USF Athletics

Bulls on Both Sides of Ball Eager to Make an Impression Against Elon

August 29, 2018

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, AUG. 29, 2018 – Saturday's season opener at Raymond James Stadium marks a new start for USF and a continuation of an up-tempo offensive attack that produced eye-catching results in 2017.

Second-year USF offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert's group features six returning starters who helped last year's Bulls rank in the top 25 nationally in eight categories, including sixth in total offense (513.0 ypg), eighth in rushing (264.1 ypg) and 10th in scoring (38.3 ppg).

"In year two, there's a lot of things that play in your favor," Gilbert said Wednesday. "Just really an understanding of the scheme, the knowledge of the scheme. Just knowing our players and knowing really their abilities, who and what they are, and just being able to go out and utilize those every Saturday."

USF also has plenty of potential on offense with 15 talented underclassmen on the opening-week depth chart and two key, veteran newcomers – juniors Blake Barnett and Jordan Cronkrite.

Gilbert said Barnett, a graduate transfer from Corona, Calif., won the starting QB job with consistency throughout fall camp after gaining seven games of experience at Alabama and Arizona State.

"He's a really intelligent guy, really talented guy," said Gilbert of the former five-star prospect. "I'm just excited about being able to go forward with him."

Cronkrite (Miami) earned first-team status at running back in fall camp and brings a solid understanding of the system after sitting out last year as a transfer from Florida, where he played in 24 games from 2015-16.

"It's been over a year since he's been here and sat, and now it's his time," Gilbert said. "He's excited about that."

Barnett, Cronkrite and USF's offense that's packed with playmakers will be looking to make a great first impression 6 p.m. Saturday against what Gilbert calls a "feisty" Elon defense.

"The way they play, their scheme (3-3-5), gives people issues," he said. "That's something we'll have to attack on Saturday."

On the flip side, Elon has nine returning defensive starters looking to bring it to the Bulls and one is an All-American. Senior linebacker Warren Messer racked up 114 tackles last season and helped Elon limit opponents to less than 25 points per game. The Phoenix as a whole reached No. 7 in the FCS rankings last season and finished a playoff run with an 8-4 record.

"They had a really good, successful season last year," Gilbert said. "They've got a lot of guys back. They have an All-American linebacker that runs around, makes plays, creates havoc and creates turnovers."

Regardless of how the Elon defense attacks USF, the Bulls are focused on executing their offense that has been progressing throughout the fall.

"You get to the end of camp and those guys feel and see the light at the end of the tunnel," Gilbert said. "… You feel that level raise up this week, a little bit of intensity raise up. Those guys have been good. They understand that it all counts now and what's at stake Saturday."
 
New-Look Defense to Face 'Unique' Elon Offense
USF returns five starters, including three in the secondary, from its 2017 defense that led The American in seven different stat categories.

The Bulls also are excited about their fresh talent that made a big impact in fall camp. USF's week 1 depth chart features 11 true or redshirt freshmen anxious to make an impact.

"We're hoping they're going to rise to the occasion," second-year USF defensive coordinator Brian Jean-Mary said.

Redshirt freshman Mekhi LaPointe (Seffner, Fla.), listed as a first-team safety, did rise to the occasion often in fall camp along with many other underclassmen on the depth chart.

"We base our defense on effort and getting to the football," Jean-Mary said. "We have an effort chart and we tried to make our depth chart based off that. We wanted to reward guys that ran to the ball and played with extra effort."

Jean-Mary acknowledged the Bulls also had to have the skills to make the depth chart and they'll have to produce to stick throughout the season.

"We always say it's in flux," said Jean-Mary of the depth chart. "… We like to think all positions are up for grabs every week. We like to keep the competition level going, so guys don't get comfortable."

Comfort isn't in the USF defense's vocabulary this week as the Bulls prepare to face an Elon offense that isn't afraid to make opponents work.

"They're not just going to come out and run the same thing every play," Jean-Mary said. "They're going to attack what the presumed weakness is of the defense they play every week. Teams that do that are very, very well-coached."

Ranked 13^th in the FCS Coaches Poll, Elon returns nine starters on offense, including quarterback Davis Cheek, the Colonial Athletic Association Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2017. Elon also brings back its top six rushers from last season and eight of its nine top receivers.

"(The QB is) very, very smart with the ball and puts it where he's supposed to put the ball," Jean-Mary said. "I'm very impressed with their running backs. They have two running backs that run the ball very, very hard, break a lot of tackles and they're shifty. Their wideouts are the same way."

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.
 
Follow @USFFootball on twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.