USF Athletics

More USF Football Observations Heading Into Game Week

August 26, 2019

Fall Camp Coverage: Aug. 2 | Aug. 3 | Aug. 5 | Aug. 6 | Aug. 7 | Aug. 10 | Aug. 12 | Aug. 14 | Aug. 15 | Aug. 17 | Aug. 19 | Aug. 21
 
 
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, AUG. 26, 2019 – Game week is finally here as the Bulls gear up for their massive season-opening matchup with No. 19/17 Wisconsin that's nearing a lower-bowl sellout (48,007) at Raymond James Stadium.
 
"We're going to have a really good home crowd there," Charlie Strong told reporters at Monday's press conference. "We're going to have a lot of support, so we need to go out there and play really well."

With a mission of rising to the occasion, Strong's Bulls have been grinding since all the way back on Aug. 2 in preparation for a season they hope will be filled with sweet success.
 
Necessary ingredients are in stock for the Bulls and the winning recipe begins with senior Blake Barnett (Corona, Calif.) back as the established starter at quarterback. The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List member, his returning line of starting blockers and several playmakers are ready to roll in new coordinator Kerwin Bell's #PlayFastScoreFaster system.
 
"It's a very dynamic offense. There's a lot of different moving parts to it, but when things are put together well, it's something special," Barnett said. "I think that came together well in fall camp and the jump from spring to now has been tremendous."

There's also been notable developments on the other side of the ball. Coordinator Brian Jean-Mary's defense bulked up along the line and strengthened the depth chart at key positions with the intent of improvement across the board.

If you visited GoUSFBulls.com during fall camp, you learned lots about a team that made the most of offseason conditioning and became even closer as a group leading up to the most highly anticipated home opener since the program's very first game in 1997.

With all that in mind, let's cover some more ground before the Bulls battle the Badgers in primetime.

Key Transfers
Darius Slade, KJ Sails, Devin Studstill and Patrick Macon.

Those are the names you've heard a lot about this offseason and for very good reasons.

USF's four upperclassman transfers fit right in with the team during fall camp and all four could factor into the Bulls' success on defense this season.

Slade, a senior defensive end from Montclair, N.J., played at Ohio State/Arizona State prior to becoming a Bull and he's already made a big impact on the edge in fall camp. Slade (6-5, 257) brings more big-time size to the defensive line along with speed, athleticism and a winning work rate.

"He's come in and kept his head down and just bought into our system and plays hard," defensive coordinator Brian Jean-Mary said. "That's been contagious."

With Mazzi Wilkins now doing his thing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Ronnie Hoggins a project engineer for Suffolk Construction, USF had some shoes to fill at cornerback. Sails, a North Carolina transfer, could play a major role if the NCAA declares him eligible. While he's been waiting on the word, the junior from Tampa made flashy plays all fall camp and his confidence at corner is very evident.

Studstill adds more veteran presence to the secondary and could add to USF's takeaway total like he did in scrimmage action. The Riviera Beach, Fla., native brings ideal size to the safety position (6-0, 200) and has big-time experience after playing for Notre Dame the past three seasons.

Macon brings much needed size to the the linebacker unit, as the 6-3, 245-pound transfer from Oklahoma State will look to see his first NCAA Division I action after a earning NJCAA Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2016 at Arizona Western and the suffering injuries at Oklahoma State that kept him off the field for two seasons.

"They've come from universities where they've gotten quality reps against quality opponents," said Jean-Mary of Studstill and Sails.

More Speed and Size at Receiver
Redshirt sophomore Randall St. Felix (Miami) and senior Stanley Clerveaux (North Miami) are names that ring a bell well with fans, but there's plenty more receivers who could make their presence known this year.

Sophomore Johnny Ford (Miami) made an instant impact as a running back last year and he thrived as a slot receiver throughout camp this fall. Not only can he make people miss in the open field, but Ford is extra dangerous in the red zone with smooth moves and sure hands.

"Once he gets in space, who knows what he can do," coordinator Kerwin Bell said. "Him being at that slot receiver is just another way for him to get shifty once the ball is in his hands."

