Strength in Unity.

Post by **Soapy** » 20 Feb 2022, 20:34

Caesar wrote: ↑
20 Feb 2022, 19:43

Soapy wrote: ↑
20 Feb 2022, 16:22
Francois Sr. likely to be retained as head coach as university leadership at odds with financial backers
#USFHatesWomen #DontLetYourDaughtersGoToUSF

shouldn't have been in them rooms. have some dignity. save yourself.

Post by **Soapy** » 20 Feb 2022, 20:35

USF adds center Courtney Ferguson from Miami University of Ohio as NSD looms
Eddie Fernandez -- 247 Sports USF Insider

Former Miami University of Ohio center Courtney Ferguson is transferring to the South Florida Bulls.

Ferguson, who is originally from Key West, played just one season for the Red Wolves before deciding he wanted to be closer to home. Ferguson is the 19th member of USF's incoming class of recruits and now transfer and more could be on the way.

USF will have hats on the table for Miami native Travis Peters and Alabama five-star offensive guard Chris Booker. Peters is deciding between the University of Miami, Kansas State and USF. Booker is a three team battle between Notre Dame, Alabama and USF.

The Bulls are considered the leaders for Booker while Miami is the hometown favorite to land Peters. Landing either player, especially Booker, will most likely guarantee that USF finishes with the nation's top class which it currently lands.

2035 USF Recruiting Class
HB Derek Young [ATH #1]: 6'0", 217lbs | Washington, IA [IMG] | 5-star | 4.32 40-yd dash, 330 Bench Press Max, 315 Squat Max
QB Joey Spence [QB #1]: 6'4", 220lbs | St. Johns, AZ | 5-star | 4.86 40-yd dash, 310 Bench Press Max, 255 Squat Max
WR Jarod Green [WR #2]: 5'11", 183lbs | Missouri City, TX | 5-star | 4.38 40-yd dash, 240 Bench Press Max, 240 Squat Max
WR Jason McDowell [WR #4]: 6'5", 220lbs | Charlotte, MI | 5-star | 4.36 40-yd dash, 270 Bench Press Max, 195 Squat Max
DB Mark Robinson [ATH #13]: 6'3", 185lbs | Union City, NJ | 5-star | 4.36 40-yd dash, 270 Bench Press Max, 260 Squat Max
T Adam Clemons [T #1]: 6'2", 307lbs | West Palm Beach, FL | 5-star | 4.92 40-yd dash, 440 Bench Press Max, 640 Squat Max
S Wesley Adams [S #1]: 6'5", 212lbs | Mt. Gay-Shamrock, WV [IMG] | 4-star | 4.32 40-yd dash, 420 Bench Press Max, 370 Squat Max
CB Kenny Fowler [CB #1]: 6'0", 166lbs | Cherry Hill, NJ | 4-star | 4.32 40-yd dash, 325 Bench Press Max, 285 Squat Max
DT Michael Williams [DT #3]: 6'6", 280lbs | El Paso, TX | 4-star | 5.18 40-yd dash, 460 Bench Press Max, 580 Squat Max
G Ed McKinney [G #5]: 6'2", 321lbs | Baker, LA | 4-star | 4.70 40-yd dash, 440 Bench Press Max, 605 Squat Max
WR Sam Washington [WR #25]: 6'0", 172lbs | Tampa, FL | 4-star | 4.42 40-yd dash, 280 Bench Press Max, 215 Squat Max
WR Donte McCarthy [WR #26]: 6'0", 211lbs | Lakeland, FL | 4-star | 4.32 40-yd dash, 245 Bench Press Max, 325 Squat Max
K Mike Pleasant [K #1]: 5'10", 181lbs | Mena, AR | 4-star | 4.96 40-yd dash, 240 Bench Press Max, 325 Squat Max
OLB Brian Robinson [OLB #17]: 6'2", 223lbs | Tampa, FL | 4-star | 4.54 40-yd dash, 430 Bench Press Max, 640 Squat Max
TE Jason White [TE #35]: 6'4", 251lbs | Prien, LA | 3-star | 4.70 40-yd dash, 285 Bench Press Max, 260 Squat Max
QB Jared Chavis [QB #46]: 6'3", 191lbs | Dallas, TX | 3-star | 4.82 40-yd dash, 250 Bench Press Max, 265 Squat Max
OLB Nicholas Holt [OLB #105]: 6'4", 238lbs | Oviedo, FL | 3-star | 4.76 40-yd dash, 315 Bench Press Max, 545 Squat Max
P Stanley Durbin [P #11]: 6'0", 220lbs | Orlando, FL | 3-star | 5.04 40-yd dash, 225 Bench Press Max, 280 Squat Max

