skipper, here collegefootball news team preview before camp started to see where the players fit in the scheme of things..
South Florida has been growing into a good program over the last few years, and now it appears ready to make some major noise. With a star quarterback in Matt Grothe to work around, and a tremendous defense, led by Ben Moffitt, the Bulls could be the sleeper in the Big East race.
Ever so methodically, USF has taken each progression along the path toward becoming a nationally-respected program and now appears to have finally arrived. With Jim Leavitt as the architect, the Bulls pounded Louisville in 2005, shocked West Virginia in Morgantown in November, and then defeated East Carolina for the school?s first-ever bowl victory. Now bowl games are expected. Next stop? Leavitt believes USF is on a collision course with two more milestones, a Big East crown and a BCS bowl game. USF is blessed with momentum and a coach that?s repeatedly resisted the temptation of moving on to larger schools with bigger paydays. One look up and down the depth chart shows plenty of youth and an improving talent base as Leavitt is no longer just getting all the also-rans who didn?t get recruiting letters with Gainesville, Coral Gables or Tallahassee addresses. It helps when you finish ahead of Miami and Florida State in the BCS rankings.
Sure, veterans Stephen Nicholas and Pat St. Louis must be replaced at linebacker, but both lines are deep and experienced, the secondary houses two future NFL corners and the face of the program, quarterback Matt Grothe, was only a freshman last year. Physically and emotionally, he?ll be at the center of the Bulls? success for the next three seasons as the program could become cemented among the league?s top four.
Forget the notion that this is a novelty act that?s riding some streak of good fortune. The bubble isn?t going to burst. What may have seemed like an anomaly to some was actually another rallying cry in the quest for respect. Now there?s a new issue: expectations.
South Florida is supposed to be a player in the Big East race. It?s supposed to go to a bowl game. It?s supposed to be good. Just don?t tell Leavitt and his team; they won?t be used to the love.
What to watch for offense: Grothe proved to be plenty good in his first year leading the team in passing, rushing and scoring, but the Bulls have to begin diversifying to keep their quarterback healthy and opposing defenses from simply trying to stop one playmaker. Benjamin Williams and Ricky Ponton are pedestrian ground options, meaning blue-chip rookie Mike Ford could be this year?s freshman who ignites the offense. He?s the kind of special athlete that probably wouldn?t have chosen USF before the program joined the Big East and earned postseason invites.
What to watch for on defense: Like all teams from Florida, the USF defense pursues well and is built on speed. Wally Burnham?s unit is well-coached, prevents the big play and is vastly underappreciated and unnoticed on a national level. Ball-hawking corners Trae Williams and Mike Jenkins allow the defense to sell out on occasion and the front four, led by sophomore rush end George Selvie, returns seven linemen that started games in 2006. Expect the line to be dominant with former Iowa State head coach Dan McCarney brought aboard to work on the front four.
The team will be far better if ? it can develop a running game to complement Grothe?s diverse skill set. Two years ago, the Bulls had Andre Hall and no passing attack. Last year, they found a quarterback, but lost the running game. If the offense can achieve better balance, Grothe will be able to mature without the burden of having to constantly hoist the offense on his pads.
The Schedule: It's not bad, but there are just enough brutal road games to prevent a truly special season. The Bulls get West Virginia and Louisville at home, but have to go to Rutgers and Pitt. A non-conference date at Auburn comes just early enough that an upset is possible if everything breaks right, but that's a likely loss going into a two-week layoff and a must-win home game against North Carolina. In-state games against Florida Atlantic and UCF in mid-October aren't just must wins, they're vital blowout games to get the first look at the mid-level Sunshine State prospects.
Best Offensive Player: Sophomore QB Matt Grothe. In Grothe, South Florida has finally found one of the missing pieces to its puzzle; a young quarterback that the offense can build around for the next few seasons. A dual-threat, who led the Bulls in rushing and passing in 2006, he?s a natural born leader and poised beyond his years late in tight games. Now he has to start to make the team around him even better.
Best Defensive Player: Senior CB Trae Williams. Now a third-year starter in the secondary, the converted running back has blossomed into the proverbial lockdown corner and one of the premier defensive backs in the Big East. He led the league with seven interceptions in 2006, but could have had more if opposing quarterbacks weren?t so timid about throwing to his side of the field.
