for me to see the right whole to hit. My speed is better than most think. I love contact, that doesn’t bother me.”

What about on defense playing safety. You had season racking up over 100 tackles.

“I’m always on the ball no matter what. I love contact. If there’s a time to do it, it’s on defense.”

Which schools are showing interest in you right now?

“I have offers from Arkansas State and Memphis. Schools showing interest in me, I don’t know if others have been texting me because my phone is broke. The last time my phone was working Kansas and Arkansas Baptist were contacting me.”

What type of feedback have you received from these colleges?

“I have not heard from ASU in a while. With Memphis, the feedback they have given me, they like my explosion and how I come off the ball. They like me at running back.”

When will you take your official to Memphis?

“I’m not sure yet.”

Have you taken any unofficial visits either in the offseason or during the fall?

“I went to Junior Days at Memphis and Louisiana Tech.”

Did you go to any one-day college camps over the summer?

“I went to Arkansas, A-State (Arkansas State), and Memphis. The ASU camp was at War Memorial (Little Rock).”

What are the main factors you consider when breaking down a college?

“I want to go where I fit and it’s like family, not just a football team. I also want to make sure it’s a good college for my major.”

What do you want to major in while in college?

“Criminal Justice.”

What do you want to do with degree when your playing days are done?

“I want to be a detective.”

Do you watch a lot detective shows and “who done it” thrillers?

(Laughs) “Yeah, my favorite show is CSI. All my family are policemen or in the Army. I just grew up around this sort of stuff and everyone in my family likes these shows.”

What honors did you earn as a junior in football?

“I was All-State.”

Have the senior year honors come out yet?

“I don’t think they have come out yet.”

Are you playing in any all-star games coming up?

“I’m playing in a game in Beaumont, Texas. I’m playing with a team out of Lake Charles, Louisiana. I’m qualified to play with them. The game is on Jan 2.”

Have you started working out to get ready for the game?

“Yes sir. I’ve been working out every day. I’ve been working out different things with my coach. Two days I go to the gym and lift, and then two days I work on speed, agility, and quickness and alternate.”

Is there a player at the college or NFL level that you like to watch play the game at safety or running back? Someone you may model your game after somewhat?

“Not at running back but at safety Tyrann Mathieu (Cardinals).”

What is it about Mathieu that is similar to your game or something that you try to model your game after that he does well?

“His explosion on tackles. I like how he is always around the ball and always making big contact and big hits.”

I know you play basketball for Hot Springs, do you participate in any other sports for the Trojans?

“I run track.”

Which events?

“The 400, 200, and 100.”

Which even is your best?

“I think it’s the 400, but I like to run the 200 more.”

What is your best time in the 200?

“I don’t know. I don’t worry about stats for basketball and track. I do it to stay in shape for football.”

Who has made the biggest impact on your football career?

My mom (Martinique). She always there for me. She’s always pushing me when it gets hard. If I need something she’s there.”

Cleo, good luck with the all-star game and thank you for your time today.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: wholehogsports.com; No. 2 Cleo Floyd.

Photo credit: arkansasonline.com; No. 2 Cleo Floyd shakes off a tackler.