Bulls Fly Around in Full Pads for First Time This Fall
Gallery: (8/6/2019) USF Football Fall Camp 2019 Day 5
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, AUG. 6, 2019 – USF took a loud step toward the season opener by putting on full pads for the first time this fall and going full speed ahead in the fifth practice of camp Tuesday morning.
"The 3-on-3 drills are probably one of our most competitive drills. We were going back and forth. Guys were going at it," said senior defensive end
Greg Reaves (Bradenton, Fla.). "We had a little circle drill, which was pretty fun. It was guys going 1-on-1, man-on-man."
Despite the sun scorching the Morsani Complex for most of practice and real feel temperatures reaching the 100's, there didn't seem to be a dip in intensity on both sides of the ball. And with each huge hit during drills, coaches were quick to reward USF's efforts with loud ovations.
"I know we've still got some weeks before we get to that first game, but you just like the way they've been working," head coach
Charlie Strong said.
Full pads or not, Strong noted every practice so far this fall has been physical, which is a credit to the Bulls for the offseason work they put in to get to this point.
"Everybody bought in and now we're coming out here and seeing the results of it," said senior receiver
Stanley Clerveaux (North Miami, Fla.).
Bulls Gearing Up for Big-Time Opponent
USF knows there's no time to waste on the practice field or in the film room with a game against a marquee opponent on the horizon.
Raymond James Stadium should be rocking when the Bulls open the season in primetime against Big Ten foe Wisconsin on Friday, Aug. 30. The first meeting between the programs since 2014 is set for a 7 p.m. start and will be televised nationally on ESPN.
"It's what we signed up for," said starting senior quarterback
Blake Barnett (Corona, Calif.). "We want those opportunities to prove what kind of team we can be and that we are."
Success in the most anticipated season opener at home in program history would certainly earn the Bulls some national prestige. Wisconsin is tied for 17
th in the preseason Coaches Poll and is USF's highest-ranked opponent in a season opener since the Bulls defeated No. 16 Notre Dame on the road in 2011.
"I'm ready to show out for that game," said senior tight end
Mitchell Wilcox (Tarpon Springs, Fla.). "All of us are."
Reserve your seats for USF-Wisconsin online at
USFBullsTix.com or by calling 1-800-Go-Bulls.
Reaves Likes Living on the Edge
Greg Reaves made a name for himself as a Bull by going from a walk-on to a disruptive defensive end/outside linebacker who led the team with 14.0 tackles for loss in 2017.
Last season, the Bradenton, Fla., native had to switch from the role he "fell in love with" to middle linebacker due to USF's injuries and lack of depth at the position.
Although he produced a solid average of 9.4 tackles per game in seven starts at middle linebacker, Reaves is happy to be back on the edge this fall.
"I've been there for three years, I know that position," he said. "I know the ins and outs, kind of like the back of my hand. It's awesome."
Bulls in Better Shape at Linebacker
Greg Reaves is happily making a return to his edge position on the defense thanks in part to USF getting proven and healthy senior
Nico Sawtelle (Jensen Beach, Fla.) back at middle linebacker.
"You miss a player when they make a lot of plays for you," head coach
Charlie Strong said. "When you get him back, it's really exciting for himself and for the whole defense."
The Bulls also are excited about what's been developing at linebacker as a whole since last season.
Along with trusty Sawtelle (29 career starts), USF has another potential playmaker in the middle with redshirt sophomore
Andrew Mims (St. Johns, Fla.) shining since spring ball.
"
Andrew Mims is a name to remember," Reaves said. "He's been playing really well all camp."
Aside from those two talents, Strong has numerous other linebackers he can lean on this fall.
Bigger and more seasoned
Dwayne Boyles (Miami) and
Antonio Grier (Atlanta) both return for their sophomore seasons. The Bulls also added a veteran in Oklahoma State graduate transfer
Patrick Macon (Memphis, Tenn.), who was the NJCAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2016.
"Last year, you had such a young group," Strong said. "Now the guys are much older."
This fall, USF's linebacker room seats nearly 15 and includes another notable player Strong mentioned Tuesday - redshirt freshman
Brian Norris Jr. (Chiefland, Fla.), who moved over from running back and has been performing well this fall.
"We've got some guys," Strong said. "We've never had depth there and now we have some depth."
Bulls Bits
CLERVEAUX HAPPY TO HAVE A ROLE: Sixth-year USF receiver Stanley Clerveaux (North Miami, Fla.) might be called "old guy" by his teammates, but he's feeling like his career is just taking off. After injuries sidelined and slowed production his first few seasons, Clerveaux had a career year in 2018 that included nine starts and a full 13 games of experience. "Camp is going great right now. I'm out here catching balls and doing my thing," said Clerveaux, who is getting first-team reps this fall.- SCOUT WATCH: More pro teams were represented Tuesday with scouts from the Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars and CFL's Ottawa Redblacks watching practice. Scouts from the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills and BC Lions (CFL) have checked out USF's talent in past fall camp practices.
- FAN FEST SET FOR SATURDAY: Saturday is a free opportunity for supporters to meet the Bulls. USF Fan Fest is set to take place from 2-4 p.m. inside the Yuengling Center with a free Youth Flag Football Clinic to follow. Attendees can get autographs from the team and purchase USF apparel at the fun event that's followed by a free youth flag football clinic from 4-6 p.m. Get more info HERE.
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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– #GoBulls –
