Bulls bounce back from Texas loss with 28-25 victory over Seminoles
A week removed from blowing a lead at home to the Texas Longhorns, the shoe was now on the other foot for the USF Bulls as they found themselves down 17-7 at halftime and unable to stop Florida State's rushing attack led by Cooper Hilinski who rushed for 124 yards in the first half.
Hilinski would be held to 48 yards in the second half and USF's own offense would come to life with three unanswered touchdowns to beat the Seminoles 28-25 on Monday night to get back to their winning ways.
After going down 17-7 in the second quarter, the Bulls had a chance to cut into the lead but quarterback Jet Millines threw his eight interception of the season near the goal line in the remaining seconds of the first half.
Both teams would swap punts to begin the second half and on the third drive of the half, the momentum started to shift in USF's favor after they stopped the Seminoles offense on three straight plays beginning with a 2nd and a yard to go, leading to a turnover on downs near midfield. The Bulls would score on their next possession to make it a one score game.
The Seminoles offense picked up a quick first down on the next drive but would then punt, setting up Maurice Bennett's go ahead touchdown with thirteen second left in the third quarter to give USF it's first lead since the first quarter. William Sapp would punch in another touchdown in the fourth quarter to extend their lead.
Florida State didn't go down without a fighting, scoring on the next possession thanks in large part to a scoop and run by an offensive lineman on a Marcus Murphy fumble that picked up 29 yards. After the touchdown, they converted the two-point conversion to make it a three point game with 4:01 left in the game.
USF's defense then buckled down after a three-and-out by their offense, getting a sack on 2nd down which Florida State's offense never recovered from and were force to punt it in the shadow of their own goalpost with less than two minutes to go. USF's offense, which outrushed Florida State's offense, was able to close it out with a few first downs on the ground.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Scoring Summary
Quarter 1
[FSU] J. Simpson, 34 Yd FG (4:48)
[USF] J. Moses, 11 Yd pass from J. Millines (3:17)
Quarter 2
[FSU] C. Hilinski, 1 Yd run (6:57)
[FSU] J. Horton, 6 Yd pass from M. Murphy (2:34)
Quarter 3
[USF] E. Valentine, 2 Yd run (2:51)
[USF] M. Bennett, 18 Yd pass from J. Millines (0:13)
Quarter 4
[USF] W. Sapp, 3 Yd run (5:19)
[FSU] J. Horton, 17 Yd pass from M. Murphy -- 2pt (4:01)
---------------------------------------------------------------- #6 South Florida Bulls
QB Jet Millines: 20 of 29, 235 yards, 2 touchdowns, interception, 5 carries, 52 yards
