USF Athletics

Game 5 Player to Watch: Michael Wiggs

October 05, 2018

Pow6rful Minds in The American
The American Athletic Conference Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) once again has made mental health and safety its top priority. All 13 American institutions will kick off the American Athletic Conference's Pow6rful Minds Campaign for 2018-19 with Mental Health Awareness Week, Oct. 1-7. This is part of an important initiative to improve awareness of mental health issues and resources available to student-athletes with the goal of ending the stigma related to seeking help and promoting success through a healthy, powerful mind. Learn more HERE.
 
 
USF GAME NOTES
USF-UMASS TV INFO
 
 
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
 
TAMPA, OCT. 5, 2018 – Sophomore Michael Wiggs is having a blast in his first season as a starter and he's determined to continue the Bulls' tradition of excellence at center.
 
"It's a lot of work and it takes a lot of time, effort and energy," he said, "but at the end of the day it's definitely rewarding to be able to come out and play with my teammates on Saturdays."
 
Wiggs will make his fifth straight start Saturday, when the Bulls (4-0) begin an eight-week stretch of games at UMass following a bye. Bay Area fans can watch the 3:30 p.m. game on WTTA-TV Great 38.
 
"Each week, it's just taking a step to get better," Wiggs said. "I have to work to hold up my part of accountability."
 
Progress has been steady so far for Wiggs, who had never played in a game at center before this season. The former all-state selection out of nearby Lake Gibson High School in Lakeland made a name for himself at tackle before being recruiting to play center at USF.
 
After a coaching change, Wiggs had to switch gears as a redshirt freshman last year and got a taste of collegiate action as a backup tackle/guard in two games. With trusty Cameron Ruff graduating, USF had a big spot to fill at center in the spring and Wiggs seized the opportunity.
 
"Spring was really me getting acclimated to the position. Summer was just coming out, working and continuing to perfect it," he said. "My coaches and the other four guys playing down there, they've helped me a lot, especially our upperclassmen like Marcus Norman and Eric Mayes."
 
Now Wiggs is at the center of all the action at a spot previously manned by Ruff, an all-conference honorable mention, and Austin Reiter, a third-year pro now playing for the Kansas City Chiefs. Like his predecessors, Wiggs not only has to be a physical presence but also a conductor of the offensive line.
 
"The biggest adjustment was making a lot of calls. There's a lot of calls you're responsible for playing center," Wiggs said. "It varies. Sometimes you can be making calls all the way up to the snap. It's all about getting the calls in, getting everybody on the same page and going to work."
 
Business has been good for Wiggs and the USF offense, which is averaging 465.8 yards and 32.0 points per game heading into Saturday's action. The Bulls lead the nation with 34 consecutive 20-plus point games and Wiggs wants to continue doing his part to keep the impressive streak going.
 
"It was definitely an opportunity I saw," said Wiggs of starting at center. "I just want to go out, take advantage and help the team in the best way that I can."
 
More Wiggs Notables

• CAREER PLANS: Wiggs wants to stay in sports once his playing career comes to a close. The health sciences major currently has his sights sets on becoming a physical therapist. "I got into it by being around and seeing our training staff, and I want to have an opportunity to stay in football," he said. "I want to continue to work with athletes and help them get back out on the field and put their best foot forward."
• USF FAMILY: Both of Wiggs' parents are USF graduates and wear their green and gold at Raymond James Stadium with about five other family members every home game.
• ACCOMPLISHED BRAVE: Prior to USF, Wiggs was a four-year varsity standout for the Lake Gibson Braves and earned all-county first team honors as a senior in addition to his all-state accolades.

 
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
USF posted its second straight 10-win season in 2017 (10-2) by winning its second straight Birmingham Bowl with a 38-34 victory over Texas Tech. USF is one of just 15 teams nationally to win 20-plus games in the last two seasons (21-4) and posted a program-record 20 straight weeks ranked in the top 25, reaching as high as No. 13 in Week 8 of the 2017 season. The Bulls have won five of their last six bowl appearances and made nine (6-3) total bowl appearances in 21 seasons, including a current run of three straight bowls. USF won a program-record 11 games in 2016 (11-2) and has posted 14 winning seasons. The USF program, which first took the field in 1997, reached No. 2 in the rankings in 2007 and has seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft, 14 named All-American and had 28 first-team all-conference selections.
 
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