TAMPA- At the midway point of the 2010 season, seven USF football players were named to Phil Steele's 2010 Midseason All-BIG EAST Team, the publication announced Tuesday.
To see the complete Midseason All-BIG EAST Teams click HERE.
Sophomore Lindsey Lamar, senior Sampson Genus, senior Mistral Raymond, sophomore Jon Lejiste, senior Dontavia Bogan, senior Craig Marshall and sophomore Sam Barrington were all named to one of the three Midseason All-BIG EAST Teams.
Lamar was the Bulls' lone representative on the first team, where he was honored for his kick returning duties. In the Bulls' BIG EAST opener against Syracuse, Lamar took a third-quarter kickoff 94 yards for the score, which marked USF's first kickoff return TD since Mike Jenkins returned one against Cincinnati in 2007. The sophomore speedster has returned 11 kickoffs in 2010 for 356 yards and an average of 32.4 yards per return, which ranks fifth nationally and first in the BIG EAST.
Genus, Raymond and Lejiste were all named to the second team by Steele.
Genus, who was tabbed All-BIG EAST first team prior to the season, has been the stronghold of an impressive offensive line this season for the Bulls. He has graded out as the top offensive lineman for the Bulls each game this season. The senior center is part of a line that has helped USF rush for 946 yards through six games in 2010. The Bulls have averaged 157.7 yards per contest behind Genus and the rest of the offensive line.
Raymond, one of the Bulls' captains, has broken up three passes on the year, while adding two TFL. The former walk-on has also added 22 tackles from his corner position in six starts this season.
Lejiste, the Bulls' hard-hitting safety, is second on the team with four TFL and three sacks on the season, two of which resulted in forced fumbles. Lejiste has also added two pass deflections and 18 total tackles.
Bogan, Marshall and Barrington also appeared on the All-BIG EAST Teams, each being named to the third team.
Bogan, who missed one game due to an ankle injury, has still produced as the Bulls' most effective receiver. The senior wideout leads the team in catches (24), yards (329), touchdowns (two) and yards per game (65.8).
Marshall has made the transition seemless at the defensive end position, replacing two NFL draft picks in George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul, in 2010. He leads the team with 6.5 TFL and four sacks, and has added 25 tackles as well as an interception.
Barrington, who has been praised by Holtz all year, has been a mainstay in the middle of the Bulls' defense, leading the team with 33 tackles and a pair of tackles for loss.
The Bulls are preparing for a trip to Cincinnati, where they will face the Bearcats on Friday, Oct. 22 at 8:00 p.m. The game is being televised nationally on ESPN2.