2035 USF Recruiting Board
G Chris Booker [G #1]: 6'1", 320lbs | Muscle Shoals, AL | 5-star | USF, Notre Dame, Alabama
DE Travis Peters [DE #2]: 6'2", 228lbs | Miami, FL | 4-star | Miami, USF, Alabama, Kansas State
-------------------
LB Willie Farris [OLB #6]: 6'4", 221lbs | Center Point, AL | 4-star | Michigan State, Middle Tennessee State

Post by **Soapy** » 20 Feb 2022, 20:48

Despite coordinator switch, USF's incoming freshmen excited for opportunities
Johnny Murray -- The Tampa Bay Times Sports Columnist

No name on his caller ID lit up Joey Spence's face more than Mario Greer. The two had built a strong bond even before Greer had been promoted to offensive coordinator and when the move was official, Spence knew it was just a matter of time before he committed to Greer and USF.

Did Spence, the nation's top quarterback, consider following Greer to Florida after he took the head coaching job there?

"Not even a little bit," says Spence, "I have a lot of respect for Coach Greer and he's my guy but I'm a Bull."

USF and head coach Malcolm Francois Sr. managed to keep their top recruiting class in tact despite Greer's departure and Bob Shoop's retirement mainly due to a lot of them being early enrollees and already on campus by the time the move was finalized and by quickly getting every recruit in contact with the new coordinators and coaches as soon as they were hired.

"The ink was barely dried on my contract when I got in touch with some of the guys," says new USF offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, "It's never too early to start building relationships."

While new DC Josh Butler will likely continue to run a 4-3 base defense, Nussmeier will be face lifting an offense that finished first in scoring last season that's drastically different than offenses he typically runs.

It's welcomed news for incoming true freshman Derek Young and second-year player Bobby Jackson, who rushed for 1,000-yards last season.

"Coach [Nussmeier] is going to use both of us [Jackson and Young]," says an excited Young, who started taking classes at USF in January.

USF won the national championship this past January with its running game taking over which might have been why Francois Sr. might have opted to go with a more balanced coordinator in Nussmeier as opposed to remaining in a pass heavy offense that has seen Jeff Jones throw for over 5,000 yards in each of his first two seasons.

Post by **Soapy** » 20 Feb 2022, 21:14

Post by **Soapy** » 21 Feb 2022, 12:19

With Francois Sr. still at the helm of college football's premier program, USF made its values clear
Kate Smetana -- SI.com

The University of South Florida's decision to retain Malcolm Francois Sr. as head coach of the football team in the face of multiple off the field scandals and ongoing NCAA investigations wasn't a choice after all and in retrospect, shouldn't have been a surprise to anyone.

The same university leadership that allowed for the football program and Francois Sr. to rule without a moral compass and ethical rudder couldn't have been relied on and expected to have the backbone and the bite to fire college football's preeminent head football coach. Instead, USF looked up north and saw a program in the Florida Gators still trying to rekindle its success of previous decades and across I-4, a rival that's content with a winning season every now and then while Francois Sr. continuously delivers ten-win seasons, SEC championships and now five national championships.

