Bulls Look to Make a Statement in AAC Opener at Ray Jay
NEXT GAME: SMU (4-0) at USF (1-2)
DAY/TIME: Saturday/4 p.m.
LOCATION: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
TV/RADIO: ESPNU/USF Radio Network:
Over the Air: 1250-AM &
Digital: Bulls Unlimited
SERIES: USF leads, 3-1 (Bulls won last matchup, 35-27, in Dallas in 2016)
GAME NOTES: USF
TICKETS: USFBullsTix.com
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, SEPT. 23, 2019 – Rested and refocused after a bye week, USF has a chance to make a big statement in its conference opener Saturday at Raymond James Stadium.
First up for the Bulls on the AAC slate is SMU, which improved to 4-0 for the first time since 1984 with a
41-38 win at then-No. 25 TCU last Saturday.
"It's a really good football team. We're gonna have to be at our best to go beat this team," head coach
Charlie Strong said. "I'm just looking forward to the challenge and hoping our players will go accept that challenge."
Strong's Bulls have been anxious for another opportunity since their record-breaking victory the last time out against South Carolina State on Sept. 14. Relentless USF set the program's new top single-game marks with eight takeaways by eight different players and five fumble recoveries in the
55-16 rout at Ray Jay. It marked the Bulls' largest margin of victory since beating rival UCF by 41 points back in 2015.
"Anytime you win, you feel a lot better," Strong said. "The confidence is starting and you start believing a little more."
Swagger also looks to be restored for USF's swarming defense that ranks highly in national stat categories. Heading into the weekend, the Bulls are tied for first in the FBS in turnovers gained (11) and fumbles recovered (7). USF also is tied for second in tackles for loss per game (11.0) and turnover margin (2.00).
"You have to play great defense to win and it's all about takeaways," Strong said. "We've been able to get those takeaways. We've been able to create lost yardage plays. We've got to continue to build on that and continue to play."
The Bulls as a whole will look to continue two notable trends Saturday. USF is 4-0 under Strong following a bye week and the program has won its past three conference openers.
Strong to Face Former Recruit
Shane Buechele is a name Coach Strong knows very well.
SMU's junior quarterback spent the past three seasons at Texas, where he was recruited by Strong when he was the Longhorns' head coach. Back in 2016, Buechele became the first Texas quarterback since 1944 to start his first career game as a true freshman. He made it a memorable one with three total touchdowns in a 50-47 win over No. 10 Notre Dame.
"Now watching him develop, his game has really elevated," Strong said.
Equipped with a strong right arm, Buechele leads The American with 1,159 passing yards through four games. Despite the Bulls' defense totaling four picks through three games, Strong knows his former player won't be afraid to go deep Saturday at Ray Jay.
"My than anything, we just can't give up the home runs. They're going to take their shots," Strong said. "We can't give them the shots because it's one of those offenses where they'll run the ball, they'll run the ball and then they take a big throw on you."
Explosive McCloud Looking to Take the Next Step
Just like Buechele, USF's starting quarterback isn't afraid to test defenses through the air and this Bull is only a redshirt freshman.
Tampa native
Jordan McCloud has produced six 20-plus yard pass plays in 35 career attempts and three have resulted in scores. The dual threat had five explosive plays in his first-career start – a 42-yard TD pass to
Johnny Ford, a 31-yard run, a 20-yard scoring strike to
Mitchell Wilcox, a 35-yard pass to
Eddie McDoom and a 52-yard pitch-and-catch with Ford.
"Being in the one game (he started), it's going to be room for improvement," Strong said. "With each game, it just becomes bigger and bigger. We'll see how he begins to handle that as we get into this stretch we're ready to take."
That stretch will certainly test the Bulls, who won't get another break from action until the next bye week that begins Oct. 28. After SMU, USF plays at UConn (Oct. 5) and hosts BYU (Oct. 12) before a two-game road trip (at Navy, Oct. 19; at ECU, Oct. 26).
Versatile Ford Rolling in Past Two Games
Offensive coordinator
Kerwin Bell calls
Johnny Ford USF's "man-beater," but you can also call him "Mr. Versatile."
Lining up as a slot receiver, the speedy sophomore from Miami has caught two touchdown passes in two games (20 and 42 yards). Ford had a career long 52-yard reception against SC State during his first 100-yard receiving game (four catches, 100 yards) while becoming USF's leading receiver on the year.
Ford also is the Bulls' top TD producer this season after breaking off a 32-yard scoring run in the program's last outing on Sept. 14. All those 2019 feats were accomplished after Ford exploded on the college scene with 787 rushing yards (6.8 ypc, 12
th nationally) as a true freshman back with tons of potential.
"He's one of those guys where you can put him at receiver and he does a good job of catching the ball. Then you put him back at running back and he can make people miss," Strong said. "… He's a really good player and he's going to get a lot of touches for us because he can make things happen."
Bulls Bits
- AAC SUCCESS: USF owns a 22-10 record in American Athletic Conference games the past five seasons (including 2019). Only Temple has had more league success at 24-8 during the time span. The Bulls are 5-1 all-time in AAC openers.
HORNS UP ROAD RALLY THIS FRIDAY: Get ready for game day by attending the next Horns Up Road Rally that's set for Friday from 5-8 p.m. at Irish 31's Hyde Park Village location in Tampa (1611 W. Swann Ave.). Horns Up Rallies are a series of fun and free USF fan gatherings taking place at locations around the Bay area prior to Bulls' home football games in 2019.- 'AUSSIE' LEADS THE AMERICAN: Australian Trent Schneider currently leads The American and ranks eighth nationally with an average of 47.2 yards per punt. The 29-year-old former construction worker set a USF game record this season at Georgia Tech, averaging 51.6 yards on seven punts, including a 60-yarder.
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 –
