By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

TAMPA - It started with a simple gesture and has turned into much more for Chris Breit.

After playing sparingly at linebacker and as a special teamer last season, the redshirt junior saw an opportunity last spring when the depth at fullback thinned out because of player departures.

"I knew fullback was an open position ever since Richard (Kelly) left. I just wanted to get on the field," Breit said Thursday.

Breit sought out Skip Holtz and said he'd be willing to give fullback a try if the head coach gave him a chance.

What followed was a crash course of sorts.

"A day to go before the spring game he said, 'You can go play fullback. We'll teach everything before the game.' I kind of learned it last minute," Breit said.

Well, sort of.

It turns out that Breit played both fullback and linebacker as a freshman at Plant High School in Tampa before he moved to defensive end and linebacker in a 3-4 scheme once he was promoted to the varsity level.

"I think where I come from playing in high school has some of the best coaching there is," he said. "I've learned so much that other players don't have the opportunity of learning in high school, so I feel like I came in here with a big advantage."

Breit said the move to fullback "kind of feels second nature" and the USF coaching staff saw enough to go ahead with his training at a different position.

"With his raw ability, he came out and he did a nice job with some things rather quickly," USF fullbacks/tight ends coach Larry Scott said.

Breit definitely has the physical makeup to hold up in the trenches. The 5-foot-11, 222-pounder makes it difficult for a defender to push him aside while going after a ball carrier and Breit doesn't mind the contact one bit.

"I think it's a lot like linebacker," he said. "You just have to have the mentality that you want to hit."

Scott agrees with his pupil's assessment.

"To both of those (positions), the game is going to be in your face," he said.

Making a successful switch from linebacker to fullback isn't all about wanting to punish an opponent, however.

Breit soaked up knowledge working on his new craft in the summer and benefitted from the team's trip to Vero Beach.

"The competition at camp, I think we all helped each other get better," he said.

Scott said Breit's progress is "light years" ahead of when he started working at the position with an "awesome" attitude.

"He's done a really nice job of picking it up and learning the system," Scott said. "He only gets better each time we go out and practice."

Breit's work ethic is likely to translate into USF fans getting to see his progress in game action.

"He's one of the guys that we're depending on, hoping to come around and continue to develop," Scott said. "We have to be prepared to use him when we need to use him."

Popek, McGhin Return

Offensive tackle Mark Popek and offensive guard John McGhin returned to practice Thursday night after missing time with various injuries.

While they've been off the field, offensive line coach Steve Shankweiler said the Bulls have been able to build up a little bit more depth and noted Kevin McCaskill has been standing out at both guard and center.

"He's a different player than he was in the spring. He's more motivated. He's lost some weight. He's working hard," Shankweiler said. "... He's going to figure into this thing."

Home Sweet Home

Holtz said the Bulls' training camp experience was great but the coach is glad to be home in Tampa.

"You get back home and you've got living arrangements and it's not quite as convenient, and so you've got a little bit more distractions than you had at camp but I'm really proud of the way this team handled it," Holtz said Thursday night.

Depth Chart and Fan Fest

Holtz said the team will release an updated depth chart Saturday, the same day USF will hold Fan Fest at Raymond James Stadium between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The event is free for attendees and it gives them a chance to meet the team and get autographs.

Team Captains

Holtz noted the team will vote on its captains about a week before the season opener at Notre Dame on Sept. 3.

"I like to have the captains going into the season, but I like to give the seniors, the upperclassmen, the opportunity to lead all through spring, summer and fall camp. Then we'll find out who they view as their leaders," Holtz said.