Allen Has Productive USF D-Line in 'Attack Mode'
September 16, 2015 | Football
Follow @USFFootball On Twitter
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, SEPT. 16, 2015 – USF's defense was stocked with playmakers in the secondary heading into the season, but the one big question mark was how the revamped line would fare.
With no proven stars remaining on the line, the Bulls' group of big guys up front were presented with the challenge of stepping up in coordinator Tom Allen's new 4-2-5 scheme.
No problem.
Bruce Hector, Demetrius Hill, Daniel Awoleke, Deadrin Senat, James Hamilton, Eric Lee and Mike Love are starting to become household names because of the impact they're making for a D-line that's in “attack mode.”
Heading into Saturday's game at Maryland, USF ranks second nationally with an average of 11.0 tackles for loss per outing. The Bulls already have 22 total tackles for loss and 16 of them have been produced by the emerging stars up front. The Bulls are also tied for 13th in the nation with seven sacks and all seven have been registered by the D-line.
“They're playing the scheme. By design, we want them to be in attack mode,” Allen said. “The thing that makes it so good is we have a variety of guys that can get that job done.”
Leading the charge has been Hector, a sophomore tackle from Tampa, who is tied for 17th nationally with 4.0 tackles for loss. Hector is tied for the team's sack lead with Awoleke, a senior from Lakeland, with 2.0 apiece.
Right behind Hector in the tackles for loss department is Hill, a senior end from Kankakee, Ill., who has 3.5 along with a sack and two pass breakups. Senat is tied for second on the team with 10 total tackles and the sophomore tackle from Immokalee has 1.5 tackles for loss.
The stat list of accomplishments goes on. The bottom line is the D-line that was once a question mark has made a striking statement right away.
“We've got six or eight guys that can rotate in there and play hard,” Allen said. “They're quick and athletic. I think the system fits them.”
Hill had a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss in the season opener against FAMU, while the Bulls' 15.0 total TFL were the program's most in a game since 2007. Hill attributes a lot of the Bulls' success to the guidance they're getting from D-line coach Eric Mathies and Allen, who did big things as the linebackers coach at Ole Miss. The Rebels were 11th in the nation with 7.5 tackles for loss per game last season before Allen headed to Tampa.
“Coach Mathies is preparing us week-in and week-out. Before the season even started (he was) just getting our technique down and getting our physicality up,” Hill said. “Coach Allen puts us in that situation to make the plays. He's the one calling the shots and he's putting us in a good position to make plays and fly around how we are.”
Allen's high-energy approach has been contagious among the entire defense, no matter what position the Bulls are lining up in.
“Coach Allen will get your blood going,” Hill said. “He comes out to practice with a lot of juice every day. He's a real big motivation guy. Every time he talks, he makes you want to go out there and just hit somebody in the mouth.”
Healthy Godwin Getting Into a Groove
Tampa native Nate Godwin hasn't let a preseason injury slow his production at safety.
The junior out of Freedom High School leads the team with 13 total tackles (eight solo) after missing the majority of training camp.
“During camp, probably the third day I pulled my hamstring, so I was out the entire camp until the first official game week,” Godwin said. “Now my legs are back ready to run. It took a while, but I got through it.”
Godwin has run a lot with the Bulls since his freshman year in 2013. The former all-state selection has played in all 26 of USF's games during the span with 18 starts. Godwin's 134 career tackles lead all active players and he ranked third on the team last season with 72 stops (53 solo).
Godwin said he'll be ready to go Saturday, when the Bulls chase after a piece of program history. USF is looking to avenge a 24-17 loss to Maryland last season at Raymond James Stadium. If the Bulls prevail, they'll earn the program's first win over a Big Ten team.
“We let them off the hook. We had a punt blocked in the fourth quarter and that really sealed the deal. We want to get them next time,” Godwin said. “It would be a great win for our program. We've never beaten a Big Ten team, so we're looking at it like it's one of the biggest games on our schedule.”
Bulls Bits
- Allen has yet to announce what player will start at middle linebacker against the Terps with usual starter Auggie Sanchez out for a half. Two linebackers the team has returning are Nigel Harris and Tashon Whitehurst, who served a two-game suspension for violating team rules in the spring. “Obviously Auggie won't be in there, that's one thing we do know. I think the bottom line is obviously we've got a couple guys back that have been out and they're going to play," Allen said. "How that looks, I think we'll know on Saturday for sure."
- With Harris and Whitehurst out, one linebacker that's grabbed Allen's attention is true freshman Danny Thomas (Ft. Lauderdale). Thomas has seven tackles this season and six of them were totaled last week at FSU. “His stock in my mind went up,” Allen said. “He's a guy that I know can make plays and do a great job.”
- Allen knows the secondary will have to be ready for Maryland and its new starting QB. Caleb Rowe has taken over for Perry Hills and the redshirt junior has thrown 12 TD passes in 15 career games. Rowe totaled five of those touchdowns in four games last season before missing the rest of the year with an injury. “If you kind of study the sequence of spring ball, summer and fall camp and everything, he was expected to be the starter and then the other kid beat him out,” Allen said. “He definitely has a better arm. Maybe not quite the runner the other one was, but I think it's probably a better fit for what they're trying to do vertically and in the passing game. That definitely creates some challenges.”
Quote of the Day
“If you play really hard, buy in, pursue the football and play with relentless effort up front, you've got a chance to be disruptive.” – defensive coordinator Tom Allen.
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.
