USF Athletics

Energized and athletic defense shines in second scrimmage

August 18, 2018

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, AUG. 18, 2018 – Brian Jean-Mary's swarming defense brought tremendous energy and flew around the field to shine in USF's second scrimmage opportunity of the fall Saturday afternoon. 

Redshirt freshman safety Bentlee Sanders (Tampa) picked off a pass for the second straight scrimmage and USF's defensive line racked up several sacks during an inspired performance that displayed speed and quickness at the Morsani Complex.

"They were moving around and had a lot of energy," head coach Charlie Strong said. "Guys were making plays. They were getting stops and guys were having fun."

Offensively, the three-man competition for the starting quarterback job continues to be close with Blake Barnett (Corona, Calif.), Brett Kean (Lakewood, Ohio) and Chris Oladokun (Tampa) all making plays at different points throughout camp. On Saturday, Barnett led three scoring drives on a day in which the Bulls defense made things difficult. One was capped off with a 24-yard touchdown pass to redshirt freshman tight end Frederick Lloyd Jr. (Tifton, Ga.).

"Coach Strong presented me with an opportunity to compete and that's all I could ask for," said Barnett, a transfer from Arizona State who began his collegiate career at Alabama.

Barnett added a 5-yard touchdown toss to redshirt freshman receiver Randall St. Felix (Miami) and set up a field goal with a 60-yard connection with freshman receiver Zion Roland (St. Petersburg).

"I'm out here and I want to compete," Barnett said. "I want to give my best effort and try to help provide for this team as best as I can."

• BULLS BRING PRESSURE: The defense forced punts on several drives due to an ability to apply constant pressure. Defensive end Josh Black (Tampa) got to the quarterback and had another tackle for loss after a three-sack outing last Saturday. The sack trend continued with plays by Vincent Jackson (Tampa), Kevin Bronson (Delray Beach, Fla.), Tony Grier Jr. (Atlanta), Dwayne Boyles Jr. (Miami), Devin Leacock (Port Charlotte, Fla.) and Blake Green (Bradenton, Fla.).
• ATHLETIC LID STANDS OUT: Senior Khalid McGee (Miami) built on a very solid day for the linebackers with a couple tackles for loss and a pass breakup as the former safety flew around the field. McGee made the move from safety late last season and has settled into his first-team linebacker role well since the spring.
• MCCLOUD MAKES MOST OF HIS REPS: Freshman Jordan McCloud (Tampa) showed the future is bright for USF at quarterback in limited action Saturday by finding emerging freshman receiver Terrence Horne (Miramar, Fla.) for a 64-yard touchdown. McCloud also used his quick feet on a 19-yard touchdown run.

Here are some other camp observations from this week as the Bulls get closer to their Sept. 1 season opener at Raymond James Stadium. Fans can get a great deal for home games by taking advantage of the Boundless Bulls Pass 10-pack ticket offer at USFBullsTix.com.

St. Felix Showing Breakout Potential
USF is loaded at receiver this fall with Tyre McCants (Niceville, Fla.), Darnell Salomon (Miami), Ryeshene Bronson (Fort Myers, Fla.) and several other pass-catchers making big-time plays.

One rising talent ready to make a major impact in 2018 is redshirt freshman Randall St. Felix. The Miami native has been a threat all over the field since the spring and added to his fantastic fall Saturday with a 5-yard touchdown catch during a red zone drive.

"He is really special," receivers coach Charlie Williams said. "Anything close to him, he's going to make the play. He's got better and better as the spring went on and then he just carried that over to the summer. He's a ball hawk."

Poised for Fewer Penalties
Strong's Bulls are cleaning up their game at camp by trying to cut down on the number of penalties they had to overcome last season.

In attempt to fix the issue, USF has been stopping fall practices each time there's a penalty. If the offense jumps offside, the entire group gets into exercise mode with up-downs. The same goes for the defense and the number of reps increase with the amount of penalty yards applied to each play.

"Last year, we were a pretty heavily penalized team. We're trying to eradicate that from our character. We're trying to take that out of who we're presenting ourselves for 2018," running backs coach Shaun King said. "… You have to eliminate (penalties) this year, especially if we want to have the kind of success we've had recently."

"I just think that's building our discipline and building our awareness," receiver Tyre McCants said.

NFL Scout Watch
NFC East rivals stood alongside each other on the sideline earlier this week when scouts from the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys both checked out USF's talent at practice Thursday.

Many other teams from the NFL have been represented at camp this fall with scouts from the Bengals, Bills, Browns, Chargers, Chiefs, Falcons, Lions, Packers and Rams evaluating the Bulls.

USF has had multiple selections in the NFL Draft in each of the past three years. The Bulls' total number of NFL Draft picks has risen to 30 in 21 seasons of the program, 19 of those selected in the past seven drafts.

Up Next
The Bulls continue their position battles Monday, which marks the beginning of the final week of fall camp 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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