USF Athletics

Bulls Start Spring in Stride After 'Unbelievable Offseason'

March 19, 2019

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, MARCH 19, 2019 – USF football hit the ground running in the first practice of spring Tuesday afternoon thanks to a productive winter that got the Bulls refocused and re-energized.

Working to get their "swag back," as defensive end Greg Reaves said, involved the Bulls coming together for one collective goal through discipline and accountability that could pay dividends in the fall.
  
"I'm really excited to get back on the grass. We had an unbelievable offseason," head coach Charlie Strong said. "You're going to see a big increase in size, strength and speed."

Year three of the Strong era at USF certainly looked promising Tuesday with several players' physiques matching the team's developing physical, aggressive mentality. The Bulls will get to really show off their offseason progress when the team puts on the pads for the first time Thursday at the Morsani Complex.

"I would say probably 98 percent of our team had a gain in weight," Strong said.

On top of bulking up and increasing team speed, USF brings back a lot of experience for 2019.

A total of 16 starters have returned, including nine on an offense that features an established starter at quarterback in senior Blake Barnett (Corona, Calif.) along with all-conference tight end Mitchell Wilcox (Tarpon Springs, Fla.), 1,000-yard back Jordan Cronkrite (Miami) – also both seniors - and the entire line from the Gasparilla Bowl.

"You have a lot coming back on offense," Strong said. "A year ago, we didn't know how the quarterback was going to be."

USF's defense, packed with 16 returning lettermen, also has proven senior veterans ready to take on leadership roles this spring. Reaves is ready to step up and he'll be joined by fellow defensive end Kirk Livingstone (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) in addition to linebacker Nico Sawtelle (Jensen Beach, Fla.), who is back on the field after missing seven games of 2018 with a neck/shoulder injury.

"We want to get back to that standard of defense, the level of play, when 11 guys are running to the football fast and physical," Reaves said. "That's the biggest thing. We're trying to get back to what got us here."

Tuesday's action showed USF is off to a great start with players flying through drills while Strong's staff preached technique. The Bulls' goal is to improve in each of the team's 15 practices before the fans pack the stands once again at Corbett Stadium for the USF Spring Game presented by USF Federal Credit Union on Saturday, April 13.

Get more info on the spring practice schedule, which features a prime opportunity for fans to get a sneak preview of program developments HERE.

"When you look at spring practice, you build your team," Strong said. "You build fundamentals and technique, and you make sure that a player gets better each and every day."

Offense Eager to Learn Bell's Explosive System
A hot topic during Tuesday's press conference was USF's new offensive system under new coordinator Kerwin Bell.

The 1984 SEC Player of the Year at Florida, Bell became one of the Gators' all-time greats before a 14-year run as a pro quarterback. After that, Bell spent 12 seasons as a successful college head coach at Valdosta State (2016-18) and Jacksonville University (2007-15).

Before becoming a Bull, Bell led Valdosta State to the 2018 NCAA Division II championship with the nation's top-ranked scoring offense in the division (52.0 ppg).

"It's a pro-style passing game that utilizes a professional passing game with a lot of spread concepts," said Bell of his offensive system back in January.

Blake Barnett said he's gained lots of knowledge of the new offense working with Bell on the chalkboard this offseason and he's anxious to put it to practice on the field this spring.

"To be able to go on the field and apply it, it's going to be refreshing and exciting," Barnett said.

USF's defense also is eager to go up against the Bulls' new multi-faceted offensive attack, which will make both sides of the ball better this spring.

"It's a challenge," defensive end Greg Reaves said. "… I look forward to seeing what Coach Bell has up his sleeve."

Bell One of Five New Coaches
In addition to Bell, Strong is excited about USF's new-look staff that brings plenty of football knowledge to the Bulls.

Bell brought offensive line coach Jeremy Darveau with him from Valdosta State and coordinator Brian Jean-Mary's third season at the helm of the defensive will include new coaches in former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Paul Spicer (defensive line), Steve Ellis (defensive backs) and Bryan Hill (safeties, previously a USF analyst).

"They're veteran coaches, guys that have been around," Strong said. "The key thing with them is not only are they good with X's and O's, but it's all about player development."

Bulls Bits

• FORD PULLING DOUBLE DUTY: Kerwin Bell has big plans for Johnny Ford, whose speed will be utilized as both a running back and a slot receiver this spring. Ford had a fantastic freshman season as a rusher while ranking 12^th in the FBS with 6.84 yards per carry and totaling 787 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. "Johnny is a playmaker, so we're trying to find ways to get him the ball," Strong said.
• THE RETURN OF NICO: Senior linebacker Nico Sawtelle is back on the field in a non-contact jersey after missing the final games of 2018 with a neck/shoulder injury. The Jensen Beach, Fla., native started 18 straight games prior to the setback and was leading the Bulls with 7.5 tackles for loss and 42 tackles before the injury. "It's extremely big," said Greg Reaves of Sawtelle's return. "… I'm happy for him and happy to have him back out there. He's a big force in that linebacker room."
• REAVES EXCITED TO BE BACK AT D-END: Thanks in part to Sawtelle's return to linebacker, Greg Reaves is loving his move back to defensive end, where he totaled a team-best 14.0 tackles for loss in 2017. "I'm extremely excited to be back to definitely a more familiar position," he said. Reaves did an admirable job at linebacker when Sawtelle was out last season, finishing the year ranking second on the team and 16th in The American with a career-best 89 tackles.
• BIG GAINERS: On top of Blake Barnett's gain of nearly 15 pounds in the offseason, Strong saw a big leap on the scale from sophomore linebacker Dwayne Boyles. The Miami native played at 210 pounds as a freshman and Strong said he's "about 235 right now." Strong noted sophomore linebacker Antonio Grier Jr. (Atlanta) is "10-15 pounds heavier" than his playing weight of 210 last year.
• FORMER USF STARS CHECK OUT THE BULLS: The Bulls got a big boost of support at Tuesday's practice with former USF standout offensive linemen Kofi Amichia and Cameron Ruff watching the action. Amichia is currently playing in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens after signing with the squad in October.

 
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
In just its 22^nd season of football, and 19^th 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 150^th 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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