By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, OCT. 26, 2015 – Former NFL quarterback and ESPN football analyst Ron Jaworski once said, “The heartbeat of a football team is the quarterback position and I think everyone who has any intelligence about the game understands you must have consistency at that position to be a championship team.”
At 6-2 overall and 3-1 in The American, USF is in the thick of the conference title hunt with a ultra-talented quarterback leading the way. Second-year starter Quinton Flowers has led the Bulls to 13 wins in the past 17 games and continues to flourish in the up-tempo Gulf Coast Offense.
“It helps when your quarterback is smart and has composure. That's always a big bonus, that's the goal,” offensive coordinator T.J. Weist said Wednesday. “He gives us extra because of the way he can make plays with his feet and also make plays out of plays that aren't there.”
As one of the most dynamic dual-threat QB's in nation, Flowers keeps leaving his mark on the college game, especially in The American. The junior from Miami leads the conference with 15 touchdown passes and 23 total touchdowns through eight games this year. Flowers is on pace to break his own school record of 22 TD passes thrown last season.
“He really wants to be the best at what he does,” said head coach Willie Taggart of his team captain. “He's holding his teammates accountable of doing the same thing.”
Flowers' frequent trips to the end zone have helped USF rank 11th nationally in scoring offense with 42.4 points per game heading into Friday's home test against No. 22 Navy at Raymond James Stadium. Aside from scoring, Flowers is the second-leading rushing quarterback in the nation with 93.1 yards per game.
“He just makes it look so easy. That's what the great ones do,” former Texas head coach and current ESPN commentator Mack Brown said last week.
Flowers currently ranks 18th in the FBS in total offense (312.9 ypg), 12th in points responsible for (120) and he's on pace to break new ground for USF. Flowers is on track to become the Bulls' first 2,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard rusher, a feat accomplished by only Clemson's Deshaun Watson and Houston's Greg Ward Jr. in 2015.
“Quinton, he's a playmaker. He's been doing that since he got here,” starting center Cameron Ruff said. “… He always finds a way.”
Fans will get to watch Flowers find a way to wow them Friday night at Ray Jay, like he did in the last home game against UConn on Oct. 15. After leaving the Temple game early with a hamstring injury, Taggart said Flowers will be "good to go" against Navy.
Flowers was back to his old self at practice Wednesday, which included some fun with record-breaking back Marlon Mack, as the pair invented TD celebrations in the end zone while the special teams units walked through their responsibilities.
“They're the mainstay of our football team,” Taggart said. “We all expect those guys to make plays and lead this football team.”
Defense 'Flying Around' at Practice
Defensive coordinator Raymond Woodie has been pleased to see his group “flying around” at practice this week with one main goal in mind – getting to the ball.
“We didn't have enough the week before and the kids, they're up," Woodie said. "It's a conference game, we're home and everybody knows what Navy does. They're going to try to control the ball and we just have to get a lot of hats to the ball and force takeaways."
Transferring energy from productive practices to the game will be essential for the Bulls this week against the fourth-best rushing team in the nation. What will help is having one of the defense's top motivators back in the mix.
Starting cornerback Ronnie Hoggins is expected to play after missing the past two games with a hamstring injury. The sophomore from Coconut Creek, Fla., has started the past 16 games he's been a part of and he's totaled three interceptions and nine pass breakups as a Bull.
“It's exciting because he's healthy,” Woodie said. “He brings a lot of energy to the group. You see him being the guy that's uplifting people. Now he's in and he's helping out and motivating the guys. I'm ecstatic just to have him back.”
Meanwhile, USF will likely be without starting safety Devin Abraham for the third straight week as he works to come back from a thumb injury.
Bulls Bits
- Defensive coordinator Raymond Woodie said it will be a “game-time decision” whether he works from the press box or calls the shots from the field this week. “Right now, I think we've got a good plan, but if I need to come down, I'll come down,” he said. “… We're going to make some adjustments where they're needed and we're going to do whatever it takes to go out here and perform well.”
- Receiver Tyre McCants is becoming a key contributor for the Gulf Coast Offense. The sophomore from Niceville, Fla., totaled five catches for 70 yards in the past two games, including a 31-yard TD grab at Temple. “I think more than anything, he's confident in himself,” Taggart said. “We all knew he was really talented and he was going to help this football team. I think we're going to continue to see him make some plays for us.”
- USF's total of 27 rushing touchdowns already ranks third-best on the program's single-season chart. The Bulls are four away from breaking the record of 30 set by the 2007 team. Marlon Mack leads the way with 10 touchdown runs, a conference best, and owns the USF career record with 27.
The USF Football program is in its 20th season overall and 17th at the FBS level. The Bulls have made seven 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.
Follow @USFFootball on Twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.
