The Bulls overcome early mistakes with a strong second half
USF head coach Malcolm Francois Sr. breathes, sleeps and eats recruiting as he rightfully views it as the lifeblood of the program. Down a five-star quarterback, USF was able to replace Joey Spence with another five-star quarterback as true freshman Charlie Cooke ignited the comeback in just his second college game and USF's defense sealed the deal in USF's 34-30 win over Texas on Saturday afternoon.
The Longhorns jumped out to an early 16-0 lead as both teams were without starting quarterbacks Spence and Dan Butler for Texas with senior Curtis Vinson making his first career start and Cooke playing his first meaningful snaps after Spence left the game with an injury.
USF's offensive line struggled against Texas' defensive line with the Longhorns defense recording eight tackles for loss and holding USF's offense to less than two yards per carry.
With the running game a non-factor, Cooke threw the ball 43 times, overcoming two early interceptions, including one at the goal-line which kept USF from making it a one-possession game in the third quarter. Luckily for Cooke and the Bulls offense, they got the ball right back and he was able to connect with Chris Wallace for his third touchdown of the day to draw within a touchdown.
After settling for a field goal on their next possession, USF's offense got the ball back once more with Jason McDowell scoring the go-ahead and eventual game winning touchdown with 4:36 left in the game.
Texas would have another promising drive after being stifled for the entire second half, getting the ball inside the five-yard line on first and goal. The ball was nearly intercepted on the ensuing play before Vinson was brought down for a sack on second and goal with twelve seconds left and down four points.
Instead of calling their last timeout, Texas tried to hurry it up and snapped the ball with less than four seconds to go. Vinson completed the pass and tried to call a timeout with one second left but triple zeros hit the scoreboard, securing the USF win.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Scoring Summary
Quarter 1
[TEX] K. Thomas, 39 Yd FG (6:49)
[TEX] K. Thomas, 22 Yd FG (2:23)
Quarter 2
[TEX] K. Thomas, 32 Yd FG (8:31)
[TEX] J. Woods, 52 Yd run (7:11)
[USF] M. Pleasant, 41 Yd FG (3:03)
[TEX] M. Murphy, 1 Yd run (1:34)
[USF] C. Wallace, 27 Yd pass from C. Cooke (0:51)
[TEX] D. Scott, 1 Yd pass from C. Vinson (0:22)
Quarter 3
[USF] C. Wallace, 6 Yd pass from C. Cooke (7:12)
[USF] C. Wallace, 7 Yd pass from C. Cooke (2:48)
Quarter 4
[USF] M. Pleasant, 32 Yd FG (6:56)
[USF] J. McDowell, 14 Yd pass from C. Cooke (4:35)
---------------------------------------------------------------- #1 South Florida Bulls
QB Charlie Cooke: 29 of 43, 348 yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, sacked once, 12 carries, 37 yards
QB Joey Spence: 1 of 1, 8 yards, sacked once (left game in first quarter with injury)
HB Dionte McCarthy: 12 carries, 17 yards
HIM Derek Young: 4 carries, 20 yards, 5 receptions, 103 yards
WR Sam Washington: 6 receptions, 74 yards
WR Jason McDowell: 6 receptions, 72 yards, touchdown
TE Chris Wallace: 5 receptions, 52 yards, 3 touchdowns
WR Jarod Green: 4 receptions, 38 yards
CB Kenny Fowler: 9 tackles, 2 tackles, sack, 2 pass deflections
S Wesley Adams: 6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, interception
Nation's top ranked linebacker Webster commits following surprise official visit to USF
Eddie Fernandez -- 247 Sports USF Insider
California's Noah Webster, the top ranked inside linebacker in the 2038 recruiting cycle, has committed to the University of South Florida over Oklahoma, Michigan State, Oregon and Georgia Tech in what was a week full of surprises from Webster.
Webster's commitment comes as a complete surprise to the recruiting world, as was his official visit to Tampa this past weekend which preceded his commitment. The six-foot-two linebacker was expected to hold off on taking official visits until the end of his high school season and commit near or even after the early signing period. When Webster's game was rescheduled to Thursday, the Bulls coaching staff got in contact with the four-star recruit and were able to schedule Webster's official visit that same week.
"It was kind of crazy," says Webster of the experience, "I camped over there a few years ago but I hadn't visited recently and it was just an eye-opening experience and the entire coaching staff just made me feel like it was home and the right place for me."
Webster got to witness first hand USF's incredible comeback win over Texas and soon thereafter, Webster committed to the Bulls coaching staff who advised him to wait on an official announcement until he got back home.
"I really appreciated the fact that they even told me to take my time," says Webster, "My mom did too so when we got back, we talked it over with my dad and it was just the right move to make so we made it."