HB Eric Valentine: 11 carries, 47 yards, touchdown
HB William Sapp: 8 carries, 47 yards, touchdown
HB Kellen Wright: 6 carries, 31 yards
WR Maurice Bennett: 7 receptions, 90 yards, touchdown
WR Joseph Moses: 5 receptions, 63 yards, touchdown
LB Brett Freeman: 9 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack
LB Alex McDaniel: 4 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks
DE David Richardson: 4 tackles, 2 tackles for loss
Week 7 Top Stories
1. Georgia Tech improves to 3-1 in Big Ten play with a 34-10 win over #8 Georgia.
2. USF edges Florida State 28-25 in a battle of top ten powers.
3. Clemson wins a tight one against Missouri 35-28.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Week 7 Champions Division Results
ALA 35 - TENN 21 | MSU 38 - MISS 26
STAN 42 - ORE 28 | USC 34 - ND 24
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Week 8 Champions Division Schedule
#1 Stanford (6-0, 5-0) at Tennessee (3-3, 3-3)
#10 Penn State (3-2, 1-2) at #2 Purdue (5-0, 2-0)
#9 Texas (4-2, 3-1) at #15 Michigan (2-3, 2-2)
Ole Miss (1-5, 1-5) at Notre Dame (2-4, 0-4)
Florida (3-4, 3-3) at #7 Miami (3-2, 2-1)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Week 8 Notable Games
#23 Colorado (5-1, 3-1) at Nebraska (4-1, 2-0)
#25 Nevada (5-0, 2-0) at San Diego State (5-1, 2-1)
#11 Miami University (4-1, 1-1) at #17 Kent State (5-1, 1-1)
#8 LSU (6-1, 5-1) at #16 Ohio State (4-2, 4-0)
#24 Northern Illinois (4-1, 2-0) at #20 Toledo (5-0, 2-0)
#12 Kansas State (5-0, 2-0) at Oklahoma State (4-2, 3-1)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Players of the Week
QB John Prater (Texas): 32 of 45, 313 yards, 31 carries, 176 yards, 7 total touchdowns
CB Jason Johnson (Wake Forest): 1 tackle, 3 interceptions
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QB John Prater (Texas): 32 of 45, 313 yards, 31 carries, 176 yards, 7 total touchdowns
LB Darius Jackson (Stanford): 12 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Top 247 Five-Star Commitments
#3 Brandon Taylor [ATH #2]: 5'10", 224lbs | Lexington, NE | 5-star | University of Texas
#4 Andrew Jones [ATH #3]: 6'2", 201lbs | Torrance, CA | 5-star | Stanford University
#8 Dallas Hagen [ATH #4]: 6'5", 257lbs | Madison, NJ | 5-star | Virginia Tech University
#9 Drew Reid [HB #3]: 6'1", 211lbs | Griffith, IN [IMG] | 5-star | University of Michigan
#10 Brian Smith Jr. [T #1]: 6'8", 360lbs | Clearwater, FL | 5-star | University of Southern Mississippi
#11 Scott Allen [ATH #5]: 6'1", 204lbs | Deltona, FL [IMG] | 5-star | University of Alabama
#14 Matt Ross [ATH #7]: 6'0", 225lbs | Kerrville, TX | 5-star | Louisiana State University
#17 Brent Gooden [WR #4]: 6'3", 203lbs | Riverview, MI | 5-star | Pennsylvania State University
#22 Billy Matthews [WR #5]: 6'0", 183lbs | Sarasota Springs, FL | 5-star | University of South Florida
#25 Nick Palmer [ATH #13]: 5'11", 172lbs | Altamonte Springs, FL | 5-star | University of Southern California
#28 A.J. Jones [TE #2]: 6'3", 230lbs | Laredo, TX | 5-star | Louisiana State University
#33 Rich Joseph [G #2]: 6'3", 294lbs | Aberdeen, MS [IMG] | 5-star | Georgia Tech University
#34 Jake Thompson [ATH #17]: 6'1", 275lbs | Kettering, OH | 5-star | University of South Florida
#35 Robbie McClain [ATH #18]: 5'11", 193lbs | Orlando, FL | 5-star | University of Southern California
#38 Kyle Jones [C #1]: 6'1", 284lbs | Raleigh, NC | 5-star | University of South Florida
#40 Adam Whaley [WR #8]: 6'0", 173lbs | Casa de Oro, CA | 5-star | University of Oklahoma
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notable Florida Recruiting Commitments
#10 Brian Smith Jr. [T #1]: 6'8", 360lbs | Clearwater, FL | 5-star | University of Southern Mississippi
#11 Scott Allen [ATH #5]: 6'1", 204lbs | Deltona, FL [IMG] | 5-star | University of Alabama
#22 Billy Matthews [WR #5]: 6'0", 183lbs | Sarasota Springs, FL | 5-star | University of South Florida
#25 Nick Palmer [ATH #13]: 5'11", 172lbs | Altamonte Springs, FL | 5-star | University of Southern California
#35 Robbie McClain [ATH #18]: 5'11", 193lbs | Orlando, FL | 5-star | University of Southern California
#49 Marcellus Smith [DE #2]: 6'6", 239lbs | Clearwater, FL | 4-star | University of South Florida
#65 Ronnie Robbins [ATH #25]: 6'0", 207lbs | Orlando, FL | 4-star | University of Ole Miss
#142 Jeff Brooks [ATH #36]: 6'3", 216lbs | Miami, FL | 4-star | University of Florida
#186 Mike Massey [WR #25]: 6'3", 211lbs | Orlando, FL | 4-star | University of Miami
#189 Scott Neal [HB #18]: 6'0", 193lbs | Clearwater, FL | 4-star | University of Southern Mississippi
#202 Akeem Smith [CB #5]: 5'9", 183lbs | Tallahassee, FL | 4-star | University of South Florida
#253 Willie Houston [HB #26]: 5'10", 216lbs | Palmetto Estates, FL | 4-star | Georgia Tech University
Local Tampa linebacker James Scott chooses Bulls over rival UCF
Eddie Fernandez -- 247 Sports USF Insider
Three-star linebacker James Scott out of Tampa is the latest member of USF's 2040 recruiting class, committing to the Bulls on Monday over rival UCF.
