Follow @USFFootball On Twitter
Like USF Football on Facebook
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, AUG. 18, 2014 – Mike White has won the battle for USF's starting quarterback spot and the confident sophomore says he's “up for the challenge.”
Head coach Willie Taggart officially named his starter for the season during a team meeting Sunday after White and junior Steven Bench both looked sharp competing the first two weeks of camp.
“Mike has done a great job of running our offseason throughout spring and throughout training camp. We met together as a staff and kind of went around the table giving pluses and minuses on everyone,” Taggart said. “We came up with the decision that Mike would be our quarterback. I think all four of our quarterbacks have done a great job. I think Steven and Mike's competition made both of them better.”
White spoke to reporters for the first time since being named the starter Monday evening and the Fort Lauderdale native sounded eager to lead the team into the Aug. 30 season opener at home against Western Carolina and beyond.
“It's pretty cool, obviously from that aspect of it, but I'm ready. Obviously that's not the end goal, the end goal is to win games and I'm up for the challenge,” White said. “I'm privileged to lead such a great quarterback room. I think we've had an incredible camp as a group in its entirety.”
Despite being the youngest QB on the roster, 19-year-old White has the most collegiate starting experience of anyone in the group after leading the Bulls' offense onto the field for the last five games last season. White, who played in six games overall, led the Bulls with 1,083 yards passing and he turned in the best debut by a USF quarterback in program history by throwing for 311 yards and two touchdowns at Houston.
“He has experience, he knows what to expect now and now that he's the quarterback I think he'll go and do the things a quarterback is supposed to do from a leadership standpoint,” Taggart said. “Mike has all those qualities to be a great leader. Now the team knowing he's our quarterback, they all can rally behind him and he can do his part of not only leading our offense, but our entire football team.”
White showed his dedication during offseason conditioning by gaining 27 pounds to get up to 213 at camp. Through his physical transformation, White said he's matured while growing into a true student of the game when it comes to details.
“I've learned that every play isn't going to be a 70-yard touchdown,” White said. “Sometimes you're going to have to throw it away, sometimes you're just going to have to take what the defense gives you and live to see another down.”
White was quick to point out that he isn't afraid to take shots downfield with all the targets he has at wide receiver, including senior Andre Davis, who made a one-handed catch for a touchdown over a defender during Monday's morning session.
“They'll be there when we've got guys like Rodney Adams and Andre Davis, and Deonte Welch, who can stretch a defense vertically and kind of make them move. The shots will be there,” he said.
Still Work to Do
The battle at quarterback is over but Taggart said there is plenty left to see at camp this week with starting spots at positions still being up for grabs.
“They're fired up. They've been working hard and I know they're tired of hitting each other, but we still have some more work to do. We're putting a lot of focus on Western Carolina as well as getting better,” Taggart said. “We know we have a week, or two weeks basically, to solidify things. We're going to use this week to really do that before we get into game week and there are some more jobs to be had.”
The Bulls return 16 starters (10 offense, 4 defense, 2 specialists) for Taggart's second season at the helm, which kicks off on Aug. 30 vs. Western Carolina at 7 p.m in Raymond James Stadium. The Bulls 2014 non-conference schedule features home clashes vs. Big Ten foe Maryland (Sept. 6 @ 3:30) and ACC opponent N.C. State (Sept. 13 @ 3:30) as well as a road game at perennial Big Ten power Wisconsin (Sept. 27). USF will welcome UConn (Fri., Sept. 19 @ 7:00), East Carolina (Sat., Oct. 11), Houston (Sat., Nov. 1) and UCF (Fri., Nov. 28) to Raymond James in American Athletic Conference action.
USF football single-game tickets, mini-plans and season tickets are now available on-line at GoUSFBulls.com, by calling 1-800-GoBulls, or in person at the Sun Dome Gate A Ticket Office. Season Ticket Members may renew their tickets on-line today.
Follow @USFFootball on Twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.
