USF BULLS SPRING ROSTER PREVIEW
Although the Bulls did not lose a significant number off players in the offseason a number of the ones they did lose were significant contributors to their successful 2027 season. They will look to fill those holes and make improvements elsewhere in their quest for a playoff spot in 2028.
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACKS
#15 | Joshua Brantley | 6'3” | 227 | JR(RS)
#10 | Branden Duff | 6'1” | 180 | FR (RS)
#6 | Damarious Friend | 6'1” | 209 | SO(RS)
#11 | Locklan Hewlett | 6'1” | 198 | JR(RS)
>>Hewlett is back as the starter after another great season. TJ Stanley has transferred to FIU while Trey Chancellor has moved on to Oklahoma State. Brantley is expected to be the primary backup with Friend and Duff trying to develop behind them. This group gets thin fast behind Hewlett and Brantley so they will hope to avoid injuries here.
RUNNINGBACKS
#29 | Richard Boireau | 5'09” | 203 | FR (RS)
#32 | Nicholas Daniel | 6'0” | 193 | JR
#20 | George Foucha | 5'11” | 180 | FR (RS)
#4 | George Shembo | 6'0” | 208 | JR
#16 | Steven Snead | 5'10” | 198 | JR
#22 | Jalen Stevens | 5'10” | 181 | FR (RS)
#28 | Connor Suggs | 5'08” | 203 | SO(RS)
#23 | Elton York | 6'1” | 177 | JR
>>Last year it was runningback by committee for the Bulls with Shembo and Snead each eclipsing 500 yards and Daniel and Suggs each around 300. USF will likely use a similar strategy in 2028 unless one of them asserts themselves. York is primarily a special teamer and the trio of redshirt freshmen will likely have a hard time cracking the rotation this season.
WIDE RECEIVERS
#-- | Josh Barr | 6'1” | 186 | FR
#89 | Jordyn Bridgewater | 6'0” | 172 | SR(RS)
#85 | Gerald Camarda | 6'1” | 167 | FR (RS)
#13 | Lyle Dragos | 6'2” | 174 | SO(RS)
#-- | Dakota Smith | 6'1” | 177 | FR
#9 | Jeremiah Stoneburner | 6'5” | 199 | SR(RS)
>>If you can point to one position where the Bulls have taken the biggest step backwards it appears to be at WR where Tyler Williams has left and NFL Draft Pick sized hole to be filled. Bridgewater was a solid #2 last season but behind him production drops off quickly with no other receiver having caught more than four passes. The unexpected departure of Dawann Troup has left the USF staff with more questions that answers at the position as they struck out on a few targets in the portal. The hope here will be for Stoneburner and Dragos to make big strides this spring and for one of the freshmen to show that they are ready to be on the field on Saturdays.
TIGHT ENDS
#84 | Henry Gregory | 6'6” | 220 | JR(RS)
#-- | Sergio Isaac | 6'6” | 221 | SO
#48 | Turner McLaughlin | 6'1” | 223 | SR(RS)
#88 | Kyrie Michaels | 6'5” | 191 | SO(RS)
#87 | Dalton Sahara | 6'5” | 203 | SO(RS)
>>Kyrie Michaels, a converted WR, led the TE group with 26 receptions last season and no one else contributed a significant amount. McLaughlin is primarily used as a fullback. With the WR room significantly thinned the Bulls will be looking for more production from the TE position and will likely be in more formations with one or more TEs on the field. JUCO transfer Isaac will be one to watch in the spring.
OFFENSIVE LINESMEN
#57 | Pat Agude | 6'3” | 303 | SO (RS)
#75 | Keelan Dennis | 6'4” | 309 | SO(RS)
#56 | Oliver Ellefson | 6'4” | 280 | SO
#64 | Adam Forbes | 6'2” | 317 | JR(RS)
#69 | Jakhari Goodley | 6'4” | 324 | SR(RS)
#-- | Sam Iupati | 6'4” | 315 | FR (RS)
#78 | Cliff Jean-Pierre | 6'4” | 304 | SO (RS)
#79 | Clint Kendricks | 6'5” | 324 | SO(RS)
#54 | Chester Knapp | 6'3” | 279 | FR (RS)
#70 | Adrian Laborn | 6'5” | 285 | SO(RS)
#-- | Stanley Lanovoi | 6'1” | 307 | FR
#58 | TJ Lawrence | 6'5” | 314 | SR(RS)
#-- | Enrique Lorenz | 6'4” | 315 | FR
#77 | Tyreek Major | 6'6” | 323 | SR(RS)
#66 | Teriyan Morman | 6'5” | 355 | SR(RS)
#53 | Lamar Muamba | 6'0” | 291 | SO(RS)
#71 | John Olumba | 6'4” | 288 | SO(RS)
#52 | Emmett Parks | 6'3” | 295 | JR(RS)
#67 | Cary Penny | 6'7” | 305 | FR (RS)
#59 | Darren Sumner | 6'4” | 294 | FR (RS)
#73 | Daryl Treadwell | 6'6” | 301 | JR
#63 | Matt Toure | 6'2” | 307 | FR (RS)
#-- | Tyler Tuten | 6'1” | 307 | FR
#65 | Josh Yachty | 6'7” | 312 | FR (RS)
>>USF lost their best offensive linesman in Connor Doyle who graduated. The hope is that Florida State transfer Sam Iupati will be able to seamlessly transition into his spot. The group returns four other starters but the coaching staff has specifically singled out this group as one where all positions are up for grabs following some struggles in the run game as the season wore on last year. With 24 players listed at OL they certainly have a plethora of choices.