From an evaluation standpoint, his athletic profile and playing style is very similar to that of Dallas Gross, a former three time All-American for the Bulls. He's not as thick as Gross was coming in and it remains to be seen if Webster can continue to take on and shed blocks at the next level at 220 pounds. As a freshman, Gross was already in the 240-pound range and given his athletic limitations already, it remains to be seen if Webster can continue to add weight while not becoming more of a liability in coverage.
Webster is teammates with another top USF target in cornerback Bryan Carter but the third ranked corner in the country is currently trending towards an Oregon and Colorado battle out in the west coast. USF continues to be in good standing with K.J. Waters and would like to pair him with Carter as they work on trying to get the California kid on campus in a similar fashion to Webster and improving where they stand with him.
2038 USF Recruiting Class
WR Joseph Moses [WR #1]: 6'2", 210lbs | Tampa, FL | 5-star | 4.50 40-yd dash, 335 Bench Press Max, 225 Squat Max
ILB Noah Webster [ILB #1]: 6'2", 220lbs | Calabasas, CA | 4-star | 4.70 40-yd dash, 335 Bench Press Max, 655 Squat Max
G Woody Humphrey [G #1]: 6'1", 268lbs | North Druid Hills, GA | 4-star | 4.68 40-yd dash, 455 Bench Press Max, 680 Squat Max
2038 USF Recruiting Board
S Michael Robinson [FS #1]: 6'2", 179lbs | Belle Glade, FL | 5-star | Ohio State, USF, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss
S Kyle Locher [SS #1]: 6'3", 204lbs | Goodland, KS [IMG] | 4-star | Georgia Tech, USF, Kansas
CB Bryan Carter [CB #3]: 6'1", 171lbs | Calabasas, CA | 4-star | Oregon, Colorado, USF
CB K.J. Waters [CB #5]: 6'1", 161lbs | Orlando, FL | 4-star | USF, Miami, Florida
QB Jet Millines [QB #5]: 6'3", 225lbs | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 4-star | USF, Florida, FIU
T Wally Bayless [T #5]: 6'4", 275lbs | Milpitas, CA [IMG] | 4-star | Oregon, Michigan State, USF
DE Jason Wilson [DE #9]: 6'2", 263lbs | Laurel, VA | 4-star | Navy, USF
DT Rahmod Carter [DT #4]: 6'5", 298lbs | Kenosha, WI [IMG] | 4-star | USF, Oregon
T Cole Britton [T #10]: 6'6", 288lbs | Miami, FL | 4-star | Florida Atlantic, USF
DE Jesse Berrong [DE #14]: 6'2", 265lbs | Northridge, OH | 4-star | USF, Western Kentucky, Louisville, Ohio State, Notre Dame
TE Landon Wile [TE #11]: 6'3", 227lbs | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 3-star | Southern Miss, USF, UCF
OLB Jackson Gold Jr. [OLB #22]: 5'11", 210lbs | Miami, FL | 3-star | Oregon, USF
FB T.J. Dawson [FB #6]: 6'1", 236lbs | Miami, FL | 3-star | Nevada, Duke, Oregon, USF
Former Bulls OC Marcel Smith bristles as Bulls run it up against the Bruins
Marcel Smith time as USF's offensive coordinator under Malcolm Francois Sr. was short lived as he was relieved of play calling duties just one year into his stint and would leave USF to become Washington's head coach before the end of his second season.
While neither coaches have acknowledged any bad blood between them, it was clearly on display this past Saturday with USF scoring twenty eight points in the fourth quarter and leaving their starters in during their 77-14 blowout of UCLA which included a 42-yard touchdown pass with four seconds left in the game.
Smith and Francois did not shake hands after the game and when asked about USF's decision to keep throwing the ball late in the game with their starters, Smith scoffed and declined to answer.
Francois Sr. cited wanting to get Spence some live reps after missing last week's game. He said the last pass was a reward for Spence as his only other deep pass of the game was dropped by a receiver.
Spence broke his own record with the late touchdown pass for both passing yards (582) and touchdowns (8).
