USF Athletics

Bell Impressed With USF's Ability to Learn His Offensive System 'On the Run'

March 28, 2019

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, MARCH 28, 2019 – USF's offense has hit the accelerator this spring when it comes to learning Kerwin Bell's "fast" and "fun" system that produced big results last season.

"Man, we've thrown a lot at them here," the Bulls' new offensive coordinator said Wednesday.

Six practices into the process, Bell was impressed with the Bulls' attitude as they try to master an offensive approach which features a pro-style passing game, spread concepts and seemingly endless options. One season ago, Bell's Valdosta State team used the blueprint to put up an NCAA Division II-leading 52.0 points per game on the way to winning a national championship.

"I tell you what, we've put probably 80 percent of our system in, which is a lot of plays, a lot of different concepts and things like that," Bell said. "They're having to learn on the run."

Star sophomore receiver Randall St. Felix (Miami) said the Bulls' "very thick" new playbook is packed with "over 100 plays" that can utilize the abilities of anyone on the depth chart.

"There's not one person or one side getting the ball," St. Felix said. "Everybody is touching the ball. Even the twos are getting the ball a lot, so it's going to be good for us."

Business was definitely good for Bell's 2018 Valdosta State offense, which set an NCAA Division II record with 728 points and generated 7,334 yards (3,676 rushing, 3,658 passing) at an eye-catching total of 7.9 yards per snap.

"My beginning impression is just fast," said senior right tackle Marcus Norman of the new offense. "We've got a lot of plays in. We're getting better and better at running them."

Predictable certainly isn't in the Bulls' vocabulary when they describe Bell's system that will look to play to USF's strengths, especially at receiver. St. Felix is looking to do more damage against defenses in different ways this fall after ranking ninth nationally with 20.58 yards per catch as a true freshman.

"We've got a lot more routes to run," he said. "We've got to think more, so we've got to be more detailed in what we do and stuff like that but it's a lot of fun. I'm having fun out here."

So is running back Johnny Ford, who is becoming an even more versatile weapon for the Bulls since averaging 6.84 yards per carry (12^th in FBS) during his true freshman season. This spring, the speedster from Miami is pulling double duty as a slot receiver and Bell sees plenty of potential.

"He is a good receiver," said Bell, who wants to get Ford in space and down the field as much as possible. "That was sort of our only thing when we moved him there – can he play receiver at this level. Man, he's one of our top ones, the way he runs routes, his catching ability. He is really good at that."

Bell noted 1,000-yard rusher Jordan Cronkrite (Miami) "can be that guy inside," which allows Ford the freedom to move around. Last season, Ford averaged 26.0 yards per catch with a long of 39 yards.

"He understands that we're gonna try to do things, not just line him up in the backfield," Bell said. "We're going to make defenses find out where he's at through motions, through different formations."

Another Bull who could help make the new offense really go from the slot is junior transfer Eddie McDoom (Winter Garden, Fla.), who arrived at USF last August after playing two seasons at Michigan.

"Johnny Ford is fast, Eddie McDoom is fast," St. Felix said. "They know how to run routes, they know how to get open. It's going to be fun seeing them get open and score a lot of touchdowns."

In the meantime, USF knows it must continue to make more progress in Bell's system before the spring game on Saturday, April 13 at Corbett Stadium.

"We've got a lot in and our guys are starting to pick it up," Bell said. "Now what we've got to do here in the next three weeks, we've got to try to detail as big as we can and as much as we can, and try to get it down to where we can execute it at a pretty high level as we leave."

Barnett, McCloud Making an Impression on Bell at QB
Kerwin Bell, a former quarterback who played 14 years in the pros, also is working to fine-tune USF's talent at quarterback and likes what he has to work with.

It all starts with senior Blake Barnett (Corona, Calif.), who threw for 2,710 yards in 11 games as a first-year Bull in 2018. Barnett said he spent the offseason learning USF's new offensive system "about as good as I can as far as on the chalkboard writing it up."

"He's picking things up. He's really a student of the game," Bell said. "He really studies and watches a lot of extra film. He's really been a pleasant surprise and I think he really likes what we're doing offensively, which is good."

Barnett was on pace to post USF's first 3,000-yard passing season before injuries set him back in 2018. Now fully healthy, Barnett "has got all the physical tools in the world," according to Bell, who is working to make the starter even more accurate. In 2018, Barnett posted a completion percentage of 61.1, which ranks fourth in USF season history.

"We're trying to get his feet a little bit quieter, just so he can move in the pocket and still make accurate throws," Bell said.

Behind Barnett, redshirt freshman Jordan McCloud has continued his solid play since making a great first impression in camp last fall. Bell said the 2017 Class 7A all-state selection out of Tampa's Plant High School "has really thrived" in USF's new offense.

"He's a very sharp guy. He's got great intangibles," Bell said. "He understands the game and I really believe he's going to really do well in the system."

Bulls Bits

• OTHER NAMES TO WATCH AT RUNNING BACK: With star senior Jordan Cronkrite recovering from offseason surgery, USF's emerging running backs are getting a chance to shine this spring. Kerwin Bell said senior Trevon Sands (Miami) "has been really tough in there" while junior walk-on Odunayo Seriki has showcased his playmaking ability. "He's one of the fastest guys on our team and he's a very physical player, too," Bell said. "I look for him to start getting some carries. Once he figures it out and just learns the game a little bit better, I think he's going to be a very productive player for us." Seriki played in nine games on special teams for USF last season and helped Apopka (Fla.) High School win a state championship as a prep junior. Also in the rotation this spring are sophomore Dave Small (Lauderhill, Fla.) and redshirt freshman JaJuan Cherry (Okeechobee, Fla.).
• MORE OPPORTNITIES FOR MITCH: First team all-conference pick Mitchell Wilcox set USF tight end season records for catches (43) and receiving yards (540) in 2018. Bell plans to give the senior from Tarpon Springs, Fla., plenty of opportunities to produce in 2019. "That's going to be a guy that we're going to utilize in the passing game and try to find ways to get him on some matchups and get him involved as much as possible, especially in the red zone," Bell said. "Red zone, third down, I can already see he's going to be a guy that we're utilize a lot."
• NEW NO. 5: Before shining in the NFL, Marlon Mack racked up 3,609 rushing yards in three seasons while wearing No. 5 for the Bulls. No. 5 now belongs to star receiver Randall St. Felix, who requested a switch from No. 84 this offseason. "I know Marlon Mack wore No. 5. I don't feel any pressure," he said. "I know what I'm going to do when I get on the field."
• NORMAN NEVER WANTED TO LEAVE: Starting right tackle Marcus Norman said he never seriously considered heading to the pros after last season despite being a potential NFL Draft pick. "Just everything about (USF), I loved it and I didn't want to leave," he said. After redshirting in 2015, the Sebastian, Fla., native has started 34 straight games for the Bulls and wants to add to his USF legacy even more in 2019. "I just want to stay here all five years and just know I gave it my all for this program because I love this program," he said.

 
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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