By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, AUG. 9, 2016 – Day 6 of fall camp was all about grinding it out for Willie Taggart's bulked-up Bulls.
Players operated at a high intensity level throughout a morning session filled with fast-paced drills and physical 11-on-11 work. Tuesday evening was much of the same for a conditioned team that held up well during the first two-a-day of training camp.
“Everybody is pushing themselves to a whole other level,” defensive tackle Deadrin Senat said.
USF is moving forward with much more force than past years because of its progression in offseason workouts under the guidance of Director of Athletic Performance Irele Oderinde and his staff.
“Coach O did a really good job making sure we stay in shape and train overtime for situations like this – two-a-days – to push our bodies more, physically and mentally to the limit,” senior offensive lineman Cameron Ruff said. “We get past that tired point and we're able to perform even better.”
The Bulls definitely look the part.
Thanks to a rigorous weight training program, USF has seen size gains across the board that have brought a big smile to Taggart's face out on the practice field.
“They look like a big-time college football team,” Taggart said.
Converted offensive lineman Eric Mayes (6-4, 287) has packed on a whopping 47 pounds since 2015 and other big guys up front are looking much more imposing. Ruff (6-3, 320) added 16 pounds in the offseason and other notable gainers included Dominique Threatt (6-1, 330, +15), Michael Galati (6-2, 298, +10), Kofi Amichia (6-4, 297, +7) and Billy Atterbury (6-4, 302, +7).
USF got much more muscular at tight end with Elkanah Dillon (6-5, 256) and Mitchell Wilcox (6-4, 248) adding at least 10 pounds apiece.
On the other side of the ball, safety Tajee Fullwood (6-2, 210) is making ferocious tackles with 15 more pounds on his frame. USF's secondary as a whole is larger with gains by Jaymon Thomas (6-3, 195, +8), Ronnie Hoggins (5-8, 175, +7), Mazzi Wilkins (6-0, 176, +6) and Nate Godwin (5-10, 210, +6).
“We have to be known for personal development,” Taggart said.
Defensive tackle Daniel Awoleke (6-5, 295, +12) had a hard time finding a big enough suit jacket to wear on picture day this summer and development continued with freshman linebacker Andre Polk, Jr. (6-4, 227) also adding 12 pounds. Young defensive ends Vincent Jackson (6-2, 256, +10), Kirk Livingstone (6-4, 266, +8) and Juwuan Brown (6-2, 255, +7) are becoming forces up front this fall because of their work in the weight room.
Packing on size wasn't the only eye-catching aspect of USF's offseason. Significant strength gain numbers filled up the dry-erase board in Oderinde's office, including a figure only one Bull had ever achieved.
Threatt tied a USF team record set by Todd Chandler by squatting 700 pounds in the summer. He was followed by redshirt freshman center Brooks Larkin (635) and Ruff (615). A total of 11 players squatted at least 500 pounds, including starting back Marlon Mack (505), Dillon (500) and defensive tackle Bruce Hector (545).
“This was my third offseason (at USF) and we've grown by leaps and bounds with work ethic, with leadership, with fight and with discipline,” Oderinde said. “With us being successful last year, they saw it paid off a little bit. They're hungry and they want more.”
Led by Awoleke's 475-pound lift, four players are now benching 400-plus, including linebacker Cecil Cherry (415), running back Zaybreion Gunter (425) and Senat (405).
Cherry posted a team-best power clean of 365 pounds and 16 other Bulls are past the 300-pound mark in the lift because of dedication to helping USF become more of a physical force.
“I thought our guys had one of the best summers here, especially when it comes to personal bests,” Taggart said.
Bulls Bigger and Also Faster
Getting stronger in the weight room wasn't the only objective for the Bulls this summer.
USF's fast-paced Gulf Coast Offense and defensive coordinator Raymond Woodie's relentless group spent hours running under the hot sun. That included grueling Friday sessions at the Morsani Football Practice Complex after maxing out on leg day in the gym.
“Guys have to prepare and get their minds right for that,” Oderinde said.
Prepping to peak by camp time, players at skill positions racked up nearly 30 reps at 100-yard distances each outing. Linebackers and running backs did at the same thing at 90-yard distances, while linemen rumbled for 80 yards.
“Everybody has 14 seconds to make it that distance. Then we have 20 seconds of recovery and then we're right back at it again,” Oderinde said. “It's that fast tempo, what Coach T wants and what he's preaching.”
At 305 pounds, sprinting long distances was no easy task for Senat, but it was all worth it for one of USF's anchors on the defensive line.
“You look to the left, or to the right, and you see the guys,” Senat said. “You're like, 'This is all going to pay off in the end.'”
Coming off the program's first bowl appearance in five years, USF returns school season record holders at quarterback, running back and wide receiver and four all-conference selections. The Bulls return 93 percent of their offensive yards from a record smashing offense that posted school marks of 5,741 yards and 54 offensive touchdowns in 2015. While the Bulls averaged 33.6 points and 441 yards of offense per game, the defense ranked in the top 25 in the nation in interceptions (14th), turnovers gained (24th), and tackles for loss (13th), and in the top 35 of seven statistical categories. The Bulls return seven of their top nine tacklers and players that accounted for 12 of their 17 interceptions and 16 of 25 turnovers gained.
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