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TAMPA, AUG. 23, 2015 –Head Coach Willie Taggart announced Sunday that the USF football program has awarded scholarships to three Bay Area walk-ons, rewarding their efforts and dedication to the Bulls' program on and off the field.
Seniors Daniel Awoleke (Lakeland/George Jenkins HS) and Mak Djulbegovic (Tampa/Carrollwood Day HS) and junior Alex Salvato (Lakeland/Victory Christian Academy HS) all earned full grant in-aids from USF. The trio joins a long line of former walk-ons who, through their perseverance and hard work, became major contributors to the USF program and earned scholarships. Among those are Salavato's battery mate in the Bulls' punting unit, Mattias Ciabatti (Tampa), who was the first walk-on awarded a scholarship under Taggart in 2013 and went on to become a first team all-conference punter and Ray Guy Award candidate.
Awoleke joined the team as a walk-on defensive end in 2013 and went about building his body, adding more than 35 pounds, into a 6-5, 285-pound defensive tackle. He now occupies a position on the Bulls' depth chart with the second-team defense.
Djulbegovic likewise has transformed his body, adding nearly 40 pounds, since joining the team as a walk-on in 2011 while also earning three academic all-conference honors. He has seen action in 20 games over the last two seasons, with two starts, and now, at 6-5, 295 pounds, holds down the first-team position at right tackle on the Bulls' offense.
Salvato took over the long snapper role last season and saw action in all 12 games. Salvato did not have an error while snapping for field goals, extra points and punts and recorded one tackle on the year. He joined Ciabatti in forming a punting battery that set a USF season record averaging 44.4 yards per punt.
The Bulls completed preseason camp on Saturday with a full scrimmage. USF enters its regular game week practice schedule starting with an 8:30 a.m. practice Tuesday as preparations begin for the season opener on Sat., Sept. 5 vs. Florida A&M. That game is set for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff in Raymond James Stadium.
USF returns 13 starters (5 offense, 7 defense and 1 specialist) for Head Coach Willie Taggart's third season at the helm. The Bulls will return their top five tacklers (9 the top 12 overall) and players that accounted for 73 percent of the team's tackles in 2014. USF returns 100 percent of its rushing yardage from 2014, including 1,000-yard rusher Marlon Mack, and 50 percent of its receptions and receiving yards.
The USF Football program is in its 19th season overall and 16th at the FBS level. The Bulls have made six bowl appearances, including every season between 2005-10, and have four bowl game victories. USF has produced 14 All-America selections, 25 NFL Draft picks and reached the No. 2 ranking in the Associated Press Poll in 2007.
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