Bulls Represent USF Well in All-Star Game Action
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, JAN. 23, 2018 – Five former USF standouts represented the program on the field one more time while showcasing their skills in front of NFL scouts during a pair of college all-star games last Saturday.
Receiver
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, defensive tackle
Bruce Hector and safety
Devin Abraham all played for the American team in the seventh annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif.
Meanwhile in the Bay Area, running back
D'Ernest Johnson and defensive back
Deatrick Nichols both suited up for the East team in the 93
rd East-West Shrine Game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.
Valdes-Scantling tied for the American team lead at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl with three catches for 36 yards and moved the chains with a 29-yard reception late in the first quarter. The St. Petersburg native recently set a USF season receiving yardage record with 879 yards while finishing with six touchdowns on 53 receptions in 2017. His 1,294 career receiving yards in two seasons at USF rank 10th all-time on the career chart.
Hector brought the pressure at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, posting a sack and another half tackle for loss to finish with two tackles. The Tampa native and second team all-conference pick had a strong senior season for the Bulls with a team-high 7.0 sacks along with 13.0 tackles for loss and 38 total tackles. Hector has either led or tied for the team lead in sacks the past three seasons and ranks seventh on USF's career sacks list with 18.
Abraham made a tackle in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl after leading the Bulls with five interceptions this season. The Tarpon Springs native tied for fifth on USF's career interceptions list with nine and finished his productive collegiate career with 168 tackles.
Fans in the Bay Area got to see more versatility from Johnson, who averaged 5.2 yards on six carries in the East-West Shrine Game in addition to a reception for 12 yards. The Immokalee, Fla., native also returned a kickoff for 27 yards and had a 5-yard punt return. Johnson is the Bulls' all-time leader in career all-purpose yardage (4,186) and also set records for a USF running back for career receptions (73) and receiving yards (909). Johnson ranks eighth on USF's career rushing chart with 1,796 yards.
Nichols also shined for the East team in the East-West Shrine Game at two different defensive back positions with four tackles and a pass breakup he nearly hauled in for an interception. The Miami native ranks third in USF career history with 11 interceptions and he's one of only three Bulls in program history to earn all-conference honors in three different seasons.
Editor's Note: Record-breaking quarterback
Quinton Flowers (Miami) and first team all-conference defensive tackle
Deadrin Senat (Immokalee, Fla.) both impressed scouts in practice but did not play in the East-West Shrine Game. Flowers missed the game due to a death in the family while Senat was forced to sit out with an injury.
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
USF posted its second straight 10-win season in 2017 (10-2) by winning its second straight Birmingham Bowl with a 38-34 victory over Texas Tech. USF is one of just 13 teams nationally to win 20-plus games in the last two seasons (21-4) and has spent a program-record 19 straight weeks ranked in the top 25, reaching as high as No. 13 in Week 8 of the 2017 season. The Bulls have won five of their last six bowl appearances and made nine (6-3) total bowl appearances in 21 seasons, including a current run of three straight bowls. The Bulls won a program-record 11 games in 2016 (11-2) and have posted 14 winning seasons. The USF program, which first took the field in 1997, reached No. 2 in the rankings in 2007 and has seen 28 players selected in the NFL Draft, 14 named All-American and had 32 first-team all-conference selections.
Follow @USFFootball on twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.
- #GoBulls -
