Strong Pleased With Bulls' Progress on Recruiting Trail, in Weight Room
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, FEB. 6, 2019 – Head coach
Charlie Strong likes the direction USF football is going with the program bringing in lots of fresh talent while returning Bulls continue to bulk up in the weight room.
"The good thing about us is now with it being early signing period in December, we were able to sign 19 student-athletes," said Strong during his press conference Wednesday. "Anytime you talk about recruiting, it's all about you meeting your needs and fulfilling your needs."
USF did a lot of that during the early signing period by adding 10 players on defense, including four early enrollees already on campus – defensive backs
McArthur Burnett (Pahokee, Fla.),
Jayden Curry (Virginia Beach, Va.),
Daquan Evans (Orlando) and defensive end
Jason Vaughn (Auburndale, Fla.).
Early enrollees will be joined in the 2019 signing class by ends
Tyrik Jones (Plantation, Fla.),
Thomas Nance (Eagle Lake, Fla.), safety
Leonard Parker (Tampa) and a trio of linebackers in
Demaurez Bellamy (DeLand, Fla.),
Tae'Aviion Gray (Quitman, Ga.) and
Darius Williams (Miami).
"We were able to get three linebackers, which is also a big need for us," Strong said.
Offensively, USF bolstered its backfield with
Josh Berry (Davenport, Fla.) and restocked its wideout room with
Logan Berryhill (Kingsland, Ga.),
Kelley Joiner Jr. (Groveland, Fla.) and
Xavier Weaver (Orlando) after welcoming transfer
Eddie McDoom (Winter Garden, Fla.) to the program last August.
On top of all that speed and athleticism, USF fortified its offensive front with four linemen during early signing period –
Joshua Blanchard (Miami),
Raymond Collins (Largo, Fla.),
Dustyn Hall (Punta Gorda, Fla.) and
Matthew McDuffie (Glen Saint Mary, Fla.). Those freshmen will join a deep group up front that returns the entire starting offensive line and has key reserves with experience.
"With the way the team is moving, and with the senior leadership that you have, guys have been under us for two years, going into a third season," said Strong, who brings back 16 total returning starters. "Now they know what to really expect."
USF didn't add any more players during the first day of the NCAA Late Signing Period on Wednesday, but Strong said there's plenty more talent for the Bulls to add thanks to the transfer portal. Last year, USF's huge get was starting quarterback
Blake Barnett, who threw for 2,710 yards in 11 games and led the Bulls to four double-digit fourth quarter comebacks.
"There's 1,400 names in the transfer portal, so you're going to be able to go in and get the guys that you need, which will be a great asset to us and our program," Strong said.
Strong noted potential fits for the Bulls could be a pass rusher or safety, but it's going to come down to getting "the best players."
"If it's a really good football player, then we're going to take him," he said.
In the meantime, Strong is encouraged by the progress the program is making in the weight room under veteran strength and conditioning coach
Pat Moorer.
"They're doing well right now in the winter conditioning program with the way we're lifting and guys going about their business," Strong said. "Guys are putting on weight. We need to get bigger."
Coaching Staff Continues to Grow
Not long after the early signing period, USF made another huge addition with the
hiring of offensive coordinator Kerwin Bell in January.
A former standout quarterback and SEC Player of the Year at the University of Florida (1984-87), Bell had a successful 12-year run as a collegiate head coach, leading programs at Valdosta State (2016-18) and Jacksonville University (2007-15).
Much like the excitement of signing a big-time recruit, Strong was pumped up about inking Bell, his longtime friend, to a contract after he led Valdosta State to the 2018 NCAA Division II championship with the nation's top-ranked scoring offense in the division.
"When he won the national championship, I didn't even know if I could get him. I just thought with him having success at Valdosta, he may have wanted to just stay there," Strong said. "I'm glad we did get him. I just know he's going to be able to help this team."
Bell's 2018 offense racked up 523.9 yards per game on the way to lighting up the scoreboard with an average of 52 points per outing. Learn more about Bell and his multifaceted offensive approach
HERE.
"He knows exactly what he wants done and I just think that he's going to do an unbelievable job," Strong said.
As for the remaining open spots on the USF coaching staff, Strong said he'd like to fill those "by the end of this week."
"You'd like to get through the recruiting cycle and then once you get done with it, you'd like to get that done," he said.
Reaves Returning to DE
Greg Reaves exploded on the college scene with 14 tackles for loss in 2017 as a defensive end before showing his versatility as a fill-in linebacker for the injury-riddled Bulls around the midpoint of 2018.
Expect Reaves to be back to his pass-rushing ways during his senior season as a defensive end in 2019.
"We're going to take Reaves and move him back up front," Strong said. "Reaves is back."
Regardless of where he plays, Reaves has produced for the Bulls. The Bradenton, Fla., native ranked second on the team and 16th in The American with a career-best 89 tackles (47 solo) in 2018. That was after his breakout 2017 campaign, which included 51 total tackles (32 solo), 4.0 sacks, seven QB hurries and three pass breakups.
Sawtelle Update
USF moved
Greg Reaves to middle linebacker in 2018 after starter
Nico Sawtelle (Jensen Beach, Fla.) missed the final seven games of the season with a neck/shoulder injury.
Strong gave Bulls fans great news Wednesday regarding Sawtelle's status for 2019.
"He should be ready at the start of fall camp," Strong said.
If all goes to plan, USF will get a trusty two-year starter back in the mix who has registered 112 tackles in 29 games as a Bull. Along with Sawtelle, USF's linebacker group for 2019 looks promising with emerging players like
Dwayne Boyles (Miami) and
Antonio Grier Jr. (Atlanta) in addition to several returners and the three talented early signees.
Bulls Bits
FOOTBALL CENTER UPDATE: Strong said Wednesday the Bulls are still in the fundraising process regarding the planned USF Football Center, but he's hopeful the program can keep making steady progress. "We have an AD who is out in front of it. We have everyone who is out in front of it, knowing what we have to get done. We've just got to keep working at it and eventually it will happen," Strong said. "It will come along and we've got to do our part on the field. If you do your part on the field, then you're going to be able raise what you need to get done."- MOTIVATED BULLS: Strong said no extra motivation is needed when it comes to the Bulls' goal of improving on the 2018 season. "They want to get better and they will get better," Strong said. "They'll work to get better and as a coaching staff, we'll make it happen." USF started the 2018 season with a 7-0 record before making the program's fourth straight postseason appearance and Strong thinks the Bulls are close to breaking out once again. "We have enough good players where it's not like you're looking at it and you're like, 'Oh, my God. We're a million miles away,'" he said. "We're not a million miles away. We can get it done and get it done very quickly."
- SEASON TICKETS: USF football season ticket members can renew their tickets for the 2019 season by visiting USFBullsTix.com or by calling 1-800-Go-Bulls. Deposits for new season ticket members are currently being taken and may be made HERE. New season tickets will be available for purchase beginning in April.
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
In 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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