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October 23, 2020 | Football
GAME 6 MATCHUP: Tulsa (1-1, 1-0 in AAC) at USF (1-4, 0-3 in AAC)
DAY & TIME: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
TV: ESPN
RADIO: Over the Air: 1250-AM WHNZ & Digital: Bulls Unlimited
SERIES: USF leads, 3-0
TICKETS: USFBullsTix.com, 1-800-Go-Bulls
GAME NOTES: USF | Tulsa
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, OCT. 23, 2020 – Much like his track record in the classroom, Mekhi LaPointe has hit the ground running in new USF coordinator Glenn Spencer's defensive system that allows defensive backs to really deliver in the takeaway department.
Entering Friday's prime-time test against Tulsa, the junior safety from Tampa leads the Bulls with two interceptions after picking off a pass in two of his first three outings this season.
"LaPointe is just a guy that finds the ball. The ball finds him," head coach Jeff Scott said. "It just feels like he's gonna get an interception every single game. Some guys just have a knack for that."
LaPointe certainly did in high school when he led the state of Florida with 10 interceptions for Armwood as a junior. By then, the student who excelled in advanced classes throughout his prep career was well on his way to receiving his associate degree in addition to his high school diploma by the end of his senior year.
"I was in a program called the Collegiate Academy," he said. "I just took college classes throughout my freshman, sophomore, junior, senior years. It just kind of builds up."
LaPointe posted a high school GPA somewhere near the ballpark of the valedictorian and his stellar academic achievements have continued to pile up at USF.
Already having a bachelor's degree in health sciences in hand, the fall 2019 grad is in the midst of marketing courses with plans of pursuing a master's degree that will prepare him well for a future career in construction management.
"I always liked being around buildings and architecture," he said.
LaPointe also likes being around USF football's film room when he's not immersed in his playbook. Being a true student of the game has allowed LaPointe to excel in creative Spencer's multiple system that has a history of confusing opposing quarterbacks.
Last season, Spencer's FAU defense led the nation in total takeaways (33) and interceptions (22). This year, his first USF unit ranks seventh in the FBS with six interceptions and 12th in turnovers gained (9) through five games.
Spencer said his complex scheme requires secondary players to be "scholars" and LaPointe is certainly shining as one of the highest graded safeties in the nation, according to Pro Football Focus.
"I just take notes every day," he said. "I just try to pay attention to the little details at practice. I tell my coach, 'Tell me when I'm wrong.' I just try to be coachable."
Both Scott and Spencer continue to commend LaPointe on his play, especially after after he hauled in a one-handed interception last week at Temple. With a team-best two picks this season, LaPointe has already doubled his interception total of the past two seasons despite missing two of the Bulls' first five games this year.
"I didn't know what to expect this year with everything going on," he said. "It feels good, it's rewarding."
More About Mekhi
About USF Football
The USF football program first took the field in 1997 and completed its 23rd season (20th at the FBS level) in 2019. The Bulls have posted 15 winning seasons, earned 14 All-America selections and 29 first-team all-conference selections and has seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft. USF has made 10 bowl games appearances (going 6-4 in those games) and posted a program record six straight appearances from 2005-2010. The Bulls most recently made four straight bowl appearances from 2015-18 and posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2016 and 2017, logging a program-record 11-2 mark in 2016 while finishing both seasons ranked in the Top 25. USF spent a program record 20 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 during the 2016 and 2017 seasons and reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings during the 2007 season.
Follow @USFFootball on Twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.
DAY & TIME: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
TV: ESPN
RADIO: Over the Air: 1250-AM WHNZ & Digital: Bulls Unlimited
SERIES: USF leads, 3-0
TICKETS: USFBullsTix.com, 1-800-Go-Bulls
GAME NOTES: USF | Tulsa
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, OCT. 23, 2020 – Much like his track record in the classroom, Mekhi LaPointe has hit the ground running in new USF coordinator Glenn Spencer's defensive system that allows defensive backs to really deliver in the takeaway department.
Entering Friday's prime-time test against Tulsa, the junior safety from Tampa leads the Bulls with two interceptions after picking off a pass in two of his first three outings this season."LaPointe is just a guy that finds the ball. The ball finds him," head coach Jeff Scott said. "It just feels like he's gonna get an interception every single game. Some guys just have a knack for that."
