Bulls Look to Build On Big Performance at UConn Against BYU
NEXT GAME: BYU (2-3, independent) at USF (2-3, 1-1 in AAC)
DAY/TIME: Saturday/3:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
TV/RADIO: CBS Sports Network/USF Radio Network:
Over the Air: WDAE 95.3 FM/620 AM &
Digital: Bulls Unlimited
SERIES: First meeting. Next meeting Sept. 25, 2021 in Provo, Utah
GAME NOTES: USF
TICKETS: USFBullsTix.com
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, OCT. 7, 2019 – Fresh off a 26-point win at UConn, USF football looks to keep a good thing going during Saturday's homecoming game against BYU.
The first-ever meeting in the series is set for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Raymond James Stadium and the action will be televised on CBS Sports Network. USF is 13-9 all-time in homecoming games and has won its past four.
"We need to be consistent, put it all together, play with some confidence and match last week's performance," head coach
Charlie Strong said at Monday's weekly press conference.
USF was firing on all cylinders during its
48-22 conference victory at UConn on Oct. 5. Strong's Bulls set season highs with 503 total yards of offense and 313 rushing yards in the program's eighth straight victory over the Huskies. On the other side of the ball, USF limited UConn to 293 total yards and registered 10.0 tackles for loss, including five sacks.
"We talked about playing physical and we played physical," Strong said. "We talked about playing fast. We played fast and we played smart."
Following the impressive performance, USF is now fourth on the national stat sheet in tackles for loss with 9.8 per game. The Bulls also rank third nationally in turnovers gained (14), No. 2 in fumbles recovered (8), No. 11 in turnover margin (1.0) and 16
th in the FBS with six interceptions.
USF now turns its attention to BYU's spread attack on offense, multiple defense and the Cougars' aggressive style overall. Motivated BYU will attempt to snap a two-game losing skid and should be well-rested after a bye week.
"This team that we're playing this week is big. They're physical and they're athletic," Strong said. "We just need to match the intensity that we played with on Saturday."
Cronk-Led Ground Game Gets Going
Redshirt freshman quarterback
Jordan McCloud (Tampa) threw three of USF's four touchdown passes at UConn and his head coach pointed to what paved the way for the program's all-around offensive explosion.
"I think our pass game opened up on Saturday because of the way we were able to run the football," Strong said.
While USF's quarterbacks thrived through the air, USF got after it on the ground with a season-high 313 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
"Whenever you're able to move the line of scrimmage, you're able to run the football, which we were able to do," Strong said.
Physical play up front helped
Jordan Cronkrite return to form. The starting back racked up a season-high 148 rushing yards, which marked the senior's third-best rushing total in college.
"His first carry, he just ran through the hole and it was really aggressive," Strong said. "We just knew that he was going to have a good day that day."
Averaging 7.4 yards per carry against UConn, Cronkrite turned back the clock to the way he produced in 2018. The Miami native rushed for 1,121 yards in his debut season with the Bulls (sixth-best in school history) and matched the program record with five consecutive 100-yard games.
"To see Cronk go for (148) yards was really big for us, just to see him bounce back and have the attitude that he had," Strong said.
Wilcox the Complete Package at Tight End
No catches, no problem for three-time Mackey Award candidate
Mitchell Wilcox.
The senior tight end from Tarpon Springs, Fla., didn't record a reception at UConn but still did lots of damage in the run game as a crushing blocker.
"He is so unselfish," Strong said. "I think he graded out at like 90 percent and had three or four knockdowns just blocking."
Another thing Wilcox's performance didn't include was a complaint.
"It was great for our team to see that. You talk about one of our best players and he had no catches," Strong added. "But he did go out and block and play very hard. It's hard for some guys because they want the ball in their hands. Never has he said anything about it."
Wilcox's team-first attitude and blocking ability could go a long way in getting him to the next level. Heading into the season, he was ranked fourth among senior tight end prospects for the 2020 NFL Draft by NFL.com Senior Analyst Gil Brandt.
"He has improved his game in every area, but blocking he really has," Strong said. "He can catch the ball. He's a skill guy, but when you talk about a guy going out and blocking and making a commitment to it, that's what he's been able to do."
Wilcox has already showcased his pass-catching ability on lots of game film and he's got records to prove it as well.
Just the 14
th career 1,000-yard receiver in USF history, Wilcox owns top program tight end career marks for receiving yards (1,154), receptions (82) and touchdown catches (9).
On top of that, Wilcox ranks first on USF's tight end season charts after totaling 43 receptions for 540 yards in 2018. Wilcox also is USF's tight end leader for single-game receptions (8), a feat he accomplished while setting a personal best with 109 receiving yards against Illinois last fall.
Bulls Bits
HONORING BROWN: Coach Strong started Monday's press conference by honoring the memory of Joshua Brown, who played defensive back for the Bulls from 2012-13. Brown was a key witness in a murder trial and was shot and killed last week in Dallas. Learn more HERE. "I'm just so sad to hear about the loss of one of our former players, Josh Brown. Our hearts and our prayers go out to him and his family and his friends," Strong said. "… (Quality control analyst) Lindsey (Lamar) was just talking about him because Lindsey had a chance to play with him. You hate to see that happen, especially at such a young age."
QB UPDATE: USF is still in wait-and-see mode when it comes to the availability of quarterback Blake Barnett. The senior from Corona, Calif., threw three touchdown passes on three straight drives in the second half against SMU on Sept. 28 before suffering a high-ankle sprain. Barnett missed last week's game and the Bulls are still being cautious with him. "Blake is still nursing his injury," Strong said. Serving in Barnett's place at UConn, sophomore Kirk Rygol (Fort Mill, S.C.) saw action in the fourth quarter and threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver DeVontres Dukes (Tampa). "If Blake can't go against BYU, it will be Rygol (as the backup)," Strong said.- RADIO SHOW AT WOB: Fans can meet Coach Strong and enjoy great deals on food/drinks by attending the USF Football Radio Show on Thursday from 7-8 p.m. at World of Beer on East Fowler Ave (near the USF campus). Fans wearing USF gear will get a free flatbread for their table. Get more info HERE.
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
Having completed just its 22nd season of football, and 19th at the FBS level, the USF football program has earned 10 bowl appearances, including a current run of four straight, and owns a record of 6-3 in bowl games. The Bulls have appeared in the national top 25 rankings in each of the past three seasons, including a program record run of 20 straight weeks in the top 25, and in 2018 reached the program's 150th win faster than any FBS program in state of Florida history. USF has posted a pair of 10-plus win seasons in the last three years, including a program-record 11 wins (11-2) in 2016, and logged 15 winning seasons overall. Since first taking the field in 1997, the USF program has reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings (2007), seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft, 14 named All-American and 29 earn first-team all-conference selection.
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– #GoBulls –
