Taggart, Bulls Getting a Kick Out of Kloss
November 06, 2013 | Football
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA – Marvin Kloss is setting quite an example for the Bulls.
The redshirt junior recently set a new USF record with 13 consecutive made field goals and was rewarded for his efforts on Monday, when he became one of 20 semifinalists for the 2013 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award. Read more about the honor HERE.
“It's definitely a privilege to be in a pool with some of those guys,” Kloss said before practice Tuesday.
Kloss also picked up American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors for the second time with his record-breaking performance against Houston on Oct. 31. The Naples, Fla., native started the game with a 39-yarder in the first quarter and his 50-yarder midway through the third quarter tied him for the consecutive makes record with USF career points leader Maikon Bonani. Kloss made the record all his own with a 49-yarder later in the third quarter.
“The awards and recognition are great, but I'm just trying to go out there and take it one step at a time and one kick at a time, whether it's a 35-yarder or a 50-yarder, I kind of just kick it the same,” Kloss said. “I keep my head down and really not try to overemphasize the situation when I'm out there.”
Kloss' ability to focus on the task at hand has gotten him pretty far in his first season as USF's place-kicker. Kloss currently leads the nation with nine made field goals from 40 yards or more and going 4-for-4 from 50-plus yards. His four 50-yard field goals set a new USF career record in the category. His 52-yarder against Cincinnati on Oct. 5 still stands as the longest field goal made in the American Athletic Conference this season.
“It's great to have a kicker like that; a guy that you can count on and a guy that's confident,” head coach Willie Taggart said. “That's kind of where we want our entire football team, where we play confident every time we step on the football field and we're confident we can get the job done.”
Kickers usually aren't the ones grabbing a ton of attention on a football team, but Kloss' attempts have become a must-see for every Bull on the sideline during games.
“You can see their reaction every time he gets up there to kick the ball every time. They all believe and they get excited for him. We need more of that at other positions as well,” Taggart said.
Taggart Not Surprised by White's Stellar Start
True freshman quarterback Mike White grabbed a spot on the American weekly honor roll Monday after posting the best starting debut by a quarterback in USF history.
White (Fort Lauderdale) went 26-for-41 for 311 yards against Houston while completing passes to 10 different receivers, all USF season bests. White's 311 passing yards rank as the 16th-best performance in USF history and his 29 completions tied for seventh-most in the school record books.
“I thought he did a good job not being afraid to check the ball down and throwing the ball on time. I think that happened because he knew what he was doing,” Taggart said.
Senior back Marcus Shaw agreed with his head coach's statement after seeing White in the team meeting room until 11 or 12 at night regularly last week. Working overtime helped White lead USF to a season-best 364 yards of total offense while throwing two touchdown passes to tight end Mike McFarland. White also threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Andre Davis with 4:06 remaining that would have put USF ahead of the Cougars, but the play was negated because of an offensive pass interference call.
“Mike is one of those guys, he really doesn't fear anything,” Taggart said. “With as confident as he is and him being prepared, you knew that he could go out and take care of business if we gave him time.”
Next Up for the Bulls
USF football fans have a special chance to give back to the troops during the Bulls' upcoming Military Appreciation game against Memphis on Saturday, Nov. 16.
Fans can join the Seats for Soldiers program by purchasing packages of $200, $500 or $1,000 to send 20, 50 or 100 service members and veterans to the game for free at Raymond James Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (ESPN3).
Tickets are being donated to the MacDill Air Force Base and the Wounded Warrior Project and each donor will get pre-game recognition on the video board. Select packages allow a donor to also receive complimentary game tickets and a pre-game photo on the field.
Purchase a package or donate by calling 1-800-GoBulls.