Despite their best attempt, which wasn't much, the university and Francois Sr. are now joined at the hip and at the heart. The university's investigation turned one-year old this past winter and still no news of its findings while the college football world awaits the NCAA's own investigation to wrap up and deliver a verdict which will likely come with a punishment.

By bringing Francois Sr. back, the university has already turned in its plea; a not guilty one and therefore not only will Francois Sr.'s character and integrity be on the line pending the NCAA findings, but also the university's. No longer can they say it was a renegade coach or be appalled by his actions and inactions as they have decided to co-sign a man that thought the appropriate reaction to nonconsensual pornography was a "stern talking to" during a team meeting and asking -- not confirming -- that such recordings be deleted.

This is the university's defining moment and no amount of USF Health Services buildings, hospitals, diversity pamphlets or having a female athletic director can white-wash this moment. The university chose its football program over it's student body, particularly the women that frequent its campus and entrusted them with their secondary education, safety and well being. It's a decision that many universities have made before in pursuit of being a college football blue blood.

Congratulations, USF. You've now joined that tainted club.

Post by **Soapy** » 21 Feb 2022, 13:51

An early look at the incoming true freshman as spring ball is underway
Anthony Washington -- The Tampa Bay Chronicles

April is around the corner and with that will be USF's annual spring game as spring practices are underway with two scrimmages having already taken place. The scrimmages were closed to the public with USF releasing partial stats, video clips and pictures through its official social media accounts.

The media has also been privy to a few portions of practice and through two weeks, the loaded 2035 recruiting class which finished No. 1 in the country is as good as advertised. After speaking to coaches, players, and talent evaluators that have been at practices, here is a preliminary ranking of the incoming talent:

ATH Derek Young
He was the nation's top recruit for a reason and Young has made it evident that he's going to be a star at the next level. He impressed coaches during the Bulls Fifth Quarter off-season strength program.

Young is listed on the roster at six-feet and 217 pounds and looks every bit of it when in shorts and in pads. He's drawn comparisons already to William Stone, another top recruit that signed with USF back in 2021.

Stone, a high school running back primarily out of Miami, ended up being a receiver at USF and finished his career with 233 receptions, 3196 yards and 28 touchdowns which were school records at the time. Stone still holds the school's record for most receiving yards in a season (1356), most receptions in a game (17) and most receptions in a season (109).

USF head coach Malcolm Francois Sr. isn't as bullish as others at putting Young at receiver, like Stone, and instead is taking a slow approach.

"He's got good vision," said Francois Sr, "I don't know if we want to just say he's a receiver or a running back just yet, for now, he's still an athlete."

USF is returning three running backs in Bobby Jackson, William Jones and Jason Gibson who all played last season with Jackson rushing for over 1,000 yards as a true freshman. At receiver, they're returning just one scholarship player in Marques Iosefo but there's plenty of incoming talent there as well which will be discussed later.

Ratings: 95 speed, 91 agility, 91 acceleration, 90 elusiveness, 71 carrying, 71 catching, 79 route running
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QB Joey Spence
Spence could probably start as a true freshman at most Power Five schools as his arm talent just screams out future NFL first round pick.

He's bigger than current starter Jeff Jones and probably more talented than Jones, both when Jones was a true freshman and probably right now. No, it's not a quarterback competition as Jones has thrown for over 11,000 yards in two seasons and 108 touchdowns but that's mainly due to his football IQ and decision making.

USF fans won't see Spence on the field this season but they should be excited about getting a glimpse into the future during the spring game.

Ratings: 59 speed, 74 acceleration, 94 throw power, 87 throw accuracy
-
S Wesley Adams
A six-foot-five player that weighs well over 200 pounds shouldn't be able to move the way that Adams does. It's clear why he was the nation's top safety and he probably should have been a five-star after seeing him play.

Adams is susceptible to double moves and he needs to learn to be more patient in coverage and improve overall in that area but his physicality is evident and he's not afraid to get in there and make a play against the run even in half-padded settings.