---------------------------------------------------------------- Scoring Summary
Quarter 1
[UCLA] A. Bell, 19 Yd pass from A. Daniels (6:04)
[USF] D. Young, 10 Yd pass from J. Spence (3:08)
Quarter 2
[USF] E. Valentine, 2 Yd run (8:39)
[USF] C. Parker, returned fumble 34 Yds
[USF] C. Wallace, 1 Yd pass from J. Spence (6:12)
[UCLA] P. Newton, 1 Yd run (4:26)
[USF] M. Bennett, 8 Yd pass from J. Spence (2:07)
[USF] C. Parker, returned interception 57 Yds (0:46)
Quarter 3
[USF] J. McDowell, 11 Yd pass from J. Spence (4:12)
Quarter 4
[USF] J. McDowell, 17 Yd pass from J. Spence (8:55)
[USF] S. Washington, 4 Yd pass from J. Spence (6:33)
[USF] C. Wallace, 15 Yd pass from J. Spence (3:06)
[USF] J. McDowell, 42 Yd pass from J. Spence (0:04)
---------------------------------------------------------------- #1 South Florida Bulls
QB Joey Spence: 48 of 61, 582 yards, 8 touchdowns, interception, sacked twice
HIM Derek Young: 11 carries, 88 yards, 11 receptions, 145 yards, touchdown
HB Dionte McCarthy: 6 carries, 45 yards
TE Chris Wallace: 13 receptions, 105 yards, 2 touchdowns
WR Jason McDowell: 9 receptions, 154 yards, 3 touchdowns
WR Maurice Bennett: 7 receptions, 108 yards, touchdown
WR Sam Washington: 4 receptions, 58 yards, touchdown
CB Kenny Fowler: 9 tackles, 3 tackles for loss
LB Clint Parker: 9 tackles, tackle for loss, interception, fumble recovery, 2 touchdowns
LB Brian Robinson: 4 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, sack
DE Travis Peters: 3 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 3 sacks
UCLA Bruins
QB Aaron Daniels: 29 of 39, 313 yards, touchdown, 2 interceptions, sacked 7 times
HB Philip Newton: 11 carries, 59 yards, touchdown
WR Ben Harrison: 7 receptions, 84 yards
WR Roger Jennings: 6 receptions, 98 yards
S Matt Jones: 9 tackles, interception
LB Ross Rivers: 8 tackles, tackle for loss
DE Allen Gibbons: 2 tackles, tackle for loss, sack
Spence, Young and Wallace lead the way for Bulls win over Gators
A four-year starter, Kyle Clemens has been among college football's most dynamic playmakers. In his final start against the University of South Florida, he put together arguably his best performance, rushing for 155 yards and throwing for 297 yards.
It wasn't nearly enough as the trio of Joey Spence, Derek Young and Chris Wallace accounted for 517 yards of total offense in USF's 56-20 win over Florida on a rainy Saturday afternoon in Tampa.
Spence completed 28 of his 37 passes for 416 yards with all four touchdowns going to Wallace who caught eleven passes for 149 yards. While Wallace caught the first two touchdown of the game to give USF the 14-7 lead, it was Young who broke the game wide open with a 74-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
After a Florida touchdown with 1:58 left in the game, Spence went down the field in less than a minute before finishing the drive with a 16-yard pass to Wallace to keep USF's lead at fourteen heading into the half.
Young would score twice more in the second half, both on the ground, as Dionte McCarthy's 60-yard touchdown run was the straw that broke the camel's back in the third quarter.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Scoring Summary
Quarter 1
[USF] C. Wallace, 14 Yd pass from J. Spence (0:56)
[UF] R. Johnson, 26 Yd pass from K. Clemens (0:00)
Quarter 2
[USF] C. Wallace, 25 Yd pass from J. Spence (6:36)
[USF] D. Young, 74 Yd run (4:52)
[UF] B. Stewart, 2 Yd run (1:58)
[USF] C. Wallace, 16 Yd pass from J. Spence (0:58)
Quarter 3
[UF] W. Davis, 43 Yd FG (6:50)
[USF] D. Young, 7 Yd run (5:53)
[USF] D. McCarthy, 60 Yd run (4:14)
[UF] W. Davis, 38 Yd FG (1:32)
[USF] C. Wallace, 3 Yd pass from J. Spence (0:09)
Quarter 4
[USF] D. Young, 4 Yd run (7:00)
---------------------------------------------------------------- #3 South Florida Bulls
QB Joey Spence: 28 of 37, 416 yards, 4 touchdowns
HIM Derek Young: 6 carries, 101 yards, 3 touchdowns, 7 receptions, 113 yards
HB Dionte McCarthy:4 carries, 66 yards, touchdown
TE Chris Wallace: 11 receptions, 149 yards, 4 touchdowns
WR Jason McDowell: 5 receptions, 98 yards
LB Clint Parker: 7 tackles
S Wesley Adams: 7 tackles, tackle for loss
DT Ron Bailey: 6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks
CB Corey Fuller: 6 tackles, tackle for loss
CB Tyler Matthews: 3 tackles, interception
Florida Gators
QB Kyle Clemens: 26 of 39, 297 yards, touchdown, interception, sacked 4 times, 24 carries, 155 yards
HB Dwayne Scott: 15 carries, 55 yards
WR Brian Coe: 6 receptions, 54 yards
WR Ray Hall: 5 receptions, 98 yards
CB Kyle Mitchell: 5 tackles
LB Roy Rivers: 4 tackles, tackle for loss
