Defense Focused On Helping USF Reach Full Potential
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, JULY 25, 2017 - USF football has been steadily trending upward this preseason with prognosticators jumping on the Bulls bandwagon to conference glory and beyond.
USF has been a popular top-25 pick by publications everywhere and is expected to be in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches' preseason polls for the first time since 2008. Last week, head coach
Charlie Strong's Bulls were chosen by the league media as the heavy favorite to capture The American title with six all-conference players back for the chase.
"No one's expectations are as big as our own," said senior linebacker
Auggie Sanchez after the opening practice of training camp Monday.
In an effort to make things magical by season's end, Sanchez and his teammates are eager to do their part on defense to help the Bulls reach their full potential.
"USF has always been known to put some really good defenses on the field and I think that's part of the reason some of these guys actually came here," new defensive coordinator
Brian Jean-Mary said. "I think the standards have already been set by some of the teams in the past. I don't think they need me to remind them."
Jean-Mary's players are determined to turn back the clock to the old brand of Bulls defense and turn up the heat on opponents with nine starters returning. Senior tackle
Deadrin Senat, one of eight Bulls on 13 national award watch lists this preseason, said the Bulls will have to earn it every step of the way.
"If we want to be the great defense we strive to be, that Coach Strong want us to be, that we want to be, then we have to work every day to get that," Senat said. "I feel like we're on the right path to it."
Senat (Immokalee, Fla.) will lead the way up front with three other returning starters on the defensive line – senior tackle
Bruce Hector (Tampa), senior end
Mike Love (Clearwater) and redshirt sophomore end
Kirk Livingstone (Fort Lauderdale).
USF also has plenty of talent in the seasoned secondary that features four returning starters, including senior cornerback
Deatrick Nichols (Miami), a member of the Bednarik, Nagurski and Thorpe award watch lists.
"We'll go as far as our seniors lead us," Jean-Mary said.
Senior safety
Devin Abraham (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) led by example Tuesday afternoon, hauling in one of the defense's three interceptions during 7-on-7 and team work. Up-and-coming talent in the secondary also made an impact, with picks by redshirt freshman
Craig Watts (St. Petersburg) and freshman
Nick Roberts (Orange Park, Fla.).
"It's always great to come out here in practice with the intensity they have, coming off the summer," said Jean-Mary of his defense. "They did a really great job in the weight room and you could tell they were excited to get on the field for this season."
Congrats, Sam Barrington
One day after the Bills had a scout at the Bulls' first fall practice, Buffalo
signed former USF standout linebacker Sam Barrington.
Barrington played for Kansas City and New Orleans last season after spending his first three NFL seasons with the Packers. Green Bay's seventh-round pick in 2013 racked up 258 tackles as a Bull from 2009-12.
Bulls Bits
- Quarterback
Quinton Flowers, the first-ever Bull named to
four national award watch lists, showed off his arm for the second straight practice. The American's 2016 offensive player of the year threw a perfect, over-the-shoulder pass to senior receiver
Ryeshene Bronson (Fort Myers) for a 35-yard score. Sophomore receiver
Deangelo Antoine (Orlando) also snagged a 30-yard touchdown during 7-on-7 action.
- Senior defensive tackle
Deadrin Senat says being named to the Outland and Nagurski award watch lists has given him a big boost. "When I was in high school, I always told my dad I wanted to be on TV. I wanted to win one of those awards," he said. "It was always in the back of my mind. It's a blessing and nothing but motivation to work harder."
Up Next
After a day off, USF resumes its run of five practices this week with another afternoon session Thursday on campus. Practices are closed to the public.
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). Junior 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, will return in 2017.
Purchase tickets for the upcoming season by following the USFBullsTix.com link HERE.
Follow @USFFootball on Twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.
- #GoBulls -