A state-qualifier at wrestling, Scott is a solid addition to the class and adds some much needed depth to the linebacker room who will be losing four players to graduation after this fall in seniors Nicholas Holt, Brett Freeman, Corey Caldwell and Alex McDaniel, all key contributors to USF's defense.
Scott offers some positional versatility as he's typically played on the edge throughout high school but has the built of an inside linebacker which is where he could ultimately end up. The lowest ranked high school player in the class, Scott's athletic background does provide some upside but he is likely a core special teams player that will need to work his way into the rotation on the defense in a similar fashion as Holt who wasn't a contributor on defense until his senior season.
In other recruiting news, Bonita Springs quarterback James White was arrested on Thursday for driving while under the influence. White was a former top target at the position for the Bulls before they pivoted to quarterback Mark Cunningham.
2040 Freaks List: 10 of the Freakiest College Football Recruits
Andrew Gutierrez -- 247 Sports National Recruiting Analyst
The high school football season is fully underway with the state playoffs now on the horizon, giving fans the opportunity to watch some of these games on national television and other streaming options. With the sport coming into the national spotlight over the next few weeks, now's the perfect time to roll out our Freaks List for the high school prospects in the class of 2040.
Without further ado, let’s get to the “freaks” in 2040 who demand your attention over the next few weeks of the fall high school season — and then beyond.
The Speed Demons
HB Jacob Wheeler [HB #1]: 5'10", 180lbs | Tampa, FL | 5-star | 4.30 40-yd dash (verified)
Arguably the best player in high school football depending on who you ask, Wheeler has rushed for over 2,000 yards in back to back seasons at Tampa Catholic. Wheeler then cemented himself as one of the countries fastest seniors with his showing at The Opening this past summer, clocking in at 4.30 on the 40-yard dash before stealing the show in the agility drills and even in the 7-on-7 tournament where he helped his team finish in second place.
Miami, Georgia and the Gators are jostling to wrangle him away from hometown USF who remain a lively candidate to land Wheeler's signature come signing day. Wheeler is an electric player out of the backfield both as a runner and a pass catcher and will be a huge contributor wherever he lands.
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ATH Nick Palmer [ATH #13]: 5'11", 172lbs | Altamonte Springs, FL | 5-star | 4.34 40-yd dash (verified), 12.76 100-meter sprint (verified)
A good but far from elite track athlete, Palmer surprised many when he ran a 4.34 in the 40-yd dash at The Opening, turning heads when he finished second to only the aforementioned Wheeler.
While some might dismiss it as a 'fluke', when you turn on Palmer's tape, the speed is evident whether he's hauling in passes as a receiver or patrolling the secondary at safety. The five-foot-eleven prospect committed to USC over Michigan and Penn State but it remains to be seen which side of the ball he ends up on with corner being perhaps the best fit for his athletic profile
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S Kevin Leonard [S #2]: 6'2", 208lbs | Hanford, CA | 4-star | 4.36 40-yd dash (unverified), 10.98 100-meter sprint (verified), 21.17 200-meter sprinter (verified)
Going out west, Leonard is one of the fastest track athletes in the entire state of California and while the 200-meter sprint is where he really shines, Leonard still posts some impressive 100-meter and 40-yard dash times that have him among the fastest players in the country.
The Stanford commit does this at an impressive 208 pounds with a frame that could continue to fill out. While Leonard's technique and coverage skills needs improvement, he has the raw tools to be a potential day one NFL draft pick.
