USF Athletics

USF Defensive Linemen Hungry to Prove Themselves This Spring

March 29, 2018

PHOTO GALLERY

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, MARCH 29, 2018 – Spring football is the time for emerging Bulls to really show what they can do and opportunity is knocking every day for USF's new-look defensive line.

Deadrin Senat, Bruce Hector and Mike Love – past fixtures of the line – are now gearing up for the pros, which has opened the door for several young and older Bulls to establish themselves as go-to guys heading into the fall.

"We've very hungry," said defensive end Josh Black (Tampa). "We may be a young front, but we're still going to try to be the best D-line out there."

Where USF is the youngest on the line is inside, where Kevin Bronson is the lone senior. The Delray Beach, Fla., native has totaled 54 tackles (12 tackles for loss) in 33 games and he's getting many more reps this spring with longtime starters Senat and Hector headed to the NFL.

"We're coming out and getting better each and every day," Bronson said. "It's my time to shine."

Also getting an increased opportunity at defensive tackle are Kevin Kegler (Madison, Fla.) and Kelvin Pinkney Jr. (Sarasota). Both sophomores are bringing a physical, run-stuffing presence inside after both played in all 12 games last season.

"The fact they got some valuable reps is going to really pay off this year," defensive tackles coach Sean Cronin said. "They're going to be sophomores, so they can't play like freshmen anymore. It's time to go."

Cronin said consistency is the biggest thing he's looking for out of his tackles this spring and fortunately for the staff, the young Bulls are eager to learn each day.

"These guys take coaching," Cronin said. "They like to be coached and they want to get better - that's the most encouraging thing."

And while USF's current defensive tackles look to drive up their snap stock for the season, Cronin noted the Bulls will bring additional promising talent to campus in the fall. USF's big 2018 signing class included Devin Leacock (Port Charlotte, Fla.), John Waller (St. Petersburg), Armon Williams (Snellville, Ga.) and Tyrone Barber (Venice, Fla.).

"We've got a ton of freshmen coming in," Cronin said. "Out of all those freshmen, I'm hoping a couple of those guys can help us (in 2018), too. We'll see."

Bulls More Seasoned at Defensive End
USF's pass rush off the edge is coming together this spring with some Bulls that have shown flashes of potential in games.

Senior defensive ends Josh Black (Tampa) and Juwuan Brown (Tampa) both have played in 20-plus games and bring a combined total of eight sacks to the table. Another end making a consistent impact is senior Vincent Jackson, who shined in last Saturday's scrimmage with a sack and constant pressure.

"I have noticed Vince, he's getting better," Sean Cronin said. "He has flashed."

Perhaps the most impressive defensive end on the field this spring has been Kirk Livingstone. The junior from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., played in every game the past two seasons and looks to be taking the next step in his progression after posting four sacks as a backup since 2016.

"Kirk Livingstone has had a really nice spring so far," Cronin said.

While several ends are proving themselves this spring, the coaching staff knows what they'll get from lone returning starter Greg Reaves. The Bradenton, Fla., is coming off a breakout sophomore year that included a team-leading 14 tackles for loss along with 51 tackles and four sacks.

Reaves has been limited this spring while rehabbing an injury, but he's stepping up as a leader and an extra set of eyes for the coaching staff.

"Those guys have a lot of respect for him. He's always around and he's positive. They know they can count on him," Cronin said. "A positive of him being out the way (on the field) is it makes the other guys establish themselves. I think that's happening, especially some of our older ends."

Year Two Brings Greater Trust, Faster Play
Head coach Charlie Strong's whole primary coaching staff is back for 2018, which has allowed coaches like Sean Cronin to really speed up the progression process with players.

"I think it's huge. No. 1, they've been around us for a year now and they trust us," Cronin said. "I think they have 100 percent trust in what we're doing here."

USF's defensive linemen are quick to listen after watching Cronin and defensive ends coach Damon Cogdell help the Bulls rank fifth nationally in tackles for loss in 2017 (8.4 per game) and 11^th in sacks (3.0 per game). What's helping the defensive line even more this spring is continuity in year two of the scheme.

"They know the stuff now inside and out," Cronin said. "The guys that have been here, now they don't have to think and when they don't have to think, they play faster."

Offense Shines in Red Zone Work
Two days after Brett Kean and Chris Oladokun talked about their battle for the starting job, both quarterbacks put on a passing clinic in Thursday's practice.

Each player threw multiple touchdowns in red zone work with Kean finding standout tight end Mitchell Wilcox (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) for at least two scores. Wilcox finished with four touchdown catches on the day, including one on a pass from Oladokun at the end of red zone situations.

• Redshirt freshman receiver Randall St. Felix (Miami) continued to build on his circus catch performance in Saturday's scrimmage with a pair of 20-yard TD receptions on passes from both Kean and Oladokun on Thursday.
• Senior LaDarion McBride (Oakland Park, Fla.) helped his cause in the receiving game with two touchdown catches Thursday, including one on the play of the day. Oladokun threw up a pass to the end zone and McBride somehow came down with the catch, even with a defender between him and the ball at the end of the play.
• Darnell Salomon (Miami) hauled in a 10-yard touchdown pass from Kean two days after losing a defender with a double move for an easy score.
• Junior slot man Deangelo Antoine (Orlando) has made tough catches all spring and his nifty route running in tight spaces has led to numerous touchdown grabs in the corner of the end zone, like his 15-yarder on a pass from Oladokun on Thursday.

Up Next
USF players will look to put more big plays on tape in the second scrimmage of the spring Saturday afternoon at the Morsani Complex.

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 14 teams nationally to win 20-plus games in the last two seasons (21-4) and has spent a program-record 20 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. USF won a program-record 11 games in 2016 (11-2) and has 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.

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