Key player to a successful season: Outside linebackers Marvin Peoples and Sam Miller. You don?t immediately replace heart-and-soul defenders like Stephen Nicholas and Pat St. Louis, but Peoples and Miller will get the first shot at the jobs on the outside. Miller?s like another safety on the weakside, while Peoples will look for the strongside gig. Whoever ends up starting will get plenty of help from Ben Moffitt in the middle.
The season will be a success if ... USF finishes in the Big East?s top three. That?s a bigger deal than it might sound in a conference with Louisville, West Virginia, Rutgers and Pittsburgh. The Bulls were supposed to be merely average last year with an eye towards this season, and now that they?re experienced, have their quarterback in place, and know what it takes to go bowling, anything less than a run at the Big East title will be disappointing. Getting West Virginia and Louisville in Tampa will certainly help.
Key game: Sept. 29 vs. West Virginia. After last year?s 24-19 shocker, USF will have to deal with a very motivated Mountaineer team. As the Big East opener for the Bulls, it?s a must-win home game to have any realistic hope of winning the title with road trips to Rutgers and Pitt (in December, not a plus for the warm-weather Bulls) to deal with.
Offense
What you need to know: This is Matt Grothe?s offense, but unlike last season, he shouldn?t have to do everything short of crafting the weekly gameplan in order to make the unit hum. Although he led the offense in passing, rushing and scoring, the program realizes it needs to protect its most important commodity and give him more support. Can freshman Mike Ford live up to the hype? Plenty is expected from a back that should ignite a rushing attack that did little in 2006 when Grothe wasn?t slithering through opposing defenses. Originally headed to Tuscaloosa, he?s the highest-profile recruit to ever sign with USF. The Bull receivers are a dynamic bunch that?s loaded with size, speed and underachievers that need to get their act together. Star of the offense: Sophomore QB Matt Grothe
Player that has to step up and become a star: Freshman RB Mike Ford
Unsung star on the rise: Junior WR Taurus Johnson
Best pro prospect: Senior WR Amarri Jackson
Top three all-star candidates: 1) Grothe 2) Johnson 3) T Marc Dile
Strength of the offense: Depth at receiver, Grothe
Weakness of the offense: The running game, the offensive line
Quarterbacks
Projected Starter: It?s taken a few years, but in sophomore Matt Grothe, South Florida has finally found a quarterback to build around as it enters the next stage in its evolution. An unexpected revelation in his first season under center, he threw for 2,576 yards and 15 touchdowns, while leading the team with 622 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. While not the prototype at 6-0 and 200 pounds with average arm strength, Grothe is an improvisational wizard that?ll out hustle and out run a defense in order to continue a drive. The new face of the Bull program has added ten good pounds since the end of last season, a wise move considering how often he absorbs punishment outside the pocket.
Projected Top Reserves: With Pat Julmiste gone, Grothe?s backup will be an untested player with virtually no experience. Junior Grant Gregory, the son of USF offensive coordinator Greg Gregory, is the favorite to be the first man off the bench. An Indiana transfer, he has a strong arm and good enough athleticism to be considered at one time for a spot in the secondary.
Senior Anthony Severino is a former walk-on who knows the offensive system well and is the holder on special teams. South Florida?s reigning Scholar Athlete of the Year is coming of shoulder surgery which hampers his ability to jump Gregory for the No. 2 job.
Watch Out For? true freshman Alton Voss. The odds are good that Jim Leavitt will play it safe and tab a veteran as the No. 2 quarterback, however, once Voss arrives, he won?t back down to his inferior elders. A highly skilled dual threat under center, he?s going to spice up an uneventful competition in August.
Strength: Grothe. Leave the measurables to the NFL scouts. Grothe is a winner who ignites a huddle and a home crowd. Assuming he can stay healthy, expect him to build on last season by becoming a more complete and mature quarterback.
Weakness: Turnovers. If there?s one knock on Grothe, it?s that he forces too many passes and is prone to coughing up the ball when trying to do too much. With age should come better discretion for a team was 80th nationally in turnover margin.
