Strength in Unity.

Post by **Soapy** » 24 Jul 2020, 07:59

Oliver goes pro as inaugural Francois' recruiting class leaves their mark
Cooper Byrd -- Dynasty Sports Staff Writer

With an announcement on social media, USF's prolific quarterback Grant Oliver joined the rest of his recruiting class mate in playing his last game in the BCS National Championship Game.

Oliver, a redshirt junior, announced that he will forgo his senior season and enter the NFL Draft after two years of lighting up the USF record books. Oliver joins starters Leon Ward, Thomas Moore and Jeffrey Reese among countless others.

This graduating class marks the first one that played all four seasons for USF and with redshirt seniors graduating, the roster is now completely turned over with no more remaining players from the previous regime.

2018 Players Leaving » Career Stats
#5 Grant Oliver (QB, RS Junior): Declared Early » 707 of 1012, 8739 yards, 50 touchdowns, 30 interceptions.
#59 Derrick Calloway (QB, RS Senior): Graduation » 102 tackles, 38 tackles for loss, 23 sacks.
#49 Mitchell Wright (LB, RS Senior): Graduation » 120 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 5 interceptions.
#60 Cameron Ruff (G, RS Senior): Graduation » 10 pancakes, 17 sacks given up.
#51 Nigel Harris (LB, RS Senior): Graduation » 121 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 2 interceptions.
#3 Antwan Shaw (CB, Senior): Graduation » 73 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 10 interceptions.
#6 Leon Ward (HB, Senior): Graduation » 466 carries, 3093 yards, 29 touchdowns.
#57 Eric Mayes (DE, Senior): Graduation » 51 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 14 sacks.
#24 Richard Miller (HB, Senior): Graduation » 181 carries, 744 yards, 28 touchdowns.
#8 Tavarious Bailey (S, Senior): Graduation » 68 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions.
#61 Jeremi Hall (T, RS Senior): Graduation » 9 pancakes, 20 sacks given up.
#13 Chris Golden (TE, Senior): Graduation » 41 receptions, 375 yards, 3 touchdowns.
#54 Jeffrey Reese (OLB, Senior): Graduation » 122 tackles, 51 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks.
#35 Thomas Moore (FB, Senior): Graduation » 4 carries, 14 yards, touchdown.
#71 David Mitchell (T, RS Senior): Graduation » No stats.
#94 Auggie Sanchez (DE, RS Senior): Graduation » 1 tackle.
#62 Michael Lee (T, RS Senior): Graduation » No stats.

Post by **Soapy** » 24 Jul 2020, 08:26

Key West native LB Albert Young transfers to USF after lone season at Northwestern
Eddie Fernandez -- 247 Sports USF Insider

Former three-star linebacker Albert Young out of Key West, Florida is transferring from Northwestern to the University of South Florida.

Young, listed at six-foot-one and 229 pounds, played just one season at Northwestern where he failed to register a stat before deciding to move back closer to home. The addition brings USF's scholarship counter to 16 and by all accounts, the magic number for this recruiting cycle is 18.

The Bulls are still in on several targets such as four-star Chip Bryant who is a take, three-star tight end Joe Wayne who is take due to a need at the position and then you have 'nice to have' in linebacker John Stone and JUCO prospect Kyle Bennett.

Bryant has a top two of USF and Oklahoma while Wayne is down to SMU, UL-Monroe and the Bulls. Bennett and Stone's lone D1 scholarship offer at this moment are with the Bulls although anything can change for the rising senior Stone and JUCO star Bennett.

By all accounts, the Bulls do plan on taking in all four players and figuring out the number situation later. It gets even more tricky if say guard Jamie Babcock decides to come after learning towards UCF for most of the last few months.

USF will enter National Signing Day with the third ranked class in the country.

Post by **Soapy** » 24 Jul 2020, 09:43

USF slides in rankings but still finishes in top ten after landing all three top targets
Eddie Fernandez -- 247 Sports USF Insider

USF's run of getting the players they really want on National Signing Day continues.

The Bulls were able to beat out future conference rival Oklahoma for four-star safety Chip Bryant out of Boynton Beach, Florida, kept rival UCF at bay in a comeback win for three-star guard Jamie Babcock and went into Texas and got three-star tight end Joe Wayne back in the fold.

The three commitments couldn't help USF keep their #3 ranking heading into the day but it did land them the nation's sixth ranked recruiting class and the top class among all Florida schools.

If USF had more scholarships available, their ranking might have been aided as they couldn't take JUCO three-star Kyle Bennett or three-star linebacker John Stone.

