Other Notes:
Jim Leavitt reminded the large media turnout that, “The team on the field this spring will look very different in the fall when we have our recruiting class here.  It's the largest class we have ever signed and plenty of those guys will be contributing this fall."

* Speaking of the large media turnout:  Make sure you watch your local news tonight. Every local TV station had a cameraman on-site and they interviewed Leavitt, Canales, Tresey, Grothe and two-time All-American George Selvie.  Bright House Sports Network did a pair of live shots from USF as well. 

In terms of papers and online coverage, the Orlando Sentinel, Tampa Tribune, St. Petersburg Times, Oracle, Sarasota Herald Tribune, USFBullseye.com and USFNation.com all had reporters out for the opening day.  While ESPN.com and the Pensacola News Journal were filing reports over the phone.

* GoUSFBulls.com will be unveiling several new features in our coverage of spring ball.  Stay tuned this week and throughout the practice season for wall-to-wall coverage.

GoUSFBulls.com preps fans for the beginning of Spring Ball with a position-by-position breakdown of the USF roster:

Quarterbacks
Matt Grothe returns as the marquee offensive player in the BIG EAST.  He's one game away from surpassing Pat White in the BIG EAST career record books in total offense and is already one of only two players in the illustrious history of the league to surpass 10,000 yards in total offense. He enters 2009 with 10,242.  Even with all that experience, Grothe will have plenty of learning to do in the spring and much of it won't be on the field.  New offensive coordinator Mike Canales is expected to tweak the Bulls' spread offense, which could mean new terminology and play-calling for Grothe.  He also is now firmly placed in a leadership role as a senior and much of that transition will occur in practice over the next five weeks.

Keep An Eye On: Behind Grothe are Evan Landi and B.J. Daniels.  The staff fell in love with Landi last fall and has high expectations for the smooth lefty.  Daniels spent the winter with the men's basketball team and will be a few days late to spring practice. He has the strongest arm on the squad and arguably the highest potential.  While many thought that Daniels had an edge when both players entered the program in the summer of 2008, this is now a dead heat for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart.

Running Backs
For the second consecutive season, USF has a stable of talented backs returning.  Mo Plancher and Mike Ford both come into the spring in great shape after positive efforts during winter conditioning.  Ford has even shaved off his trademark braids and is going with the clean-cut look.  As he said, “I'm taking a new approach.  A new look for a new man. I am coming into the spring with a more mature approach.”
Bruiser Richard Kelly has always been a standout in the weight room and could secure the role as the trusted passing downs back with a strong showing this spring.  One standout that won't be on the field is junior Jamar Taylor, who is recovering from off-season shoulder surgery.

Keep An Eye On:  Don't expect a featured back to come out of spring ball. The coaching staff considered Taylor the most complete back at the end of 2008, but he is sidelined with an injury.  Ford has the talent and determination to grab the lead spot, but the same can be said for the shifty and slippery Plancher.  One name to watch on the depth chart is redshirt-freshman Demetris Murray.  He was one of Georgia's best prep players in 2007 and has a good mixture of speed and power.

Wide Receivers
USF is fortunate at wide receiver, much like at running back, to return a lot of talent. The wide receivers are led by Jessie Hester, who established himself as one of the best in the BIG EAST last season. He will come into 2009 with a streak of 24 straight games with a reception.  Also on the front line with Hester are Carlton Mitchell and Dontavia Bogan. Mitchell had a breakout season in 2007, but lost some steam due to injuries. He's back at full health and hopes to use the spring as a launching point for a big 2009.  Bogan flashed signs of greatness in 2008 and will be the Bulls' featured kickoff returner after exploding multiple times last season. 

Junior Ed Alcin is listed at the starting ?Z' wide receiver spot that was filled by A.J. Love throughout 2008.  Love was the Bulls prime deep threat last season and started every game, but his season ended on a sour note when he injured his knee during the opening moments of the magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl.

Keep An Eye On:  While the receivers have a new position coach in Phil McGeoghan, their old coach, Mike Canales, is across the hall as the offensive coordinator.  It remains to be seen if the receivers familiarity with Canales will shorten their learning curve as he installs his own version of the spread. Conventional wisdom gives the receivers a leg up on their teammates.

Individually, three receivers - redshirt-freshman Daniel Bryant, senior Theo Wilson and sophomore Patrick Richardson - have the staff very excited about their potential to contribute.  Bryant nearly earned regular repetitions as a true-freshman last season and could be threat in the return game.  Wilson is a slippery and talented wide out that played multiple positions in junior college and could find himself in many roles on the USF offense in 2009.  He is also expected to be a featured punt returner.  Richardson is a burgeoning, young, possession receiver that is pushing hard for first-team time.

Tight Ends
Ben Busbee steps into the featured role at tight end after working behind Cedric Hill the last two seasons.  Busbee is a bruiser that earned high marks in winter conditioning and is among the most fit players entering spring.  Trent Pupello was expected to backup Busbee, but he will be sidelined with an injury through the 2009 season.  That means more reps for Andrew Ketchel, who has played sparingly during his career.

Keep An Eye On:  Former Vanguard High School standout and redshirt-freshman Jeff Hawkins.  He was a forgotten figure while working on the scout team last fall, but his talent and a short depth chart could mean significant time for Hawkins this spring and next fall.

Offensive Line
Two starters return in junior Zack Hermann and sophomore Jake Sims.  Hermann will return to right guard where he started 15 straight games before a foot injury last season.  Sims will work at left tackle and left guard during the spring, but the coaches expect him to be the starting center once a broken hand completely heals.

The rest of the offensive lineman will have the opportunity to earn time before a few signees arrive this summer.

At left tackle, Damien Edwards (6-6, 320) has the size to engulf defenders.  At left guard Chaz Hine is listed as a starter on the initial spring depth chart.  He's been in the program for two years and is one of the most intelligent players on the team.  Behind Hine is redshirt-freshman Jatavious Jackson, who is probably a season away from contributing regularly.

Former defensive tackle Sampson Genus is moving back to where he started ? the offensive line.  Genus is working as the first team center because of Sim injury. He is arguably the strongest player on the team and as a junior, the time is now for him to step forward.  Behind Genus is Kevin McCaskill, who has been steadily moving up the depth chart since the start of 2008.

Redshirt-freshman Mark Popek is penciled in as a starter at right tackle.  The staff loves his mean streak and believes he has the build and feet to be a dominant lineman.  Working in reserve roles on the right side are Josh Garvin (right guard) and Mike McGowan (right tackle), who is recovering from a knee injury last season.

Keep An Eye On: Popek and Genus.  The duo has the strength and ability to secure a spot in the spring and hold on to that responsibility in the fall. Both could be a factor at multiple positions on the line. The time is now for both players to gain an edge before two junior college offensive linemen and two highly-touted high school linemen come in ready to compete for time this summer.

The official start of 2009 Spring Ball is less than 36 hours away... The Bulls are gearing up for the 2009 season, which promises to be one of the most exciting in program history.

USF will practice 15 times during the spring and GoUSFBulls.com will bring you coverage of each and every practice, plus Pro Day and the annual Spring Game at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday, April 11 at 7 p.m. Eastern.

Click here to access a Depth Chart entering Tuesday's first practice.