The spring game is the perfect environment for the physical West Virginia native to flash his abilities and more than likely establish himself as USF's starting safety by the fall. Adams running mate at safety will likely be another true freshman in Mark Robinson, the five-star athlete out of New Jersey that has also shown potential (93 speed, 95 acceleration, 62 tackle, 80 man coverage, 90 zone coverage).

Ratings: 95 speed, 86 acceleration, 84 tackle, 82 hit power, 73 play recognition, 70 man coverage, 74 zone coverage
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WR Jason McDowell
The offensive version of Adams, McDowell is exactly what you want in a Z receiver with his size at six-foot-five and 220 pounds.

He still has room to grow in terms of being able to impose his physicality at the line of scrimmage and in jump ball situations but when in open space, McDowell is a sight to behold with long, smooth strides that allows him to get behind defenders.

If he can put together his size with his speed into an explosive and combative receiver, the sky is the limit for McDowell.

Honorable mentions at receiver also include Sam Washington (93 speed, 92 acceleration, 77 catch) and Jarod Green (92 speed, 91 acceleration, 71 catching) who have all had flashes at receiver so far in the spring. While the trio of Michael Arrington, Charles Fisher and Ryan Sullivan were interesting stories as walk-ons playing in the national championship game, that talent increase at receiver is evident and was needed.

Ratings: 93 speed, 93 acceleration, 79 catching, 89 route running, 82 jumping
-
CB Kenny Fowler
Does USF ever miss at corner? When you recruit elite guys, it's hard to as Fowler is just the latest top corner to join the Bulls and he'll likely start in the nickel if he can beat out redshirt junior Kevin Collins.

A bit undersized, Fowler has almost identical measurements to Jeremy Daniels who recorded three interceptions as a true freshman and being under 170 pounds didn't seem to matter.

Fowler is more physical than Daniels and from the same cloth as Joe Jackson as he's not afraid to bang it up in run support and has shown good press coverage abilities. His main strength, however, is his top end speed, coverage IQ and the ability to play bigger than his listed height with his jumping ability.

Ratings: 95 speed, 93 acceleration, 87 jumping, 67 tackle, 85 man coverage, 88 zone coverage, 81 press.

Post by **Soapy** » 21 Feb 2022, 13:52

Don't expect Jones to slow down in USF's new offense as he's awarded No. 1 jersey
Anthony Washington -- The Tampa Bay Chronicles

A lot had been made of USF's change in offensive scheme and having its fourth offensive coordinator in as many years but none of it mattered as Team Rocky surged past the Team Bulls by a final score of 31-14. That's not a surprising score due to the fact that reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jeff Jones was at the helm of Team Rocky.

Jones didn't get off to a fast start, but he quickly regained his form, racking up 396 passing yards and two touchdowns by game's end. He was honored before the game with the No. 1 jersey, as was expected following Robert Givens' departure to the NFL.

"I thought Jeff [Jones] started out slow early. We didn't have many guys open and that secondary was locking them down," offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier said after the game, per ESPN's Bill Johnson. "We eventually got into a rhythm and started getting open and Jeff can make all the throws so no surprise there."

Bobby Jackson looked good carrying the ball, recording 85 yards and a score on 18 carries. Marques Iosefo was targeted early and often, coming away with 11 receptions for 127 yards and one touchdown.

Former Alabama transfer Kevin Beck stole the show on the defensive side of the ball, racking up two sacks and reeling in one interception for a touchdown as he ran with the second team defense on Team Rocky but might have earned himself a spot as a starter come fall camp. LB Chris Williams was all over the field early in the game for Team Bulls with seventeen tackles.

It was Joey Spence that began the scoring for the day, tossing a perfect pass to Sam Washington for a 27-yard score. Jackson tied it up with a six-yard touchdown run for Team Rocky.

