USF Athletics

Bulls in the NFL: Week 1 Update

September 10, 2018

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, SEPT. 10, 2018 – Three former USF standouts saw action in the thrilling NFL regular season opener last Thursday night.

Tackles Terrell McClain and Deadrin Senat helped anchor the middle of the Atlanta Falcons' defensive line while defensive tackle Bruce Hector was in the lineup for the Philadelphia Eagles' 18-12 victory that was decided on the final play.

McClain, who played for USF from 2007-10, earned the start and made one stop for the Falcons. Senat, a third-round pick by Atlanta, finished with three tackles (two solo) in his first NFL regular season outing.

Hector logged in seven snaps on defense after making the Eagles' active roster as an undrafted free agent. Hector and Senat were forces in their final season at USF in 2017, helping the Bulls rank fifth nationally in tackles for loss (8.4 per game) and 11^th in sacks (3.0 per game).

Find out how other former USF stars fared in week 1 of the NFL season below.

• WR MARQUEZ VALDES-SCANTLING: USF's season receiving yards leader returned a kickoff for 21 yards in Green Bay's 24-23 comeback win over the Chicago Bears.
• DE JASON PIERRE-PAUL: The first-year Buccaneer was in the starting lineup for Tampa Bay's 48-40 win over New Orleans.
• LB AARON LYNCH: The fifth-year pro started at outside linebacker for Chicago and posted a QB hurry in the Bears' 24-23 loss at Green Bay.
• RB MARLON MACK: Mack was inactive for Indianapolis' 34-23 loss to Cincinnati. Mack returned to practice last week after injuring his hamstring in the preseason opener.  
• CB KAYVON WEBSTER: Webster was inactive for Houston's 27-20 loss to New England.
• C AUSTIN REITER: The third-year pro was recently claimed off waivers by Kansas City and was inactive for the Chiefs' 38-28 win over the L.A. Chargers.
• CB Deatrick Nichols: The first-year pro was inactive for the Arizona Cardinals' 24-6 loss to Washington.
• DE MIKE LOVE: The first-year pro is on the Buffalo Bills' practice squad.
• RB QUINTON FLOWERS: USF's former record-breaking quarterback is currently on the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad.
• LB ERIC LEE: The second-year pro recently was signed to the Detroit Lions' practice squad.

 
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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