Recruiting Class
ATH Trey Davis [ATH #7]: 6'1", 186lbs | Midland, TX | 5-star
DT E.J. Newsome [DT #6]: 6'3", 265lbs | Fultondale, AL | 4-star
S Chip Bryant [S #3]: 5'11", 180lbs | Boynton Beach, FL | 4-star
WR Mike Holmes [WR #18]: 6'0", 183lbs | Miami, FL | 4-star
WR Joel Green [WR #37]: 6'1", 196lbs | Belle Glade, FL | 4-star
ATH Victor Tucker [ATH #35]: 6'3", 264lbs | Tampa, FL | 4-star
WR Marco Mason [WR #42]: 6'2", 221lbs | Tampa, FL | 4-star
WR Scott Kimbrough [WR #48]: 6'0", 202lbs | Red Bank, SC | 4-star
G Jamie Babcock [G #10]: 6'4", 324lbs | Port St. Lucie, FL | 3-star
DE Mark Hawkins [DE #36]: 6'2", 245lbs | Miami, FL | 3-star
G Maurice Williams [G #24]: 6'1", 291lbs | Tampa, FL | 3-star
OLB Ryan Fletcher [OLB #31]: 6'2", 232lbs | Miami, FL | 3-star
TE Joe Wayne [TE #28]: 6'4", 252lbs | Brownsville, TX | 3-star
HB Greg Johnston [HB #61]: 6'0", 198lbs | Winter Park, FL | 3-star
DT Justin Barry [DT #40]: 6'4", 259lbs | Homestead, FL | 3-star
OLB Matt Stewart [OLB #57]: 6'1", 239lbs | Miami, FL | 3-star
CB Michael Walker [CB #64]: 5'11", 203lbs | Spartanburg, SC | 3-star
S Aaron Graham [S #43]: 6'3", 191lbs | Miami, FL | 3-star

Top 25 Recruiting Classes
1. Texas A&M
2. Alabama
3. Notre Dame
4. Texas
5. Michigan
6. USF
7. Florida
8. Ohio State
9. Nebraska
10. Tennessee
11. Clemson
12. Missouri
13. Miami
14. USC
15. Oklahoma
16. Stanford
17. LSU
18. Virginia Tech
19. Arizona State
20. Penn State
21. Navy
22. Georgia
23. Mississippi State
24. Arkansas
25. Indiana

Top 10 :e150: Recruits
1. Ross Hart [HB #1]: Notre Dame
2. Matt White [ATH #1]: Ohio State
3. Darrell Fields [ATH #2]: Ball State
4. Paul Armstrong [ATH #3]: Florida
5. Pat Coleman [WR #1]: Florida
6. Jake Woods [QB #1]: Florida State
7. Eric James [WR #2]: Georgia
8. Micah Foster [WR #3]: Boise State
9. Clarence Hunter [WR #4]: Alabama
10. Rasheed Nash [LB #1]: Kansas

Post by **Soapy** » 24 Jul 2020, 10:47

Big 12 announces North and South Divisions following additions of USF and UCF
SI Staff -- Sports Illustrated

After going a few seasons without a division or a championship game, the Big 12 has returned to its roots by adding two new members in UCF and USF as well as the return of divisions.

The conference is going with a North and South division with the champion of each division playing the Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and West Virginia will make up the North division while Texas schools Baylor, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech and Florida schools UCF and USF will make the South Division.

Post by **Soapy** » 24 Jul 2020, 12:33

USF lands second highest ranked recruit in state of Florida in five-star ATH Marcus Hines
Eddie Fernandez -- 247 Sports USF Insider

No matter what happens this cycle, USF is going to have at least one blue chip prospect in five-star athlete Marcus Hines.

The five-star athlete out of Tampa, Florida committed to the Bulls before the start of his senior season in hopes of focusing in on his senior campaign. Hines, who is listed at six-foot-two and plays both receiver and corner, recently ran a 4.34 forty time at the Nike Opening. Hines projects to be a corner at the next level and that's the position USF is recruiting him at.

USF is targeting five-star James Thomas, the athlete out of Miami and Miami receiver Ben Medlock, another five-star. Those remain uphill battles with Thomas leaning Oregon and Florida for Medlock.

The Bulls are also in the mix for four-star quarterback Peter Griffin, the fourth ranked player in the state of Florida behind Thomas, Hines and Medlock. The Bulls are hoping the addition of Hines, who could play receiver, and tight end Brian Knox out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida will entice the likes of Griffin.

Hines joins Knox, a three-star tight end, and Texas four-star linebacker Stephen Hill as the current members of the Bulls' recruiting class.