Outlook: Surrounded by a good supporting cast, Grothe will take the next step in his development, cutting down on his picks and inching closer to rock star status around Tampa. However, he?s a runner and isn?t afraid to take a big shot. With no experience behind him, any injury could be devastating.
Rating: 7
Running Backs
Projected Starters: South Florida must improve on the ground because when Grothe is the team?s top rusher, it?s a real bad sign on more than one front. Former walk-on Benjamin Williams is a serviceable option out of the backfield, but clearly someone the Bulls would rather see in a complimentary role if someone else can step up. The junior led all backs in 2006 with 436 yards rushing and four touchdowns capped by an MVP effort in the Papajohns.com Bowl. Despite being just 5-7 and 190 pounds, he?s a hard runner and does a nice job of picking up blitzes. Williams averaged just 3.6 yards a carry last fall and needs to do far more to keep his job.
Projected Top Reserves: All eyes this season will be glued to true freshman Mike Ford, the most decorated recruit in the ten-year history of South Florida football. Originally a non-qualifier at Alabama, he descended on the program in March with the 6-2, 220-pound frame to run between the tackles and the 4.5 speed to jet past them. An SEC-type talent playing in the Big East, it won?t be long before Ford is stealing some of the headlines from Grothe.
Redshirt freshman Aston Samuels is the long-ball hitter of the group, a 5-10, 190-pound option that can run forever when he hits a seam. With track speed and a terrific spring in the vault, he?ll be a great change-of-pace to taking handoffs and catching passes out of the backfield.
Watch Out For? sophomore Moise Plancher. How soon we forget that Plancher was the clear-cut starter in last year?s opener before hurting his knee and never making it back on the field. A 5-9, 190-pound slasher, he gets to top gear in a hurry and has good vision when stuck in traffic. Now all Plancher has to do is show he can stay healthy for an entire season.
Strength: Depth. For the first time in school history, the Bulls are building a respectable amount of depth in the backfield. The collection of talent is also diverse, blending a couple of power backs that can get the tough yards with smaller speedsters that can break long runs and be especially effective on third down.
Weakness: No proven workhorse. Ford?s potential is off the charts, however, his next carry will be his first and none of the other backs has shown an ability to consistently handle 20-25 carries on a week-in, week-out basis.
Outlook: As long as the line cooperates, the running game is about to take a quantum leap and some heat off Grothe in 2007. Although a committee approach will be utilized, Ford will emerge by October as the go-to guy.
Rating: 6.5
Receivers
Projected Starters: South Florida returns five of last year?s top seven receivers, catering to the no huddle spread?s need for plenty of quality receivers. Juniors Marcus Edwards, Taurus Johnson and Colby Erskin will handle the X, Y and Z positions, respectively. At 5-11 and 175 pounds, Edwards may not pass the eye test, but he happens to be the most consistent of the receivers, running crisp routes and rarely dropping passes. While too fast to be called a possession receiver, he?s a reliable target that caught 27 balls as a starter in 2006.
Johnson emerged in 2006 as the Bulls? most dynamic receiver, developing into the deep threat that the offense had been missing. He caught 37 passes for 494 yards and two touchdowns, setting the stage for what might be an All-Big East type season in 2007.
Erskin was one of this year?s big spring surprises, snaring absolutely everything, including a spot in the starting lineup. At 5-9 and 185 pounds, he?s not an imposing figure, but when Matt Grothe needs six or seven yards for a first down, watch him emerge as the team?s preferred target. He runs tight routes and just doesn?t drop anything.
A converted receiver who originally signed with Miami, Cedric Hill is back at tight end for the second consecutive season. At 6-3 and 240 pounds, he offers little as a run blocker, but can stretch a defense as a pass catcher.
Projected Top Reserves: Throughout his Bull career, senior Amarri Jackson has been a 6-5 enigma who has an electrifying skill set, yet is still waiting for that first monster season. He caught 26 passes for 393 yards and three touchdowns in 2006 and is always a threat to run or throw downfield on reverses. Jackson will begin this season bigger and stronger than ever with an eye toward that elusive breakout year.
Like Jackson, junior Amp Hill hasn?t become the player many thought he?d be when he originally signed with LSU, but there?s time and as backups go, he?s a potential gem. Blessed with NFL size and speed, he should improve on last season?s 19 catches for 233 yards and two scores if he gets back in Jim Leavitt?s good graces. The coach suspended Hill for signing a football after scoring in a spring scrimmage.
