Game 3 Player to Watch: Kirk Livingstone
NEXT GAME: South Carolina State (2-0) at USF (0-2)
DAY/TIME: Saturday/6 p.m.
LOCATION: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
TV/RADIO: ESPN3/USF Radio Network (1250-AM), Bulls Unlimited
SERIES: First meeting
GAME NOTES: USF
TICKETS: USFBullsTix.com
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, SEPT. 13, 2019 –
Kirk Livingstone and the rest of the bruising Bulls on the defensive line have big plans for the program's return to Raymond James Stadium on Saturday night.
"We're trying to make plays and cause havoc in the backfield," said the versatile senior.
USF's defense as a whole has done a lot of that in the season's first two games. The Bulls will run out of the tunnel to face South Carolina State ranking third nationally with 12.0 tackles for loss per outing.
Out of USF's 24 total TFLs, 21.5 have been produced by the defensive line/linebackers and 3.5 belong to Livingstone, who is crushing it at two different positions. The three-year starter at defensive end also is making things happen as an interior lineman when the Bulls switch from their base defense.
"With his quickness and his athleticism, he's a mismatch for most centers and guards," defensive coordinator
Brian Jean-Mary said. "He's really taken advantage of that so far these first two games."
Livingstone definitely has the smarts to adjust well to a new position pretty much on the fly. The spring 2019 graduate with a 3.6 grade-point average in health sciences already picked up experience blocking on punts in 2018 and prepared for a possible third job for the Bulls by pumping more iron.
"Prior to this season, my goal was to be around 275, just in case I had to play three-tech, and I think it's helped me," said the 6-foot-4 standout, who has 110 career tackles and 24.5 tackles for loss, on pace to finish among the top 10 in career TFLs at USF.
Sure enough, Livingstone was asked to moonlight as an interior lineman during the first week of fall camp, which is now paying dividends for the Bulls. Livingstone said all 3.5 of his tackles for loss have been tallied at the three-technique and that includes a sack against No. 14 Wisconsin in the season opener.
"It's kind of funny," he said.
Jean-Mary certainly appreciates Livingstone's willingness to play multiple roles for the Bulls along with being a prime leader by example. The defensive coordinator said Livingstone doesn't even need to be in the room, or field, to make a lasting impact on teammates.
All they have to do is turn on the tape and watch No. 6 (formerly No. 94, a change we'll get to soon).
"Kirk is kind of the barometer of what we want to be. Everybody sees him practicing hard and giving everything he's got," Jean-Mary said. "He raises the level of competitiveness we have on the defense. He's kind of been our rock. He's kind of been our standard when it comes to that."
Now, About No. 6
Fans grew accustomed to seeing Livingstone motoring around in No. 94 before Coach Strong pulled a switcharoo right before the season opener.
"Last year, I saw Greg (Reaves) switch and I was like, 'Man, playing football I've never had a single digit. Coming into my last year, I just wanted something new, something different," Livingstone said. "My favorite player back in college was Dante Fowler (an All-SEC linebacker who wore No. 6 at Florida), so I would bug Coach Strong, 'What about 6?'"
Described by offensive lineman
Demetris Harris (Jacksonville, Fla.) as "sneaky funny," Strong didn't say anything at the time. He waited until the Bulls headed to the locker room at Ray Jay to get ready for their first game of 2019.
Strong's eventual response to Livingstone's request is something the new No. 6 won't forget.
"I was shocked," Livingstone said. "It was definitely a cool time."
More Than Just a Football Player
Livingstone would love a chance to play in the NFL, but he's got a great plan for after he hangs up the cleats.
Already a college grad with a degree in health sciences, Livingstone is currently taking more required classes for physician's assistant school.
"I remember speaking to my mom about it. The profession is so flexible," he said. "My main goal is to help with kids, just help kids get better and things like that."
On top of racking up TFLs on the field, Livingstone is tackling his hardest semester of classes yet, which is when that strong work ethic Jean-Mary talked about really comes in handy.
"It's a challenge balancing football, school and social life, but it's definitely something I've been doing for quite some time," Livingstone said.
Once Saturday's game is in the books, Livingstone plans to spend part of the bye week looking at more PA school options.
He's also excited about the possibility of putting a prestigious 25-pound bronze award on his bookshelf after being selected as a nominee for the
William V. Campbell Trophy. The award recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the nation for his academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership.
Selected by the NFF Awards Committee in October, finalists and the winner will be honored in December at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York City. Each finalist receives an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship and the winner's postgrad scholarship will be increased to $25,000.
"I remember hearing about it last year and read up about who Campbell was," Livingstone said. "I also saw Christian Wilkins from Clemson won it last year. Hopefully I can keep it up and win."
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 –
