USF Athletics

'Dynamic' USF Offense Excited About Progress in Bell's System

August 05, 2019

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, AUG. 5, 2019 – Just four days into fall camp, the Bulls are brimming with enthusiasm when it comes to the potential of new coordinator Kerwin Bell's offense.

"I cannot express the word 'excitement' enough for this upcoming season just because of the options that we have," said senior starting quarterback Blake Barnett (Corona, Calif.). "The offense is extremely dynamic. We have great playmakers. The plays that we have to get the playmakers the ball are really going to make a difference this year."

USF got a taste of what Bell is bringing to the table in the spring, when the former Division II national champion head coach first introduced the Bulls to an offense that utilizes a pro-style passing game with spread concepts. Using Bell's blueprint, Valdosta State led Division II in scoring offense (52.0 ppg) and won it all last season.

"We plan on scoring a lot of points," said senior tight end Mitchell Wilcox, a Mackey Award candidate. "I think Coach Bell is going to put us in a position to do that."

Bell said the position the Bulls are currently in is pretty solid because of their ability to take the teaching of the spring and turn their knowledge level of his offense up more notches this summer.

"Man, they've handled it so much better than they did in the spring, naturally. It's the second time around," said Bell after practice Monday. "Going through the summer, they really worked on it on their own, coming out here and throwing and running the routes on their own. The first and second groups really have great knowledge."

Among those groups are plenty of talented returners for Bell to utilize in his system that's been described as "fun" by any Bull you talk to at skill positions.

"The sky is the limit for the offense, a lot of new stuff. Guys are very much into," said senior back Jordan Cronkrite (Miami), who posted the ninth 1,000-yard rushing season in USF history last fall. "They're excited every day to see what they're going to install next. I'm just excited to see what everybody is going to do."

Along with Cronkrite, USF also has elusive rusher from Miami in sophomore Johnny Ford, who ranked 12^th nationally last season with 6.8 yards per carry and he's also being utilized at slot receiver. The list of numerous playmakers goes on. Randall St. Felix, another Miami native, set the USF season record with four 100-yard receiving games as a redshirt freshman last fall.

And don't forget about Wilcox (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) because the next level hasn't. After setting single-season program records for receptions (43) and receiving yards (540) by a tight end, the talented pass-catcher/blocker was ranked No. 4 among senior tight end prospects for the 2020 NFL Draft by NFL.com Senior Analyst Gil Brandt. 

"We've got to find a way in our system to incorporate him to make sure that he's important and he's getting the chance to catch some balls for us," Bell said.

Wilcox has been getting a solid amount of targets so far in fall camp, but he's more than happy to be sharing the wealth with several others on the roster like impressive slot receiver Eddie McDoom (Winter Garden, Fla.).

"There's so many guys that we can look to, to make a play," Wilcox said. "We're struggling to find rotations because there's so many guys that can affect the game and go in and make a great play."

Established Barnett Bringing It in Fall Camp
Much bigger and more acclimated to USF, Blake Barnett is making the Bulls' offense really go in fall camp now that he's had months to actually prepare with the Bulls.

"I like the way Blake is playing right now," offensive coordinator Kerwin Bell said. "He's really playing at a lot higher level than when we left spring. I'm very pleased with that."

When he wasn't studying Bell's system, Barnett made sure he was sharp for camp by training with numerous QB gurus in the summer and using Pat Moorer's offseason training program to bulk up to 225 pounds.

"This is my first camp I've gone into where I'm the starter," Barnett said. "I've tried to stay persistent in competing every rep and making sure I can do the best that I can to help this offense."

This time last year, Barnett was just getting started with the Bulls after transferring to USF from Arizona State in summer 2018. The former five-star prospect won the starting job in fall camp and went on to throw for nearly 3,000 yards despite battling injuries.

A year of USF experience certainly has made a difference for Barnett, who feels "more accepted" by his teammates.

"I know them better," he said. "I know how they play on the field. I know how they react when they're upset."

Barnett's teammates definitely aren't mad about the way he's playing, especially during Monday's session when he zipped a dime to Eddie McDoom in a crowd of defenders about 25 yards downfield on a post route.

"He's giving guys a lot of trust," said Mitchell Wilcox. "Even today, he threw the ball before we even broke out of our route and that's something that you build over time. I'm proud to see that out of Blake. I'm excited for him."

Offensive Line Shuffle Taking Shape
USF's first-team offensive line looks a little different position-wise from last fall after the coaching staff did some shuffling in the spring.

While three players are still at their usual spots – senior Marcus Norman (RT), sophomore Brad Cecil (center), sophomore Demetris Harris (LG) - former left tackle Donovan Jennings (Tampa) continues to work at right guard.

"We really like powerful guys inside, and those guys that are more athletic and guys we can just depend on are more our edge guys," offensive coordinator Kerwin Bell said.

That means William Atterbury is being trusted at left tackle, which he got used to in the spring. The senior has already been a very versatile Bull with 23 starts at right guard and four more at right tackle in his collegiate career. Atterbury has previous left tackle experience from his time at Clearwater Central Catholic High School.

"He's very dependable," Bell said. "That left tackle is a very important spot when you're throwing the football. I think he's going to do a really good job for us."

Learn more about Atterbury's position switch and USF's fun-loving offensive line HERE.

Bulls Bits

• SCOUT WATCH: AFC East teams have been getting a good look at USF's talent in fall camp. A scout from the New England Patriots was at practice Sunday and another from the Buffalo Bills was in attendance Monday. The CFL also was represented Monday with a scout from the BC Lions evaluating the Bulls.
• MILLER ANOTHER SLOT OPTION: Walk-on receiver Bryce Miller (St. Petersburg, Fla.) has continued to catch coaches' eyes after a strong spring that included first-team reps. "We like guys who can get in and out of routes, so he fits exactly what we're looking for," offensive coordinator Kerwin Bell said. "We're going to give him a lot of opportunities. He's going to, I believe, be in the rotation when we start the 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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