Bulls' Big O-Line Paving Way for Huge Results
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, OCT. 5, 2017 – Coach
Matt Mattox is cooking up something special with USF's offensive line this season.
The Bulls' big guys up front get a much deserved break during the bye this weekend after paving the way for USF to rank fifth nationally in rushing offense at 306.2 yards per game.
Controlling the line of scrimmage also has helped USF (5-0, 2-0) move up to ninth in the country in scoring offense (44.8 points per game) and 13
th in total offense (510 yards per game).
"We got a pretty good thing going right now," said starting right guard
William Atterbury (Clearwater).
USF has really gotten rolling in the past three games, averaging 359.3 rushing yards, 554.3 total yards and 50.3 points, since Mattox got all the right ingredients in place. USF used the first two games of the season to find its best starting five during a process that required the Bulls do some moving and shaking position-wise.
"We have to buy in about winning. It's not just about who starts or whatever," said Atterbury, who made the move from tackle. "… You just have to go out there and work to make sure you're all getting better for the sake of the team."
Atterbury performing well at guard allowed
Cameron Ruff (Tampa) to move back to his usual spot at center. Converted left tackle
Eric Mayes (Sarasota) has been a pleasant surprise in five starts, while dependable
Jeremi Hall (Atlanta) has started all five games at left guard.
Marcus Norman (Sebastian, Fla.) has become a fixture at right tackle as a five-game starter in his sophomore season.
"We love what we do every single day. We love that we can open up a hole when the defense is giving us their best for our running backs to go 20, 30-plus yards," Ruff said. "We're happy to hold pass protection down for seven, eight seconds to give (
Quinton Flowers) all the time in the pocket before he wants to scramble or has to scramble. We take pride in everything we do."
Bulls Love the Menu at the Mattox House
USF's offensive linemen have no problem giving all-out effort on the field for a position coach that gives them all he has.
Matt Mattox headed to Tampa with head coach
Charlie Strong in the offseason and formed an instant bond with the Bulls.
"There's no waiting period for this relationship. You definitely have to go full fledge with it," right guard
William Atterbury said. "We've had a blast with him. He's a lot of fun and he brings a lot of energy to practice. It's something we look forward to every day."
The Bulls also look forward to the next invite to the Mattox household.
In his spare time, Mattox is quite the grill master and he's had all USF's O-linemen over for dinner twice since taking the job.
"We got double on the steaks because one is not good enough for a lineman," center
Cameron Ruff said with a laugh. "His wife (Stacey) does a great job bringing out the sweets. It's a great thing and a bad thing at the same time because they're addictive and you don't want to eat too much."
USF's linemen also have enjoyed the friendship and support from Mattox's young daughters. Kirby and Macey even made it out to practice in fall camp to deliver personalized drawings they made for each player.
"It's something they love. My daughters are into it," Mattox said. "They're always telling me to check in on the football boys and tell them this, tell them that. It's a great group of guys, I've always been spoiled having O-linemen as my position group."
Bulls Bits
- BULLS A BIG HIT ON NATIONAL TV: According to The American, USF's home win over Temple on Sept. 21 has attracted a combined total of 1.02 million viewers on ESPN's cable and streaming platforms. The American has had five games top the one million viewership mark already this season.
- NFL SCOUTS IN THE HOUSE: Scouts from the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks attended practice Wednesday. A scout from the Philadelphia Eagles watched the Bulls in action Tuesday at the Morsani Complex.
About USF Football
USF finished the 2016 season ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press poll with a school-record 11 wins following the program's fifth-ever bowl victory in the Birmingham Bowl. The Bulls' 11-2 record marked the fifth-best winning percentage in FBS football in 2016 and one of just 11 teams to reach 11 wins. USF set nearly 40 team and individual records in 2016, including team records for total yards (6,650), rushing yards (3,714), touchdowns (77) and scoring (569). Quarterback Quinton Flowers was named the American Conference Offensive Player of the Year and led a school-record 10 players named to the all-conference team, six of which, including Flowers, returned in 2017.
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