USF Athletics

Bulls Take 4-0 Momentum Into Bye Week

September 24, 2018

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By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, SEPT. 24, 2018 – Undefeated USF gets a much-needed rest during a bye this week after becoming the fastest Florida FBS team to reach 150 program wins.

USF (4-0, 1-0 in AAC) won't suit up for game action again until Saturday, Oct. 6 at UMass. Heading into week's slate of games, head coach Charlie Strong's Bulls are one of just 21 remaining undefeated teams in college football this season.

"We have a week off here," said Strong on The American's weekly teleconference Monday. "We have injuries that we need to get healed up, a lot of bumps and bruises. This will give us time, so that we can get ready for UMass here in a couple of weeks."

Prior to the break, the Bulls added to the most successful era in USF history (33-9 since 2015) and reached a notable milestone in the process. USF got to 150 wins in the program's 255^th game, three games faster than Florida, with a gritty 20-13 home victory over East Carolina last Saturday at Raymond James  Stadium.

"I'm so glad we're in the position we're in right now," Strong said. "We're in this position because of the players and their responsibility and accountability they've taken upon themselves."

Following the UMass game, USF jumps back into conference play at Tulsa on Friday, Oct. 12. The Bulls' next home game is set for Saturday, Oct. 20 against UConn (time TBA), which will be Homecoming. Plan to watch USF chase after its 20^th home victory in the past 23 games by reserving your seats at USFBullsTix.com.

Cronkrite Earns Conference Weekly Honors      
Running back Jordan Cronkrite was named to The American's weekly honor roll Monday after rushing for the game-winning score against East Carolina last Saturday.

Cronkrite broke a 13-13 tie with an 80-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to help the Bulls improve to 4-0 for the second straight season. The junior from Miami finished his second straight 100-yard rushing game with 129 yards on 15 carries (8.6 ypc).

"I was just trying to give my team a lift." Cronkrite said. "I really had the easy job. All I did was run straight. The offensive line did a great job making a seam for me."

Cronkrite currently ranks fifth in The American with 101.3 rushing yards per game and 20^th nationally with 6.61 yards per carry.

Bulls Bits

• MCGEE THE CONFERENCE TACKLES LEADER: In his first season as a starting linebacker, Khalid McGee continues to lead The American in tackles with 42 after making eight stops against ECU. The senior from Miami also ranks 20^th nationally with a conference-leading 10.5 tackles per game. "He's done a good job of just leading this team and plays with a lot of passion," Strong said. "… It's been fun to watch how he's grown so much and matured so much."
• ROBERTS JOINS PICK PARTY: Congrats to redshirt freshman safety Nick Roberts (Jacksonville, Fla.), who hauled in his first career interception to help seal the Bulls' win over ECU with two minutes remaining. USF is now tied for 19^th nationally with five interceptions this season after Roberts' clutch play.

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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