TAMPA ?The list of Bulls on preseason award lists grew to six on Wednesday when Nate Allen was named to the Thorpe Award watch list.
Allen joins defensive teammates George Selvie (Lombardi, Bednarik, Nagurski and Lott) and Tyrone McKenzie (Lott, Bednarik, Nagurski) on the preseason acclaim list. He is among 40 players on the list and four that call the Big EAST home.
Allen earned the recognition on the strength of a sophomore season that was highlighted by two defensive touchdowns and a three turnover game against Auburn. Allen returned an interception against Pitt and scooped up a fumble for a touchdown against Louisville. At Jordan Hare Stadium he had an interception, a forced fumble and a recovered fumble in the Bulls overtime win.
On the season, Allen was fourth on the team with 84 tackles and second with four interceptions.
His rise to prominence on the roster was a bit of a surprise, but definitely played into one of the major stories of 2007; sophomore in starring roles. Along with quarterback Matt Grothe and Selvie, the trio helped lead the Bulls to prominence last season and appear poised to take the team further the next two seasons.
On the offensive side of the ball, USF has three players earning preseason recognition: Grothe (Maxwell), Jake Griffin (Rimington) and Ryan Schmidt (Outland).
The first day of fall practice is Aug. 3 with school starting three weeks later on Aug. 24. The 12th edition of USF Bulls football will open the 2008 campaign and their fourth in the BIG EAST on Aug. 30 against UT-Martin at Raymond James Stadium. A game time has not been set for the season opener.
The marquee matchup of the non-conference season will take place Sept. 12 under the Friday night lights (8 p.m. Eastern) when the Bulls square off with defending Orange Bowl champion Kansas before a national TV audience on ESPN2. USF also has four home conference games against Pitt (Oct. 2), Syracuse (Oct. 18), Rutgers (Nov. 15) and UConn (Nov. 23).