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WR Sean Parker [WR #108]: 6'5", 211lbs | Ranson, WV | 3-star | 4.30 30-yd dash (unverified), 10.32 100-meter sprint (verified), 46.17 400-meter sprint (verified)
Perhaps the most intriguing of the bunch is a relatively unknown prospect in Parker who at six-foot-five won the West Virginia state title in the 100-meter sprint with an eye-popping 10.32, setting a state record.
Similar to Leonard, Parker is very much a track athlete trying to play football as he hasn't really put it together on the football field with just 23 receptions heading into his senior season. He has drawn interest from the likes of Michigan State, Northern Illinois, Temple, Northwestern and Virginia but so far, no official offers as the production on the field just isn't there yet.
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LB Jamar Jackson [LB #1]: 6'1", 220lbs | Hampton, VA | 4-star | 4.48 40-yd dash (verified)
While there might be faster players in the country, there might not be a more impressive looking one than Jackson who is ripped up at 220 pounds and running a sub 4.5 on the laser.
What makes Jackson's 40-time even more impressive is unlike the others on this list, he's not a track guy and the speed definitely translates to the tape as he's a heat seeking missile that destroys everything in his path. He needs to learn to play under control but when he does, he'll be playing on Sunday's for sure.
Penn State is the current Crystal Ball leader for Jackson while Tennessee and Alabama are giving chase.
The Trench Bullies
OT Titus Harris [T #7]: 6'4", 302lbs | Orlando, FL | 4-star | 4.64 40-yd dash (verified), 425 Bench Press Max (unverified), 560 Squat Max (unverified)
How many 300-pounders do you know that can run a sub 4.7? Not many, yet alone in high school as Harris is all of 302 pounds and none of it is bad weight with a frame that could easily add on twenty to thirty more pounds once he's in a college nutrition and strength program.
There might be more powerful athletes than Harris and some with better technique and more polished pass sets but few are as well rounded as Harris with the base to be a potential premier left tackle at the next level and beyond. UCF cannot afford to let a talent like this leave their backyard but its trending that direction with their poor season and Kansas State seems to be favorite in his recruitment.
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OT Brian Smith Jr. [T #1]: 6'8", 360lbs | Clearwater, FL | 5-star | 5.12 40-yd dash (verified), 480 Bench Press Max (unverified), 705 Squat Max (verified)
A competitive lifter up until his sophomore season, Smith is just a mammoth of a man with nimble feet at left tackle.
He might have made national news earlier this fall when he committed to the University of Southern Mississippi over the likes of Florida, Georgia Tech, Miami, Ohio State and his father's alma mater, USF. But for those in the know, Smith Jr. has been on the radar for years now and at one point was trending towards being the nation's top player. While he finished ranked tenth in the 247 Sports Composite Rankings, there might not might be a more college ready prospect than Smith Jr.
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ILB David Timmons [ILB #1]: 5'11", 221lbs | Hollandale, MS | 4-star | 4.68 40-yd dash (unverified), 400 Bench Press Max (verified), 720 Squat Max (verified)
Just like Smith Jr, Timmons was a competitive lifter that eventually found his way onto the football field where he's excelled and blossomed into the nation's top ranked inside linebacker.
If you have any qualms with a second level player being named a 'trench bully', just put on the tape and shut up because while Timmons might start a few yards off the line of scrimmage, he almost always finishes on the other side, wrecking plays. Simply put, Timmons is one of the more exciting linebacker prospects in recent years and once he fully learns the position and the game of football, he could be a Butkus Award winner.
Timmons will be deciding between Alabama, Ole Miss and USC in the coming weeks.
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G Rich Joseph [G #2]: 6'3", 294lbs | Aberdeen, MS [IMG] | 5-star | 4.84 40-yd dash (verified), 455 Bench Press Max (unverified), 670 Squat Max (unverified)
Besides being the anchor for IMG Academy's running attack the past two season, what else puts Joseph on this list? How about a 56-10 shot put to go along with two-way snaps in the Mississippi’s highest classification as a freshman before transferring to IMG.
