New USF DBs Coach Ellis Bringing 'Unbelievable' Energy in 'Dream' Job
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, AUG. 12, 2019 – Focused, funny and full of juice,
Steve Ellis is bringing it all to the field in his first fall camp run with the Bulls as the program's new defensive backs coach.
"He comes to practice every day with unbelievable energy," said sophomore defensive back
Bentlee Sanders. "That man doesn't stop talking, but it's all positive, it's all uplifting. It just makes us go after it every day."
USF's secondary definitely got it during the first scrimmage of the fall Saturday, hauling in five interceptions and hearing Ellis' loud voice of approval as he jumped with excitement.
One day later, Ellis was singing and dancing with his group to get them feeling good following the intense scrimmage action.
By Monday morning, USF's secondary was swarming once again, especially after
Zion Roland (St. Petersburg, Fla.) picked off a pass that caused Ellis to yell his name from across the field. That was before Ellis really amped things up by running up to the defensive line and encouraging each player right before a snap against the offense.
A few stops later, Ellis made sure other defensive players on the sideline were hyped up by barking and later shouting, "Throw 'em up!" as he raised his left arm with the "Horns Up" hand symbol.
"You never know, he just surprises you," Sanders added.
All-out enthusiasm is something Bulls fans will be seeing all season from a coach whose wish has truly been granted. After doing a little bit of everything in 10 seasons at Middle Tennessee State (CB coach, 2009-18/defensive coordinator, 2011-14/recruiting coordinator, 2015-18), Ellis was given an unbelievable opportunity when he joined the USF staff in February.
"I always had a dream to work for
Charlie Strong," Ellis said. "… I've got to pinch myself every day. Now, it's my job to come to work every day, so he can say, 'I'm glad I hired
Steve Ellis.'"
Coach Strong has sung Ellis' praises already this fall and it's not surprising. On top of their strong scrimmage showing Saturday, USF's defensive backs have been consistently producing all camp as a collective unit.
"The guys are making plays. They're playing instinctively," Ellis said. "The biggest thing for those guys is to play with a mentality and brotherhood that they're showing right now."
The secondary's strong, supportive bond is apparent off the field as well, which is exactly what Ellis wants to see.
"We spend more time together," said junior cornerback
Mike Hampton (Tampa). "On the weekends, we'll go bowling and to movies."
Ellis also has noticed the secondary players eating together on campus and playing ping-pong and pool in the locker room, even after hours of practice and meetings.
"We have a whole different vibe in the locker room," Sanders said.
Seasoned Secondary Adds Even More Experience
The 2018 season saw USF's secondary grow up before our eyes.
All-conference honorable mention cornerback
Mike Hampton (Tampa) shined as a sophomore in his first year as a starter, ranking ninth nationally with 18 passes defended (1.4 per game).
While Hampton did his thing, other young players like
Nick Roberts (Jacksonville, Fla.),
Bentlee Sanders (Tampa),
Vincent Davis (Jacksonville, Fla.) and
Mekhi LaPointe (Seffner, Fla.) gained valuable experience as true or redshirt freshman contributors.
"This year, everybody trusts the brother that's next to them, just executing and flying to the ball," said Roberts, who started 11 games at safety in his first season of college action.
This fall, USF has even more battle-tested talent thanks to the addition of junior defensive back
KJ Sails (North Carolina transfer) and senior defensive back
Devin Studstill (grad student from Notre Dame). Sails, a Tampa native, and Studstill stole the show early in last Saturday's scrimmage by picking off passes on consecutive drives. Making plays has been a norm for both first-year Bulls all camp.
"They are just what we expected them to be – grown men that love ball and they're here for a purpose," defensive backs coach Steve Elliis said. "They have just brought an energy to our group."
Tampa's McCloud Ready for Bigger Role
This time last year, freshman quarterback
Jordan McCloud was showing coaches his passing ability with the few camp reps he was getting before redshirting.
Fast-forward to today and you'll find McCloud in a much different situation as the team's No. 2 QB behind senior
Blake Barnett (Corona, Calif.).
"I know I'm just one play away," McCloud said. "I've got to stay prepared and ready at all times."
McCloud showed lots of potential last Saturday with three touchdown passes in USF's first scrimmage of the fall. If he's called upon in real games, McCloud should have a solid understanding of coordinator
Kerwin Bell's new system the Bulls started learning in the spring and studied extensively this summer.
"Kerwin's new system, I'm starting to pick it up a lot," McCloud said. "He just gives you so many options that it makes the quarterback feel real comfortable."
Regardless of how much he plays this season, the former Plant High School star is happy to be continuing his promising football career at home in Tampa as a Bull.
"It's meant a lot. Since I've been a kid, that's something I've been wanting to do," McCloud said. "All my family is here. Putting on a show for them just makes me proud."
Football is certainly a family affair for the McClouds and it goes well beyond the Bay. Jordan's older brother,
Ray-Ray, was a standout receiver for Clemson who is entering his second NFL season with the Buffalo Bills.
Asked what he can do better than his brother on the football field, Jordan paused to search for an answer and couldn't help but smile when he gave Tampa Bay Times reporter Joey Knight his reply on Monday.
"I would say my IQ is a little better than his. It has to be because of the position that I play, I guess," McCloud said with a shrug and a laugh. "… I'm proud of him. He's doing really good."
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
Having completed 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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