LaPointe certainly did in high school when he led the state of Florida with 10 interceptions for Armwood as a junior. By then, the student who excelled in advanced classes throughout his prep career was well on his way to receiving his associate degree in addition to his high school diploma by the end of his senior year.
"I was in a program called the Collegiate Academy," he said. "I just took college classes throughout my freshman, sophomore, junior, senior years. It just kind of builds up."
LaPointe posted a high school GPA somewhere near the ballpark of the valedictorian and his stellar academic achievements have continued to pile up at USF.Already having a bachelor's degree in health sciences in hand, the fall 2019 grad is in the midst of marketing courses with plans of pursuing a master's degree that will prepare him well for a future career in construction management.
"I always liked being around buildings and architecture," he said.
LaPointe also likes being around USF football's film room when he's not immersed in his playbook. Being a true student of the game has allowed LaPointe to excel in creative Spencer's multiple system that has a history of confusing opposing quarterbacks.
Last season, Spencer's FAU defense led the nation in total takeaways (33) and interceptions (22). This year, his first USF unit ranks seventh in the FBS with six interceptions and 12th in turnovers gained (9) through five games.
Spencer said his complex scheme requires secondary players to be "scholars" and LaPointe is certainly shining as one of the highest graded safeties in the nation, according to Pro Football Focus.
"I just take notes every day," he said. "I just try to pay attention to the little details at practice. I tell my coach, 'Tell me when I'm wrong.' I just try to be coachable."Both Scott and Spencer continue to commend LaPointe on his play, especially after after he hauled in a one-handed interception last week at Temple. With a team-best two picks this season, LaPointe has already doubled his interception total of the past two seasons despite missing two of the Bulls' first five games this year.
"I didn't know what to expect this year with everything going on," he said. "It feels good, it's rewarding."
More About Mekhi
EVEN-KEELED BULL KEEPS TO HIMSELF: Get to know LaPointe and you'll find he's a very friendly and well-spoken Bull, but he's not the outgoing type. "I'm kind of to myself, low key, an introvert," he said. "I'm usually in my room. I can talk to people. I just kind of chill in my room." Chill also is a good way to describe how he is on the football field, a place where most gridiron gladiators like to roar. "I'm actually a pretty calm guy. My teammates usually tell me, 'Ki, say something crazy,'" he explained. "They try to get me going, but I'm just me. I just kind of do me." Playing a position that calls for extreme focus, LaPointe lets his play do the talking and it seems to be working just fine for the team interceptions leader. "I just try to keep my emotions even. I'm not trying to get too high, too low," he said. "I'm not trying to get too hyped too early. I'm just trying to be right at the right level for the right time in the game."- FOOTBALL PLAYER MAKING DAD PROUD: The only son of Lisa and Moise LaPointe has two sisters – 26-year-old Danielle and 11-year-old Taylor, a talented dancer. "I'm one of her biggest fans," LaPointe said. "She's actually really good." So is LaPointe in a sport he started playing at age 5, when his father got him into football. "I've got a picture when I was a baby. I was in a Titans jersey. I'm not a Titans fan by any means. Go Bucs!" the Tampa native said. "My dad always instilled football in me." His father, Moise, is a USF grad who played high school ball at Miami Central.
- INSPIRED BY HOGGINS: Architecture was the first profession LaPointe wanted to pursue, but he's adjusted his career aspirations to construction management after seeing a former teammate thrive in the industry. Former USF defensive back Ronnie Hoggins has been a project engineer for Suffolk Construction since July 2019. "Seeing Ronnie do some things outside of football kind of inspired me," LaPointe said. "Ronnie is doing big things."
About USF Football
The USF football program first took the field in 1997 and completed its 23rd season (20th at the FBS level) in 2019. The Bulls have posted 15 winning seasons, earned 14 All-America selections and 29 first-team all-conference selections and has seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft. USF has made 10 bowl games appearances (going 6-4 in those games) and posted a program record six straight appearances from 2005-2010. The Bulls most recently made four straight bowl appearances from 2015-18 and posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2016 and 2017, logging a program-record 11-2 mark in 2016 while finishing both seasons ranked in the Top 25. USF spent a program record 20 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 during the 2016 and 2017 seasons and reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings during the 2007 season.
Follow @USFFootball on Twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.
- #GoBulls –
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