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
#33 | Greg DeMorat | 6'2” | 245 | FR (RS)
#-- | Jacques Doubs | 6'4” | 301 | FR
#92 | Marlon Doyle | 6'4” | 288 | JR
#96 | Quandre Dwumfour | 6'2” | 241 | SO(RS)
#17 | Danny Felton | 6'3” | 258 | SR(RS)
#97 | Jahari Grant | 6'2” | 317 | SR(RS)
#91 | Chad Harbor | 6'3” | 238 | JR
#90 | Matthew Hoppes | 6'3” | 230 | SO(RS)
#99 | Dom Nickey | 6'2” | 292 | JR
#46 | Connor Nicks | 6'2” | 234 | FR (RS)
#93 | David Nwaneri | 6'5” | 245 | FR (RS)
#-- | Tyrone Peppers | 6'3” | 304 | FR
#95 | Kaleb Short | 6'4” | 219 | SR(RS)
#10 | Ira Singleton | 6'5” | 227 | SR(RS)
#-- | Jahzir Sowells | 6'4” | 290 | FR
#98 | Kyle Spade | 6'2” | 215 | SO(RS)
#94 | Quincey Werner | 6'5” | 217 | SO(RS)
#-- | Kevin Wynn | 6'2” | 349 | JR (RS)
>>The defensive line was a group that overachieved last season, thanks in large part to the emergence of DiNelson Exume, who recorded 12.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. While Exume is no longer here the coaching staff is very excited about former Miami Hurricane Kevin Wynn. The 349 pound behemoth may already be one of the best players in the American Conference before he has even strapped on a Bulls helmet. Ira Singleton got off to a hot start and finished with 10.5 sacks. The staff is expecting to move him around more this season. Look for Jahari Grant to join Wynn as a primary starter and a number of players to be in the mix for the third starting spot in the base 3-3-5 defense.
LINEBACKERS
#44 | Divaad Apple | 6'1” | 218 | JR
#-- | Keon Brents | 6'3” | 228 | FR
#55 | Antoine Brock | 6'1” | 210 | SO(RS)
#26 | Jermaine Dalias | 6'2” | 197 | SR(RS)
#11 | Frank Droege | 5'11” | 221 | JR
#-- | Mike Efaw | 5'11” | 226 | FR
#40 | Garrison LaRue | 6'2” | 230 | SO(RS)
#31 | Derrick McCormick | 6'1” | 207 | SR(RS)
#24 | Eric Rance | 5'11” | 239 | SR
#-- | Enrique Sauer | 6'2” | 230 | FR
#-- | Lonnie Terrell | 6'3” | 221 | FR
#-- | Peter Traore | 6'3” | 230 | FR
>>Linebacker is a position group that was very thin last season and showed it at times. Rance had a solid season with 100 total tackles and 16 tackles for loss. However, due to the lack of depth at the position he was often asked to do things that didn't quite fit his skill set. While none of the incoming freshmen are likely to see significant playing time there is hope that Dalais, a converted safety, and McCormick will see significant improvement after a year in the system.
CORNERBACKS
#12 | Matt Ansah | 6'0” | 160 | FR (RS)
#1 | David Igbinoghene | 6'2” | 190 | JR
#3 | Gavin Jenkins | 6'2” | 171 | JR(RS)
#-- | Cameron Keys | 5'11” | 174 | SR (RS)
#6 | Devin Nowell | 6'2” | 181 | SO(RS)
#-- | Vernon Woodward III | 6'1” | 202 | SR (RS)
>>Izaiah Guy, who split time between CB and Safety, has graduated. Igbinohene and Jenkins played well for the most part last season but the coaching staff had an opportunity to bring in Woodward and Keys, who bring with them tons of experience and make the whole secondary better. Expect the coaches to mix and match here with a deep, experienced group.
SAFETIES
#-- | Tracy Bennett | 6'1” | 204 | JR (RS)
#-- | Jathan Hatch | 6'2” | 191 | JR (RS)
#2 | Sidney James | 5'11” | 194 | JR
#7 | Nick Jones | 6'2” | 191 | SO
#-- | Immanuel Kush | 6'0” | 201 | FR
#0 | George Tull | 5'9” | 210 | SO(RS)
#5 | George Vales | 5'11” | 210 | SO(RS)
>>With Guy and Hawkins graduated the Bulls had some big shoes to fill. After adding Kush in recruiting they were able to also pick up Bennett and Hatch in the portal. Much like the CB group the coaching staff has a number of solid options to mix and match given the opponent and game situation. Jones, who stated all 14 games as a true freshman, is also expected to be a significant part of that rotation as well.
SPECIALISTS
KICKERS
#-- | Dom Bragg | 5'11” | 166 | FR
>>Nico Gramatica may have struggled a bit as far as overall field goal percentage is concerned last season but he still cam through in the clutch when the points really mattered. Now the only kicker on the roster is a true freshman. However, punters McSurdy and Goater both have experience place kicking and may get an opportunity to audition for the job in the spring as well.
PUNTERS
#39 | Luke Goater | 6'2” | 196 | JR(RS)
#19 | Dorian McSurdy | 6'5” | 218 | JR
>>McSordy hardly punted last season but when he did they were all good. He also did well as the kick off specialist.