2019 Recruiting Class
ATH Marcus Hines [ATH #3]: 6'2", 179lbs | Tampa, FL | 5-star
LB Stephen Hill [LB #17]: 6'4", 249lbs | Weslaco, TX | 4-star
TE Brian Knox [TE #51]: 6'4", 252lbs | Lauderdale Lakes, FL | 3-star

Post by **mvp** » 24 Jul 2020, 13:04

Hell of a year... so close.

I liked the piece from the Athletic btw, great story writeup.

Post by **Soapy** » 24 Jul 2020, 15:51

2018 USF Bulls football preview: Who gets the start at quarterback in the anticipated opener vs. Florida?
Cooper Byrd -- Dynasty Sports Staff Writer

If USF wasn't playing Florida in it's opener in Gainesville, many say that redshirt freshman David Johnson would be the starter. His arm talent is undeniable and while he lacks skill position level top end speed, he does bring more explosiveness as a runner than any of the other quarterback.

With that being said, USF is playing Florida in the opener and throwing a redshirt freshman -- no matter how talented -- into that environment is problematic.

A look at USF’s quarterback situation:

Projected depth chart
#9 Steven McKenzie, Rs Jr. | 6'1", 214lbs | 87 ovr, 70 spd, 79 thp, 85 tha OR
#10 David Johnson, Rs Fr. | 6'3", 212lbs | 82 ovr, 73 spd, 86 thp, 88 tha OR
#15 Mario Greer, Rs Jr. | 6'1", 196lbs | 81 ovr, 69 spd, 82 thp, 86 tha
#11 Brandon Tidwell, Rs So. | 6'3", 195lbs | 75 ovr, 72 spd, 80 thp, 87 tha

Expected starter: Johnson's upside as a thrower might simply be too much to ignore not to mention that not starting him could cause him to transfer. A starter hasn't been named and might not be named until game week vs. Florida but all signs are pointing to either Johnson or McKenzie.

Major storyline: What happens with Greer and McKenzie if Johnson is the guy? All accounts point to Greer wanting to be a Bull but if McKenzie loses the job to a freshman, could he be gone next season as a graduate transfer?

Post by **KimJongBaze** » 24 Jul 2020, 16:19

Zac White about to turn up regardless of the QB

Post by **Soapy** » 24 Jul 2020, 22:24

Chef Baze wrote: ↑
24 Jul 2020, 16:19
Zac White about to turn up regardless of the QB

might be his last season.

gotta eat, gotta feed the family.

Post by **Soapy** » 24 Jul 2020, 22:32

2018 USF Bulls football preview: How does five-star athlete Trey Davis fit into the picture?
Cooper Byrd -- Dynasty Sports Staff Writer

USF lost their number two and number three all-time leaders in career rushing touchdowns when Leon Ward and Richard Miller graduated this spring. When the Bulls signed five-star athlete Trey Davis, many wondered if running back could be a place for the do-it-all freshman phenom but ultimately, the need to replace a depleted defensive backfield was too much.

When fall camp began, Davis found himself back working with the running backs and receivers. He's clearly talented enough and brings a different dynamic -- speed -- to a running back room that looks a few trips to the cafeteria away from being a defensive line room.

A look at USF’s running back situation:

Projected depth chart
#8 David Ross, So. | 6'1", 223lbs | 82 ovr, 85 spd, 86 acc, 84 btk, 82 car
#25 Alex Strong, Sr. | 6'1", 230lbs | 79 ovr, 88 spd, 87 acc, 78 btk, 99 car
#3 Trey Davis, Fr. | 6'1", 186lbs | 89 spd, 89 acc, 71 btk, 46 car
#29 Brian Reynolds, Rs So. | 6'0", 231lbs | 78 ovr, 86 spd, 92 acc, 76 btk, 69 car
#13 Scott Kimbrough, Fr. | 6'0", 202lbs | 63 ovr, 85 spd, 82 acc, 58 btk, 91 car
#32 Greg Johnston, Fr. | 6'0", 198lbs | 62 ovr, 92 spd, 83 acc, 58 btk, 56 car

Expected starter: Outside of the true freshman in Greg Johnson and converted receiver Scott Kimbrough, expect all top four running backs to be heavily involved with Ross being the leader.

Major storyline: Davis, like Ward last season, brings a different dynamic to the table with his speed. Of the top four backs, he's the only one under 223 pounds and he moves like it. Davis played the position briefly during his junior season in more of a Tyreke Hill/De'Anthony Thomas so he's not a natural running back but in terms of potential, he has the most out of the group.

Login • Register