Joseph, who is listed at 6-foot-3, 294 pounds, also doubled as a forward on the hardwood and was tabbed following his freshman season as his district’s co-newcomer of the year. Joseph recently committed to Georgia Tech, picking the Yellow Jackets over the likes of Ohio State, Oklahoma, Florida, Tennessee and Southern Miss who tried to pair the Mississippi native with Smith Jr.
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DT Brandon Smith [DT #21]: 6'8", 345lbs | Clearwater, FL | 3-star | 4.72 40-yd dash (verified), 455 Bench Press Max (verified), 665 Squat Max (verified)
How about Brian Smith Jr's brother, Brandon Smith? Even with the injuries that have sidelined him for the past two seasons, Smith's numbers as a competitive lifter puts him on this list as they jump off the charts by themselves but with the context that Smith was just a sophomore at the time? Absolutely ridiculous.
It remains to be seen how Smith bounces back from two major knee surgeries in four seasons but at six-foot-eight and reportedly 345 pounds these days, Smith is an absolutely unit that could be coming to a Florida school near you as he weighs his options between USF, Miami, Florida and Florida State. It's considered to be a two-team race between USF and Miami with the Bulls holding the commitment of his brother, Marcellus.
Just how freaky is Smith when he's healthy and in shape? As a sophomore, he ran a 4.72 at a showcase on IMG Academy's campus. His brother, Marcellus, who is an uber athletic defensive end prospect, ran a 4.74 at The Opening this past summer and Brandon has over 100 pounds on him.
In other recruiting news, Bonita Springs quarterback James White was arrested on Thursday for driving while under the influence. White was a former top target at the position for the Bulls before they pivoted to quarterback Mark Cunningham.
Francois pivoted away from this dude? Mark Cunningham must have a body or two.
In other recruiting news, Bonita Springs quarterback James White was arrested on Thursday for driving while under the influence. White was a former top target at the position for the Bulls before they pivoted to quarterback Mark Cunningham.
Francois pivoted away from this dude? Mark Cunningham must have a body or two.
good ole southern white boy, akin to the great jake fromm #goodwhitepeople
Bye Week Report: Francois Sr. still thinks he has the right ingredients, right cooks for a championship run
Anthony Washington -- The Tampa Bay Chronicles
Whether it be hardened by his previous 26 seasons, his respect for the Texas Longhorns program or an acknowledgement of reports of a toxic culture that placed winning above everything, USF head coach Malcolm Francois Sr. was relatively calm in the post game press conference following the Bulls collapse against Texas. A week later, the once vaunted USF defense was ran all over by Florida State's Cooper Hilsinki in the first half.
"There's a championship caliber team within us," Francois Sr. told the media after the game, where USF rallied to beat Florida State, "I've been part of teams, unfortunately, that by this point of the season, you just know that no matter the record, no matter the results, you know deep inside that it's a bit of dress up and masquerading. Our weaknesses right now are very evident and I think our strengths are still building so it's a unique opportunity to peak at the right time."
Francois Sr. gave his full support to both offensive coordinator DeMarcus Bennett and quarterback Jet Millines despite their struggles at time. The offense is 6th worse in scoring offense in the Champions Division and fourth worse in first downs.
"[Millines] is a talented kid but he's still learning to play the position at this level," Francois Sr. said after the Texas game, "We're doing a better job of putting him in the right positions to make plays and I have the utmost confidence that [Bennett] and Jet [Millines] will get it done."
Team Schedule
at Ole Miss (1-5) -- W 28-14
vs. Florida (3-4) -- W 56-13
OPEN
at #6 Alabama (5-2) -- W 31-28
vs. #16 Ohio State (4-2) -- W 19-14
vs. #9 Texas (4-2) -- L 40-34 OT
at #13 Florida State (4-3) -- W 28-25
OPEN
at Oklahoma (1-5)
vs. Tennessee (3-3)
vs. #10 Penn State (3-2)
vs. #7 Miami (3-2)
at Michigan State (3-3)
at UCF (0-6)
Biggest positives from first half of the season
When the defense is clicking, it looks special
The four touchdowns from John Prater and Cooper Hilsinki's first half would have you think that USF's defense is nothing to worry about but in both of those games, the defense put together stretches of absolutely shutting them out with Prater in the first half and shutting down Hilsinki in the second half.
