Bull In The Spotlight: Brian Battie
USF (2-8; 1-5 American) at Tulane (1-9; 0-6 American)
Saturday, Nov. 20 • 12:00 P.M. • New Orleans, La., • Yulman Stadium (30,000)
SURFACE: Artificial
TV: ESPN+: Jack Benjamin (p-by-p) & Brian Kinchen (analyst)
RADIO: 95.3 FM WDAE
AUDIO STREAM: iHeartRadio - Bulls Unlimited1
SERIES: Tied, 1-1
IN TAMPA: Tulane leads, 1-0
IN NEW ORLEANS: USF leads, 1-0
LAST: Tulane won, 41-15, in Tampa in 2018
STREAK: Lost 7 straight road conference games, last win coming Oct. 26, 2019 at ECU (45-20)
GAME NOTES (PDF)
By Joey Johnston
Lightning struck twice for USF freshman Brian Battie on Nov. 6 when he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns against No. 20-ranked Houston, becoming only the second Football Bowl Subdivision player to record a pair of 100-yard returns in the same game. They also became his second and third 100-yard returns of the year which put him at the top of USF's season and career records for touchdown returns.
"I'm not going to lie, all the attention from that made me feel special,'' Battie said. "But that has passed and I'm looking for new ways to help my team. I'm not going to get big-headed.''
As the Bulls (2-8, 1-5 AAC) prepare for Saturday afternoon's American Athletic Conference game against the Tulane Green Wave (1-9, 0-6 AAC) at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, Battie said he's focused on maintaining the hard-earned edge that has defined his football career.
Battie has always been doubted. At 5-foot-8, 165 pounds, he's a smallish running back. He has heard the comment often. "You play football?''
"When I'm in the regular world, I'm a normal-looking guy,'' Battie said. "The only time I feel small is on the football field. But I try to use that to my advantage. There's always a chip on my shoulder because I know there are people out there saying, 'Oh come on, what can that little guy do?' ''
Plenty.
Battie has rushed for 297 yards (5.8-yard average) with a 110-yard game against Florida A&M and a jaw-dropping start-and-stop 29-yard touchdown run against Houston. He leads the NCAA with three kickoff return touchdowns — he also had a 100-yarder against Tulsa — and ranks second nationally with a 36.3-yard kickoff return average.
But Battie is also a complete special-teams performer. He blocked a punt against FAMU. He also plays on the kickoff coverage unit and has two tackles.
"He adds an amazing amount of value to our football team,'' USF special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato said.
Battie, who played his senior season at Sarasota High School, had a 2,133-yard rushing season (at Braden River), but never paid much attention to special teams. He returned three kickoffs, scoring on one against Venice, but never thought that could be a permanent home.
Da Prato changed his mind.
"Coach Da Prato had a little talk with me and said I had the ability to excel on special teams,'' Battie said. "He said if you take it seriously, it can get you paid (in the NFL). So, I locked in, trusted him and did what he said.
"Now I love it. Even beyond the kickoff returns, I enjoy all the special teams units. Every time I step out there, I'm looking to make a play. Special teams might be an afterthought at other places. Not at USF. You're not putting just anybody out there. It's a place for good players. Being a special-teams player is a good thing. It's cool. You can really impact the game.''
Battie's abilities were obvious against Houston, but he said the electrifying results were made possible by all 11 players.
"On the first one, I didn't have to do anything but run,'' Battie said. "When it's padded up that well, you have no other choice than to take it to the crib. On the second one, I hit a little cutback, made one or two people miss, but it was padded up perfectly again. When we watched the film, it looked amazing.''
There was Battie and Jimmy Horn back deep.
There was the wedge of Andrew Mims, Mitchell Brinkman and Gunnar Greenwald.
There was the front line of Brock Nichols, Logan Berryhill, Timarcus Simpson, Mychael Hamilton, Josh Green and Jayden Curry.
"It was all 11 guys doing their jobs on both reps … and it was beautiful to see,'' Da Prato said. "Bat (as his teammates call Battie) was tremendous, but the whole unit was in the right place at the right time.
"Bat is really locked in. He has such trust and belief in the other 10 guys on the field and that translates to his performance. Bat has tremendous conviction. He possesses multiple talents. He can be shifty and make a guy miss. When he needs to go in two steps to top speed, he can do that. Those skills have enabled him to get where he is today.''
He's Brian Battie — BAT (small pause) TEE, not Batty or Buh-tee — a BayMade player who originally committed to Charlie Strong's USF staff. When Jeff Scott was hired, he met with Battie and said USF's pledge was strong. That was fine with Battie, who had 15 offers, including from Cincinnati and Kansas State.
"I'm a Florida guy and a Tampa Bay guy, so USF is perfect,'' Battie said. "I've gotten some great opportunities already and this program is on the way up. I can't wait to see what else is in store for us. It's great to have all my friends and family around to see it happening. If I just keep working and doing the right things, I'm in a great spot.''
Battie's father, Tommy, was a blue-chip defensive back from Sarasota High, class of 1997, who had committed to Florida State. Because of off-field issues, he never made it to FSU. But he learned from mistakes and taught his son the right path.
Battie's father works now as an athletic trainer and helped to condition another USF luminary from Sarasota, legendary Bulls running back Marlon Mack, who is now with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. Battie lived in the same area as Mack and they formed a relationship.
"I look up to him and I know he wants me to do well,'' Battie said.
So far, so good.
After the two kickoff-return touchdowns, Houston kicked it away from Battie. Last week against Cincinnati, the Bearcats boomed their kickoffs deep into the end zone. Battie played sparingly in the second half after his knee was stepped on during a pileup, but he's full go for Tulane.
Can lightning strike again?
"You know we'll be looking to make it happen again,'' Battie said of a fourth 100-yard return, which would tie the NCAA season record. "I know my guys will block it up. It's a thrill to go the distance like that, not just for me, but for all of us. We're all in this together.
"At the same time, I'm never going to forget where I came from or how I've been doubted. I'm never going to feel like I've made it because there's always something new to accomplish. I can't lose that edge.''
