USF Athletics

Ellis, Hill Having Fun Guiding USF's 'Ball-Hawking' Secondary

April 03, 2019

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, APRIL 3, 2019 – Two new USF position coaches are tasked with taking the secondary's play to the next level and the Bulls are following their lead well this spring.

Veteran defensive backs coach Steve Ellis and first-year safeties coach Bryan Hill have hit the ground running in their mission of molding USF into more of a playmaking machine.

"We're getting back to ball-hawking," said sophomore Bentlee Sanders (Tampa). "We're hitting more. I think we've got a lot more energy."

There's no shortage of juice in Ellis, who is pumping enthusiasm into the whole defense on the sideline this spring after 10 productive seasons at Middle Tennessee State (2009-18). Ellis coached cornerbacks during his entire MTSU tenure and even served as defensive coordinator for the Blue Raiders from 2011-14 before handling recruiting coordinator duties for the past four seasons.

"Whenever Coach Ellis came, he came with straight energy," Sanders said. "He tells us the standard is the standard and it's always going to be the standard. He comes to practice every day ready to work."

Ellis' position group is now being anchored by versatile Sanders, all-conference honorable mention Mike Hampton (Tampa) and sophomore Vincent Davis (Jacksonville, Fla.) along with redshirt freshman Eugene Bowman (Jacksonville, Fla.). Secondary depth also has been bolstered by three early enrollees - freshmen Daquan Evans (Orlando) and Jayden Curry (Virginia Beach, Va.), and McArthur Burnett, a junior from Pahokee, Fla., who intercepted a pass in last Saturday's scrimmage.

"The guys really bought into the scheme we're doing. I think they bought into my temperament," Elllis said. "The guys are working hard and they're doing really well. This is a good group, I have no complaints. I'm really excited about the development of those guys."

The Bulls also are soaking up football knowledge dished out by Hill. The third-year Bull who was promoted to safeties coach in February after serving as a quality control assistant for the defense on head coach Charlie Strong's USF staff the past two seasons. Hill has worked under Strong since 2015, when he joined the Texas program as a graduate assistant.

"My role within the program is a little bit different, but the goal to come out here and win and develop young men on a consistent basis is still the same," Hill said. "It's been a blessing."

Hill has enjoyed the coachability of USF's young secondary, which doesn't have a senior but doesn't lack valuable experience.

Hampton, who has made 12 career starts at corner, ranked ninth nationally with 1.4 passes defended per outing as a sophomore last season. A third team all-conference pick by Phil Steele, Hampton finished 2018 with 18 total passes defended, one shy of the USF season record.

Sophomore Nick Roberts (Jacksonville, Fla.) hauled in a team-leading three interceptions and totaled 72 tackles last season while starting 11 times at strong safety and playing in all 13 games.

Returning to free safety is redshirt sophomore Mekhi LaPointe (Seffner, Fla.), who started four games last year and has already impressed Ellis with his high football IQ.

"He's really cerebral. He understands the game," Ellis said. "He's playing multiple positions and I think he's going to have a big year for us."

Versatility is Key for USF's Secondary
"Multifaceted" is a good way to describe USF's defensive backs who have been making an impact at numerous spots this spring.

Aside from shining as a kick returner, Bentlee Sanders made starts at both cornerback and strong safety as a redshirt freshman last season. This spring, the former Tampa Catholic High School standout also making plays at the nickel spot along with sophomore Vincent Davis (Jacksonville, Fla.).

"With his ball skills and his physicality, he's able to play corner extremely well. He's so talented that he can play man coverage on a slot receiver," said Bryan Hill of Sanders. "He's also physical enough to make a tackle in open space. A guy like that, you're able to get the most out of."

Safety Nick Roberts also has been playing some nickel along with Delaware State transfer Brock Nichols, a junior from Naples, Fla. At safety, the Bulls' responsibilities include knowing both spots on the field.

"We try to train them both ways because they are so interchangeable," Hill said.

You never know where numerous Bulls could be lining up in the secondary at the USF Spring Game on Saturday, April 13 it's by design to make the whole group as versatile as possible.

"In the DB room, we talk about the best DBs are able to do it all. If you come in and you just play corner, you kind of limit yourself. If you just play safety, you kind of limit yourself," Hill said. "It's fun to watch, especially with a young group. Guys take reps at the boundary safety or the field safety, and then move down to nickel and see how they progress. Some guys with quick feet, let them take a few reps at corner as well. The more diverse and the more multifaceted the can be, the better it is."

Bulls Bits

• USF WAS AN EASY DECISION FOR ELLIS: New defensive backs coach Steve Ellis said there's numerous reasons why he decided to become a Bull and the first was Charlie Strong. "What a great man, great football coach," Ellis said. "He's one of the top defensive minds in the country. For me to get a chance to be with him, it wasn't a hard decision." Another perk of coming to Tampa is getting to guide Florida talent that's already been coached well at the high school level. "They don't need a road map to find the quarterback. They don't need GPS to track down the football," Ellis said.
• MORE TALENT HEADING TO USF SECONDARY: Redshirt freshman defensive back Eugene Bowman (Jacksonville, Fla.) also has been seeing action this spring and more talent is headed to the secondary in the fall. USF's 2019 signing class included three-star recruit Leonard Parker. The Tampa native helped Plant High School posted a combined record of 23-4 the past two seasons with a pair of trips to the state playoffs.
• DAVIS IS A TALKER: Sophomore Vincent Davis (Jacksonville, Fla.) earned starts at nickel and free safety last season, and now he's using his experience to keep the secondary stay on the same page. "His communication skills have gone through the roof," Bryan Hill said. "Talking on the field, identifying formations, diagnosing plays."

 
Up Next
USF is back on the practice field at the Morsani Complex for a closed session Thursday afternoon.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, when fans are welcome to watch USF's open practice at Clearwater Central Catholic High School from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
 
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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