Prep football: Manatee's Lauro expects to play Friday

photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie

Manatee wide receiver/running back Anthony Lauro said he will probably a play of quarter of Friday's spring game against St. Petersburg Gibbs.
Lauro, a rising senior, underwent knee surgery following December's Class 7A state championship game. He practiced for the first time Monday and said he felt fine.
"I've still got my speed and all that," said Lauro, his right knee wrapped in ice. "I'll be 100 percent."
Lauro rushed for 631 yards and had 607 yards receiving while totaling 14 touchdowns last season for the Canes. He should get more time at running back this year now that Leon Allen, the team's leading rusher last year, has graduated.
Lauro said he put on roughly 20 pounds of muscle in anticipation of carrying the ball and now weights about 200 pounds.
He has received scholarship offers from Western Kentucky and Akron, and other schools such as Purdue and Georgia Tech have shown interest.