USF Athletics

Bulls Fly Around in First Fall Scrimmage at Ray Jay

August 16, 2020

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, AUG. 16, 2020 – Randall St. Felix rejoiced as he walked out of the tunnel and jogged onto the perfect Bermuda grass for USF football's grand return to Raymond James Stadium on Saturday.

For the first time in eight months – and first time under new head coach Jeff Scott – the Bulls got a taste of the game day experience on their home field during the initial scrimmage of fall camp that was filled with electrifying plays in all three phases.
 

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"It was great to be out there. Our guys had a lot of fun," Scott said. "This is something our coaches and players have really looked forward to over the last two weeks - getting to that first scrimmage and getting an opportunity to go over to Raymond James."

Focused on executing in new schemes, USF put many positives, and some learning experiences, on tape during Saturday's session Scott declared "probably equal in the amount of success" offensively and defensively. Lots of Bulls played roles in Scott's assessment because coaches made sure to distribute as many reps as possible among the 104-man active roster.

"You really have to have three and four deep ready to play," Scott said. "The best way to get them ready to play is to give them opportunities in these scrimmages."

O-Line Sets Tone for Solid Rushing Day
Scott said USF will need to have a minimum of 10 offensive linemen ready for game action during the unique season ahead.

The Bulls' big guys up front made their coach proud by surrendering only one sack all day and providing room for the offense to total six touchdowns on the ground.

Junior running back Darrian Felix, an Oregon transfer from Fort Myers, Fla., got the scoring started with a 23-yard touchdown run that capped off the fourth drive of the scrimmage.

Sophomore Kelley Joiner (Clermont, Fla.) made up the other half of Saturday's dynamic back duo, rushing for 17- and 30-yard scores.

"They just ran really hard, were physical at times, kind of getting some of those dirty yards," Scott said. "They were able to have some nice runs."

Secondary Swarms to the Ball
USF's seasoned secondary wants to reach elite status nationally this season and started game-like action in stride Saturday.

Junior safety Nick Roberts, a 22-game starter from Jacksonville, Fla., showed great anticipation, stepping in front of an intended target for an interception on the sixth drive.

Later on, star senior cornerback KJ Sails (Tampa) shined in the red zone while hauling in another pick. The Wuerffel Trophy candidate led the Bulls with five takeaways in 2019.

"I felt like our secondary really won the day overall over our receivers and quarterbacks," Scott said.

Helping the cause was sophomore Daquan Evans (Orlando), who made one of his numerous pass breakups while delivering the biggest hit of the day, which echoed around the stadium and sent the defensive sideline into wild celebration.

Freshman safety T.J. Robinson (Riverview, Fla.) also made two nice plays on the ball, while freshmen Christopher Townsel (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) and Jaden Curry (Bradenton, Fla.) joined the pass breakup party.

Quarterbacks Find Ways to Make an Impact
Three veteran quarterbacks competing for the starting spot each made an impression with equal reps Saturday.

Sophomore Jordan McCloud (Tampa) scrambled for an 18-yard score one play after a 17-yard pass to camp standout Mitchell Brinkman, a senior tight end transfer from Northern Illinois.

Grad transfer Noah Johnson (Tampa) also showcased his dual-threat ability, getting to the outside and sprinting for a 30-yard TD in a short-yardage situation.

Sophomore Cade Fortin, a North Carolina transfer from Suwanee, Ga., helped orchestrate three scoring drives with solid pocket presence.

"All three of those guys have played in college games before and have some good experience," Scott said. "I think that showed today from those guys."

Jordan Smith (Lake City, Fla.) showed the future of the position looks bright by making plays in the running game and completing a 28-yard pass in traffic to fellow freshman Omarion Dollison (Columbia, S.C.).

Special Teams Observations
Transfer Jared Sackett (Fort Worth, Texas) and returner Spencer Shrader each were sharp during numerous field-goal kicking tries, especially early when both easily split the uprights from 45 yards out.

Sackett, a Groza Award watch list member, is eligible to play for the Bulls after the junior sat out the 2019 season at Arkansas. Before that, the two-time Groza Award semifinalist kicked for the University of Texas-San Antonio (UTSA).

Shrader (Lithia, Fla.) also made a 40-yarder and Scott said the sophomore "has had an outstanding camp" after gaining 12 games of experience in 2019.

"I feel like we have two really good kickers there competing for that starting field-goal kicking spot," Scott said.

Senior Trent Schneider (Sydney, Australia) continued to wow Scott by booming punts that changed field position Saturday. Schneider already owns six USF punting records and he's on pace to hold nearly every program punting mark.

"He's as good as any punter that I've had a chance to be around and watch," Scott said.

Kickoff and punt returns were all conducted live Saturday and Terrence Horne (Miramar, Fla.) looked speedy as ever returning kickoffs during first-team reps. The sophomore took two kicks to the house against Georgia Tech from 98 and 97 yards out in 2018 before suffering a season-ending knee injury in mid-September of that season.

Special Ray Jay Memories
Coach Scott took a special trip down memory lane with his father, Brad, USF's Chief of Staff, before Saturday's action at the "first-class" venue.

In his last game at Ray Jay, Scott served as co-offensive coordinator for Clemson when the Tigers won the 2017 CFP National Championship Game on a last-second TD catch by Hunter Renfrow. Fittingly, Scott and his wife, Sara, welcomed a newborn son last week and named him Hunter.

"We wanted something that reminded us of Clemson, but also something that would bridge our time coming down here to Tampa," Scott said. "We felt like Hunter was a great way to do that."

Scott also noted Ray Jay was the site of the last game his grandfather, Jeremiah, watched him coach in person.

"For me, there's so many connections that make it a special place," Scott said. "I'm looking forward to many great games back at Raymond James."
 
About USF Football
The USF football program first took the field in 1997 and completed its 23^rd season (20^th 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.
                                                                                
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