In both instances, the defense did just enough to warrant a victory and against Texas, unfortunately, that was undone with the turnovers but with strong showings against Ohio State and Alabama, this is a championship level defense that will keep USF in a lot of games.
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Maurice Bennett starting to look like a first round pick
After averaging 16.9 yards per reception in 2036, Bennett became a more possession type receiver since returning from the injury that cut his freshman season short, averaging less than fourteen yards per reception as a sophomore and just twelve yards per reception last year.
Returning for a senior season to improve his draft stock, Bennett is up to 14.6 yards per reception and his 60.8 yards per game is his highest total since his freshman season. He's also doing it in an offense that has an erratic quarterback and a passing game that is still coming together. If Millines and Bennett can continue to improve their chemistry, the former five-star could finally put together his 1,000-yard season.
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The young guys are contributing
In the initial depth chart, there were seven true freshmen in the two-deep in receivers Brooks Coe and Tracy Brooks, running back Kellen Wright, tight end Jeff Rutledge, defensive ends Ramon Hall and Kareem Cunningham and linebacker E.J. Young.
Coe has caught twelve passes while Brooks saw the field for the first time last week against Florida State with three receptions for 23 yards. Rutledge also has three catches but has also played a ton of snaps as a blocking tight end while Wright has been the most impactful freshman on offense with 231 yards rushing and three touchdowns. He also has fifteen receptions.
Defensively, Hall and Cunningham have been depth guys with Cunningham recording a sack and Hall having three tackles. Young has played the most on defense with fourteen tackles and six tackles for loss as a situational linebacker.
Biggest concerns heading into the second half of the season
Jet Millines' erratic throwing and turnovers
You can maybe survive on being an inaccurate quarterback but turning the ball over at the rate that Millines has is a cause for concern and will likely result in more losses if it continues.
He's improved his completion percentage to an impressive sixty eight percent but Millines is still unreliable when it comes to getting the ball to the perimeter which is where USF's best pass catchers, Bennett and Alston Marks, primarily reside.
Right now, it's a lot of dump offs to Joseph Moses out of the slots and running backs William Sapp and Kellen Wright who are averaging seven yards per reception.
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More consistency from the running game
The counting numbers are impressive with Millines averaging 8.5 yards per carry and leading the team in rushing followed by William Sapp (4.5 ypc) and Eric Valentine (6.5) who also gotten some contribution from true freshman Kellen Wright (4.7). But situationally, the running game hasn't been great and can get bogged down at times.
While both Millines and Valentine have multiple rushes of more than 20 yards, Sapp has just one and Wright has none. Coming into the season, they were viewed as one of the more explosive guys on the team and perhaps in the country. If the Bulls want to win big, they'll need that running game to get more consistent and have more splash plays from their two best guys for that.
Last edited by Soapy on 18 Mar 2023, 13:35, edited 1 time in total.
Bulls land Miami's top edge players in back to back seasons with Richard Smith commitment
Eddie Fernandez -- 247 Sports USF Insider
After signing Northwestern High School edge rusher E.J. Young last season, USF doubled back to land Carol City's Richard Smith this cycle, who finished second to Young in sacks last season in Dade-County and is currently third this season.
An impressive looking athlete at six-foot-six and 235 pounds, Smith considered Miami, Ole Miss, and UCF before picking the Bulls. Smith isn't as developed as Young nor the caliber of prospect but he possesses the athletic traits that are ideal for an edge player, either as a wide defensive end or a stand up outside linebacker, which is where Smith plays at in high school.
The Bulls need to reload their linebacker room and athletes like Richard Smith and James Scott are the types of prospects with high upsides that Trai Martinez and the Bulls staff are going after. They also recently offered South Carolina linebacker Joey Franklin, a three-star prospect in a state that the Bulls are starting to frequent often.
Franklin has drawn interest from the likes of Alabama and USC but the Bulls are his first D1 offer.
