USF Athletics

Fun-Loving Line Jelling Well in USF's New Offensive System

April 08, 2019

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, APRIL 8, 2019 – USF's offensive linemen are self-proclaimed goofballs off the field and that bond is helping the close-knit group jell well in the Bulls' new offensive system this spring.

"We're all serious on the field and the second we step off, we're all joking and laughing," said center Brad Cecil. "We're all good friends."

The first-team cast of comedians on USF's deep line consists of sophomore Cecil at center, seniors William Atterbury (LT) and Marcus Norman (RT), redshirt sophomore Demetris Harris (LG) and sophomore Donovan Jennings (LT). Together, they're looking to pave the way for new coordinator Kerwin Bell's #PlayFastScoreFaster offense that stole the show in last Saturday's scrimmage.

New offensive line coach Jeremy Darveau definitely likes the way his Bulls are working.

"If you're going to be a great offensive line, you've got to be tough," Darveau said. "We're finding out right now that we're a tough unit. I'm really pleased with where we're at as far an offensive line goes."

Another common characteristic USF's O-linemen possess is intelligence, which is helping the goof-Bulls make serious progress with a new playbook that's packed with more than 100 options. Atterbury, who received his bachelor's degree in finance last fall, and Jennings have to study extra after flip-flopping positions on the line this spring.

 "I'm OK with playing any position on the line," said Atterbury, who has made 23 straight starts at right guard. "My goal is to be on the field for my team."

Jennings also is open-minded about the lineup experiment this spring conducted by a coach very familiar with coordinator Kerwin Bell's offense. Although Darveau is new to USF, he's been in Bell's system since 2016 at Valdosta State and their 2018 national champion team led NCAA Division II in scoring offense at 52.0 points per game.

"For the offensive line coach and the OC to be on the same page is a big thing for us," Atterbury said. "(Darveau) already knows (the offense) fluently, so if we ever have any questions we can go to him."

Darveau noted the line already has built strong communication and trust, which makes the learning process much faster. Atterbury and Norman bring 61 combined starts to the table after lining up alongside each other for the past 23 games. Harris made 11 starts at left guard last season and Jennings was next to him in four of those outings. Cecil also got into a groove starting the final seven games of 2018 at center.

"Understanding what the guy next to you is going to do before he does it. Having a feel for what all five guys are going to do, those are things these guys have developed already," Darveau said.

The line attributes off-the-field activities to assisting in the synergy and there's no shortage of laughs. When they're not hanging at places like Topgolf, the big guys up front are getting their grub on at restaurants all over the Bay area.

All-you-can-eat spots, be ready.

"We walk in and they're scared," said Cecil with a big smile. "They see us and they're like, 'Oh gosh, we don't want to be their waiter.' It's funny. It takes forever for someone to come over."

And while they wait, offensive linemen often speak in a language only they understand.

"We make noises, just weird noises that no one else knows," Cecil said. "Everyone just has their moments when they can crack everyone up."

"We're all really smart with the game and we're all goofy," Jennings added. "We have our side jokes and our side conversations that only the O-linemen get and it's great. I love it."

That type of connection can only help the Bulls when they go on the road this fall and have to play in loud stadiums where communication of all kinds is key.

"We try to get out and build that bond to make sure we're all comfortable with each other," Atterbury said. "You can almost have that unspoken bond when you're on the field."

Cecil, Donovan Used to Be Multi-Sport Stars
Sophomore offensive linemen Brad Cecil and Donovan Jennings now get to focus strictly on football after shining in multiple sports in high school.

Before becoming a Bull, Cecil (Jacksonville, Fla.) competed in football, track and field (shot put, discus), wrestling and weight lifting at Bartram Trail High School.

"Sometimes I'd have a meet on Wednesday for weight lifting and the next day I'd have a meet for track," he said. "I was always very active. I did all four sports all four years."

Aside from playing center in the Class 7A state title game as a senior, Cecil placed third at state in the shot put along with earning region runner-up honors in weight lifting. Playing three other sports in high school enhanced Cecil's ability to quickly adjust to the college level and earn starts in the final seven games of 2018 as a true freshman.

"Wrestling taught me to be good with my feet. It taught me hand placement. Shot put taught me how to use my feet and how to balance," he said. "Weight lifting just gave me strength. All those put together have really helped me on the field."

Jennings (Tampa) said he didn't play football until his junior year at Gaither High School. By then, he already was an athletic big man on the hard court.

"Before that was all basketball. I was a center, power forward – wherever they needed me. I could shoot, too," he said.

Jennings played three seasons of high school hoops and the moves he developed in the sport throughout his life have translated well to football. After earning FloridaHSFootball.com all-state honors as a senior, Jennings made four starts as a true freshman in 2018 and played in 12 games.

"Playing basketball helped me a lot," the 6-foot-5, 322-pounder said. "With my feet and how agile I am with my size, I can move with people 30-40 pounds less than me."

 O-Line Notables

• NORMAN NOW LEADING UP FRONT: Redshirt senior right tackle Marcus Norman (Sebastian, Fla.) has earned multiple all-conference honors while making 25 straight starts the past two seasons. On track to graduate this semester, Norman has taken it upon himself to guide the line this spring now that he's equipped with lots of experience (34 total starts, 37 games). "I definitely have to step up my game to push everybody, so everybody can be their best," said Norman, whose teammates commend his effort. "Marcus has blossomed over the last couple years into an awesome leader, a guy who is very vocal and pushes everyone to be better every day," senior William Atterbury said.
• ATTERBURY GOES FROM RIGHT TO LEFT: Senior William Atterbury has moved all over the offensive line in his USF career. The Clearwater native started four times at right tackle as a freshman before starting the last 10 games at right guard in 2017. Last season, he started 13 more games at right guard and now he's testing his skills all the way over at left tackle this spring. "It may end up staying this way, or it may not," he said. If the latest position switch sticks, Atterbury can draw on his previous experience as a left tackle at Clearwater Central Catholic High School.
• CECIL THE CENTER: Sophomore Brad Cecil played guard as a junior at Bartram Trail High School before a memorable move in his final prep season. "My high school coaches told me that I'd be a center in college," said Cecil and they were correct. Cecil was snapping in the Gasparilla Bowl – his seventh straight start at center – as a true freshman who gained 10 total games of experience.

 
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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