Camp Quick Hits: Bulls Have a Boatload of Talent at Running Back
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, AUG. 14, 2018 – One of the biggest offensive observations at USF fall camp has been the Bulls' bevy of backs producing big results when their number is called.
Like an old-fashioned Rolodex, running backs coach
Shaun King can flip to any page in his personnel book and find a guy to move the chains. King's options include juniors
Jordan Cronkrite (Miami) and
Trevon Sands (Miami), bruising sophomore
Elijah Mack (Punta Gorda, Fla.) and speedy redshirt freshman
Duran Bell Jr. (Tampa) at a position that's rotating about eight deep in practice.
"The characteristics of a really good program, or a program that's becoming a consistently elite program, is when you have a lot of competition," King said. "That's what we have in the running back room."
At this point in camp, King won't name a starter because he wants to see how high the competition level will go. No matter which Bull lines up with the first team on Sept. 1 against Elon, don't be surprised to see numerous names from King's running back room popping up in games this season.
"That's the great thing about having a room full of guys that can play is it challenges the guys that are in the game to continue to perform at a high level," King said. "It pushes the guys that aren't in the game. If they do the right things, they've got a chance to be a part of what we're doing, too."
Being in the mix for playing time goes well beyond getting carries for USF's versatile backs this fall. Expect to see Bulls from the backfield contributing when the ball is kicked in the air.
"I told my guys special teams is important to me, so it better be important to them," King said. "We won't have a running back that gets a lot of carries here that doesn't contribute on special teams. That's just something I believe in."
Look for more about King and USF's running backs Thursday on GoUSFBulls.com.
Camp Quick Hits
QB UPDATE: As of Tuesday, Chris Oladokun (Tampa), Brett Kean (Lakewood, Ohio) and Blake Barnett (Corona, Calif.) continued to get pretty even reps in their close competition for the starting quarterback job. "Those guys are battling every day. It just kind of carries over from day to day with those guys and their reps and where they're battling," offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert said Monday. "I like the progression of all three of those guys and the direction they're going."- SCOUT WATCH: Scouts from the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers checked out USF's talent at Tuesday's practice. USF has already gained a lot of NFL attention this fall with representatives from the Bengals, Bills, Browns, Chargers, Chiefs, Falcons, Lions and Rams stopping by previous practices.
COMPETITION AT KICKER: Senior Jake Vivonetto (Naples, Fla.) had a four field goal performance Monday that featured a big boot from 53 yards out. Vivonetto is being pushed for USF's placekicking job by sophomore Coby Weiss (Gainesville, Fla.), who made both his 27- and 37-yard attempts Tuesday. Junior Jake Stone (Apopka, Fla.) also has gotten opportunities this week and went 2-for-2 Tuesday after crushing a 44-yarder that hit the camera tower beyond the uprights Monday.
Up Next
USF will practice for the 12
th time this fall Wednesday morning at the Morsani Complex.
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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