Jones began to heat up late in the first half. He completed a six-yard touchdown pass to Iosefo and headed into halftime passing for 259 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Spence looked good as well, completing 13 of his 19 passing attempts for 162 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

A noticeable absence was Derek Young, who didn't play at all after lighting it up during spring but was on the sidelines in street clothes. USF head coach Malcolm Francois Sr. confirmed it wasn't a disciplinary issue but did not go into detail as to why the former number one recruit did not play.

Young's absence gave a heavier workload to Jason Gibson (11 carries, 37 yards) and fans also got see true freshman Dionte McCarthy, a converted receiver, try his hand at running back. McCarthy didn't have any big plays but his top end speed was on display during a wheel route where Spence underthrew him on what would have been a walk in touchdown. Nussmeier confirmed to the media that McCarthy will be playing running back at USF and that Young, most likely, will start out at receiver.

"From a pass blocking standpoint, he has ways to go," said Nussmeier of Young, "He's willing to get better at it but for now, I think we're probably going to see him at receiver."

Post by **Soapy** » 21 Feb 2022, 13:52

The best backup in the country, Spence eager to grow, learn under Jones
Sean Caesar -- The Athletic Writer

It was the kind of throw you're not supposed to make. The true freshman quarterback had rolled to his right out of a pocket that he didn't need to roll out of and from his own 25-yard line, he launched a pass across the field all the way to the left hash of the opposite 15-yard line over the head of a safety playing over the top and a trailing corner that recorded three interceptions as a true freshman.

That's when Jeff Jones knew.

"He's just different," says Jones of Joey Spence, the former five-star recruit and this past cycle's number one ranked quarterback, "He does things that you just don't think are possible or even a good idea on a regular basis."

Spence says the furthest he's ever thrown the ball has been over seventy yards and it occurred in a high school game during his junior season. He hasn't tried to eclipse that mark since and unlike most talented prospects with a rocket launcher attached to their shoulders, he's not keen on trying to break and avoids those friendly competitions whenever he's asked.

"If the game calls for it, sure. But if not, I'm not really interested. No one cares how far you can throw a football," says Spence, "You don't get a touchdown for a 70-yard incompletion."

While Spence's physical abilities are becoming the stuff of legends as his lore grows on USF's practice field, Spence is the one in awe of Jones.

"We always watch film together," says Spence of his relationship with USF's starting quarterback, who he chose to sit behind instead of attending another university and starting from day one, "I try to pick his brain because he's a football genius. You get around him and it's clear why he's done all the great things he's done and going to continue to do so."

Both players are learning the new offense of Doug Nussmeier at the same time which has allowed them to bond even more as they try to get a grasp of the playbook which has resulted in Spence, the rookie, at times explaining concepts that he ran in high school that are similar in Nussmeier's offense.

The duo are an odd couple. Jones, a quiet, undersized quarterback from South Florida whose computer processor is his biggest advantage and Spence, who was blessed at birth and a confident, moxie kid out of Arizona. But they've developed a close relationship throughout spring workouts, spring ball and now in the summer. Even when veterans are given days off, Jones is often on campus just so he could have a throwing session with Spence followed by an hour or two of watching film together and reviewing each other's tape.

"I didn't really have a veteran to put their arm around me and guide me," said Jones, who started as a true freshman at USF, "I just want to be that guy for him and I want him to break all of my records because at the end of the day, I came to USF to do my part in adding to the great legacy of this program and I want the next group of guys to keep carrying that torch."

After wearing the No. 12 in spring ball, Spence is planning on changing his number to 5, Jones' old number, which became available once Jones was awarded with the iconic No. 1 jersey during the spring.

It's one of the many ways that Spence is following in Jones' footsteps.

Post by **Captain Canada** » 21 Feb 2022, 13:58

Can't say I'm surprised by the outcomes, but its going to be interesting to see how you choose to impose consequences or reactions to all this

Post by **djp73** » 22 Feb 2022, 07:05

long live coach francois

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