Bulls Sign 19 as Early Period Opens
USF CLASS OF 2019 EARLY SIGNEES ROSTER & BIOS
TAMPA, FLA., DEC. 19, 2018 – The University of South Florida football program welcomed 19 new student-athletes during the first day of the NCAA Early Signing Period, which began Wednesday and ends Friday.
Head Coach
Charlie Strong and the Bulls were preparing for USF's fourth straight bowl appearance as the early signing period began. USF takes on Marshall Thursday in the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl, set for an 8 p.m. kickoff at Raymond James Stadium before a national TV audience on ESPN.
On Wednesday, the first of three days in the early signing period, USF received National Letters of Intent from 19 student-athletes that will don the green and gold. Fifteen of the new Bulls hail from the state of Florida, while three are from Georgia and one is from Virginia.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bulls added 10 players, including a pair of junior college players. Four of the signees play in the secondary, including junior college cornerback
McArthur Burnett (Pahokee/Coffeyville CC), who began his career at Florida playing is six games as a redshirt freshman in 2017. He is joined by cornerbacks
Jayden Curry (Virginia Beach, Va./IMG Academy) and
Daquan Evans (Orlando/Jones HS) and safety
Leonard Parker (Tampa/Plant HS).
The Bulls added three players along the defensive line, including junior college defensive end
Tyrik Jones (Plantation/Arizona Western CC). He is joined by defensive ends
Thomas Nance (Eagle Lake/Lake Region HS) and
Jason Vaughn (Auburndale/Advance Prep).
The Bulls also added three linebackers in
Demaurez Bellamy (Deland/Deland HS),
Tae'Aviion Gray (Quitman, Ga./Brook County HS) and
Darius Williams (Miami/Norland HS), who tallied 58 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and six sacks in his senior season.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Bulls added nine players, including quarterback
Jahquez Evans (Atlanta/Mays HS), a Georgia 6A All-State first team selection who threw for 928 yards and 10 touchdowns and ran for 365 yards and four touchdowns in six games in his senior year.
The Bulls added four offensive linemen in
Joshua Blanchard (Miami/Norland HS),
Raymond Collins (Largo/Largo HS),
Dustyn Hall (Punta Gorda/Charlotte HS) and Matthew McDuffie (Glen Saint Mary/Baker County HS).
USF also added a running back in
Josh Berry (Davenport/Ridge Community HS) and three wide receivers, including 6-4
Logan Berryhill (Kingsland, Ga./Camden County HS), 6-1
Xavier Weaver (Orlando/Orland Christian Prep), who posted 110 catches, 2,124 yards and 32 touchdowns on his career, and Groveland, Fla. speedster
Kelley Joiner Jr. (South Lake HS), who tallied 4,525 career yards and 55 touchdowns rushing.
2019 USF Football Early Signing Class (Day 1)
Early Signing Class size: 19
Defense: 10;
Offense: 9
POS. HT WT. YR HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL
DEFENSE
Demaurez Bellamy LB 5-10 210 Fr. Deland, Fla./Deland HS
McArthur Burnett CB 5-9 172 Jr. Pahokee, Fla./Pahokee HS/Coffeyville CC
Jayden Curry CB 5-11 190 Fr. Virginia Beach, Va./ IMG Academy
Daquan Evans CB 5-11 175 Fr. Orlando, Fla./Jones HS
Tae'Aviion Gray LB 6-2 215 Fr. Quitman, Ga./Brook County HS
Tyrik Jones DE 6-2 235 Jr. Plantation, Fla./Plantation HS/Ariz. Western CC
Thomas Nance DE 6-3 240 Fr. Eagle Lake, Fla./Lake Region HS
Leonard Parker S 5-11 188 Fr. Tampa, Fla./Plant HS
Jason Vaughn DE 6-5 225 Fr. Auburndale, Fla./Advance Prep Academy
Darius Williams LB 6-0 210 Fr. Miami, Fla./Norland HS
OFFENSE
Josh Berry RB 6-0 181 Fr. Davenport, Fla./Ridge Community HS
Logan Berryhill WR 6-4 186 Fr. Kingsland, Ga./Camden County HS
Joshua Blanchard OL 6-3 279 Fr. Miami, Fla./Norland HS
Raymond Collins OL 6-3 289 Fr. Largo, Fla./Largo HS
Jahquez Evans QB 6-2 180 Fr. Atlanta, Ga./Mays HS
Dustyn Hall OL 6-3 277 Fr. Punta Gorda, Fla./Charlotte HS
Kelley Joiner Jr. WR 5-9 180 Fr. Groveland, Fla./South Lake HS
Matthew McDuffie OL 6-5 310 Fr. Glen Saint Mary, Fla./Baker County HS
Xavier Weaver WR 6-1 165 Fr. Orlando, Fla./Orlando Christian Prep
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