USF Athletics

Offense, Defense Take Turns Making Plays in Final Scrimmage Before Spring Game

April 07, 2018

GALLERY

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, APRIL 7, 2018 – USF's up-tempo offense and swarming defense took turns making plays in the final scrimmage before the spring game on Saturday at the Morsani Complex.

Defensive end Josh Black (Tampa) started things off with a pick-six on the first play. USF's explosive offense fired right back with several scores and capped off the scrimmage with a 15-yard touchdown run by redshirt freshman Duran Bell Jr. (Tampa).

"Once (the offense) got settled down, they were able to move the ball," head coach Charlie Strong said.

Chris Oladokun moved the offense downfield efficiently on several long drives. Oladokun used his dual-threat ability to rush for more than 100 yards during the session while throwing touchdown passes to camp standout Mitchell Wilcox (Tarpon Springs, Fla.), Randall St. Felix (Miami) and Davion Sutton (Tampa).

Oladokun, a sophomore from Tampa, gained more than 70 yards on a 95-yard scoring drive he put in the end zone with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Wilcox, who finished with four catches.

"He's very athletic," said Strong of Oladokun. "The thing is, if the rush breaks down, he's quick enough where he can get outside. He can outrun some guys and make them miss."

Brett Kean, a junior from Lakewood, Ohio, helped his own cause in the quarterback battle later in the scrimmage with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Deangelo Antoine (Orlando). Kean also was on target in the red zone, hitting Ryeshene Bronson (Fort Myers, Fla.) with a perfect back-shoulder throw for a 10-yard score.

"The good thing about the quarterback battle is you're going to get the best out of every guy," Antoine said.

Ground Game Stays Productive
Saturday's scrimmage saw numerous running backs get the job done in their battle for future playing time.

• Sophomore Elijah Mack (Punta Gorda, Fla.) continued his physical spring by trucking through more defenders on a 26-yard run before rushing for a 4-yard score on the next play.
• Senior Davion Sutton (Tampa) drove up his stock with a 10-yard touchdown catch.
• Redshirt freshman Duran Bell Jr. (Tampa) rushed for numerous first downs before capping off an impressive day for the offense with a 15-yard touchdown run through traffic on the final play.

Defense Makes Its Plays
Josh Black's big takeaway on the first play of the scrimmage wasn't the only pick-six of the day.

Senior nickel corner Ronnie Hoggins (Coconut Creek, Fla.) read the quarterback's eyes on a scramble and returned an interception 18 yards for a touchdown.

"That's our job – to get the ball – and that's something we emphasize every day," Hoggins said. "It's something we take pride in."

• Another highlight reel play by the secondary came from senior safety Jaymon Thomas (Immokalee, Fla.) who stopped a drive with a tackle for loss on fourth-and-2.
• Converted cornerback Chris Barr (Jacksonville, Fla.) showed his toughness near the line by forcing and recovering a fumble on a short-yardage play.
• Linebacker Khalid McGee (Miami) continued to showcase his coverage skills with an interception.
• Tackle Kevin Bronson (Delray Beach, Fla.) brought the pressure with a pair of sacks, while end Kirk Livingstone (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) kept his strong spring going with another sack.

Bulls Bits

• KICKERS SHOW ACCURACY: Three different kickers showed they can produce by going a combined 4-for-6 on field goal attempts Saturday. Redshirt freshman Marco Salani (Boca Raton, Fla.) made his kicks from 24 and 27 yards out, while Jake Vivonetto (Naples, Fla.) and punter Trent Schneider (Australia) also connected from 30-plus yards out.
• WELCOME, MARCUS GILBERT & LOUIS MURPHY: USF got a special visit Saturday from Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Marcus Gilbert and long time NFL receiver Louis Murphy (most recently with the 49ers), who were both on the Florida Gators' 2009 national championship team when Charlie Strong was UF's defensive coordinator.

Up Next
USF will begin its final week of spring practice Tuesday morning at the Morsani Complex.

Strong's Bulls will practice again next Thursday before the USF Spring Game at Corbett Stadium on Saturday, April 14 at 2 p.m. Learn more about the spring game and the pregame street fest HERE.
 
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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