Junior Eddie McDoom (St. Petersburg, Fla.) is another big playmaker for the Bulls who finally gets to suit up after transferring in from Michigan last fall. Quick, crisp route running continues in the slot with sophomore Bryce Miller (St. Petersburg, Fla.), who stepped up in the spring and has caught coordinator Kerwin Bell's attention even more this fall.

"He's been productive every day we go out," Bell said. "He catches balls, he makes plays and so we've got to find a place to play him."

Although he's played in the past two seasons, 2019 could be the year junior Jernard Phillips breaks out as a weapon on offense. The Miami native has been lining up out wide in camp and caught two TD passes in USF's first scrimmage.

Other Bulls to keep an eye are freshman Xavier Weaver (110 catches, 2,124 yards, 32 TDs for Orlando Christian Prep) and senior  Kevin Purlett (Miramar, Fla.). The walk-on and former tight end has stretched the field in camp and Purlett is very physical at 6-feet-2 and 241 pounds.
 
'Quality Depth' at Linebacker
Patrick Macon (6-3, 245) could be a tackling machine for the Bulls after transferring in from Oklahoma State and he's one of many options for Brian Jean-Mary to utilize at linebacker.

"We've added some quality depth," the third-year USF defensive coordinator said. "We won't run into some of the situations we had last year, where we had to move positions in the middle of the year."

Senior starter Nico Sawtelle (Jensen Beach, Fla.) is working to be back in the middle of the defense this season after missing seven games of 2018 with a neck/shoulder injury. In addition to Sawtelle and Macon, middle linebacker talent continues with spring standout Andrew Mims (St. Johns, Fla.).

Sophomores Dwayne Boyles (Miami) and Antonio Grier (Atlanta) are bigger and even smarter in Jean-Mary's system thanks to a season of valuable experience in 2018. USF also has numerous up-and-coming players at linebacker in freshmen Tae'Aviion Gray (Quitman, Ga.) and Demaurez Bellamy (DeLand, Fla.) along with redshirt freshmen Randal Copeland (Havana, Fla.) and Brian Norris (Chiefland, Fla.), who has made a successful move from running back this fall.

"Our numbers may be going from three or four to seven or eight," said Jean-Mary of USF's possible linebacker rotation in games. "That's a really good number as far as linebackers go."

Bull Rush Could Be Better
USF wants to get to the quarterback as often as possible and the Bulls have the players to bring a consistent pass rush.

Senior end Kirk Livingstone (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) has had an outstanding camp (three sacks in final fall scrimmage) and he's bringing the pressure even better at 275, a 12-pound gain since last fall.

Greg Reaves (Bradenton, Fla.) happily returns to his defensive end role after filling the void at linebacker last fall. The senior racked up 14.0 tackles for loss as an edge rusher in 2017 and he's primed for more production back in the position he loves to call home.

"He did what he had to do for the defense last year, but I think he's more natural out there," outside linebackers coach Sean Cronin said. "He kind of came alive this spring when we put him back in that position. I think he's more comfortable there and I think he's going to have a great senior year."

Cronin also has been impressed with freshman Jason Vaughn (Auburndale, Fla.), who has built on his solid spring showing this fall.

"Jason Vaughn is a young guy who is making a lot of plays," Cronin said.

Darius Slade was already mentioned in this story, but here he is again. Remember that name and watch him work his way to the backfield.

Consistency of the Kicking Game
Last season, Coby Weiss went from being a walk-on to USF's trusty placekicker, making 15 of 18 attempts and a string of nine straight to end the year.

The Groza Award candidate will once again be counted on, but the Bulls can now utilize the strong leg of freshman Spencer Shrader (Lithia, Fla.), who made 50-plus yard attempts on the regular in camp.

"Weiss, he is my short kicker," said head coach Charlie Strong. "Then, I put Shrader in there as my long kicker. It's good that you have that now."

Shrader, a former soccer player, also has the ability to put the ball in the end zone often on kickoffs, which frees up USF's punter to strictly focus on his craft. Junior Trent Schneider (Sydney, Australia) is back after averaging 42.9 yards per attempt in his Bulls debut last season.
 
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
Having completed 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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