There may not be a faster Bull than 5-10, 170-pound sophomore Jessie Hester Jr. He?ll compete for playing time in the slot while doing his best impression of former Miami Hurricane Santana Moss.
Watch Out For? the long balls. All hail Grothe, but does he have the arm strength to fully utilize South Florida?s track team that masquerades as a receiving corps? These Bulls have wings and could out run some of their quarterback?s passes this season.
Strength: Athleticism. They may not wear Garnet and Gold or Orange and Blue, but the South Florida receivers are still your prototypical Sunshine State athletes that are a step or two faster and more dynamic than most recruits from the rest of the country.
Weakness: Consistency. The raw talent is enough to make NFL scouts pant, however, the USF receivers collectively still need to reduce their number of dropped passes and tighten up their route running and downfield blocking.
Outlook: Save for some issues with fundamentals that can be addressed in practice, the Bulls have the potential and the depth to be the Big East?s most exciting receiving corps this side of Papa John?s Stadium.
Rating: 7
Offensive Line
Projected Starters: It won?t be easy, but Jim Leavitt wants to create an offensive line that is consistently sending kids to the NFL and among the best in the Big East. Last year?s recruiting class attracted some quality big men and this year?s squad welcomes back five starters, so the coach has started getting some traction in the area. The front wall will be anchored by the tackles, junior Marc Dile on the left side and senior Walter Walker on the right. A good athlete at 6-4 and 305 pounds, Dile enters his third season as a starter and has gradually become the group?s leader. At his best in pass protection, he still needs to get more physical when the Bulls keep it on the ground.
Walker put on display his versatility and flexibility a year ago, starting the first five games at right guard and the final eight at right tackle. The biggest of the starters, he, like Dile, must make strides as a pure drive blocker in the running game.
One-time tight end junior Nick Capogna will once again quarterback the South Florida interior. Just 275 pounds, he was named the team?s Outstanding Offensive Lineman following the 2006 season for his leadership skills and quickness off the ball. By cutting it at center, Capogna also freed up George Selvie to have a Freshman All-America season at defensive end.
Junior Ryan Schmidt arrived from Kansas State as a center, but has worked out so far as the Bulls? right guard. He started the last eight games of 2006 and provided an insurance policy for Capogna at the pivot.
On the other side of Schmidt will be junior Jake Griffin, who moved up one level after returning starter Matt Huners tore his ACL in April. A guard that can also shift inside and play center, Griffin was a starter on the left side last year before breaking his foot in the week 3 win over UCF.
Projected Top Reserves: Sophomore Danny Tolley started the Florida International game at right tackle, but couldn?t keep the job, eventually making appearances in 11 games. At 6-6 and 310 pounds, the physical tools are there, however, he needs to polish up his game in order to get back into the lineup.
Like Tolley, senior tackle Jared Carnes had a cup of coffee in the lineup in 2006, but failed to keep his job. The 6-7, 310-pound former product of Concord College brings decent pass blocking skills and a veteran presence to the second string.
Watch Out For?redshirt freshmen Zach Hermann and Jacob Sims. At guard and tackle, respectively, Hermann and Sims are integral parts of the future?and present?of the USF line. Hermann is a snot-knocker that?ll eventually give the Bulls that physical presence in run blocking that?s been sorely lacking. Sims is a fluid athlete that?s added 35 pounds since matriculating, and is close to being big enough to handle a spot on the B team.
Strength: The tackles. Walker and Dile are the line?s best all-around blockers with the quick feet and experience to help reduce the number of sacks the unit allowed in 2006.
Weakness: Run blocking. If not for Grothe?s ad libbing and escapability, South Florida would have been one of the worst rushing teams in the country last year. The Bulls are predominantly a finesse line that occasionally needs to flex its muscles, particularly in short yardage.
Outlook: While the stability of returning six players that started a game the year earlier is tremendous, the Bull line lacks a true anchor and isn?t the type of unit that?ll take over and set the tone of any games in 2007. Four freshmen on the second unit will help in 2008 and beyond, but could be a serious liability in the short term.
Rating: 6.5
