Playmakers Shine In Final Spring Scrimmage
Gallery: (3-11-2021) Football Spring Practice Day 9
By Joey Johnston, Special to USF Athletics
Every facet of USF's team had highlights during Saturday morning's football scrimmage, which marked the ninth workout of spring practice.
There were high-level throws and brilliant receptions. There were explosive runs. There were tackles for loss and athletic pass break-ups. There was some special-teams play and there was even some old-fashioned blocking and tackling.
"Three weeks of spring are in the books and two weeks are left,'' Bulls coach Jeff Scott said. "It has been a very good three weeks, but the key is going to be how we finish the final two weeks.
"We've had three good weeks. We need five. Do you want to get excited by what we've done and just coast in? Or do you take the next step maturity wise, take it to a higher level and play with a chip on your shoulder? We're on our way to turning it around and taking the next step, but we need to finish. Overall, though, I was really pleased with a lot of the things I saw out there today.''
Worth noting:
• The play of the scrimmage was a 46-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Cade Fortin to sophomore wide receiver Xavier Weaver, who was checked tightly by sophomore defensive back Daquan Evans. Weaver, despite the excellent defense, fought to gain possession in mid-flight, displaying tremendous body control. Scott said the play was set up by a tremendous pass-protection block by junior running back Darrian Felix. Bulls' offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., also saluted Weaver's "competitive nature'' as a highlight of spring camp.
• True freshman quarterback Timmy McClain continued to impress with a 7-yard touchdown run and a 47-yard scoring strike to freshman wide receiver Garret Reynolds. But McClain's best moment came after he was flushed from the pocket and scrambled to the sideline before delivering a 31-yard on-a-line howitzer to diving freshman receiver Omarion Dollison.
• Each quarterback had standout moments during the day. Sophomore Jarren Williams, a transfer from Miami, was on the money with a 21-yard toss to junior receiver Bryce Miller and tossed a perfectly placed over-the-shoulder 40-yard completion to Weaver. Freshman Katravis Marsh delivered a beautiful 44-yarder to Dollison in stride.
• Fortin also had a 10-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Latrell Williams and led a nine-play, 70-yard scoring drive during a simulation of a two-minute offense. Fortin was 4-for-6 for 51 yards on the drive, which culminated in an 11-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Kelley Joiner Jr.
• Jaws dropped when freshman punter Andrew Stokes, a 6-foot-5, 220-pounder from Perth, Australia, boomed a 68-yarder with a tight rotation and majestic hang-time arc. Stokes is competing with holdover senior Trent Schneider, a fellow Australian, who is seeing limited action this spring as he mends from an injury. There were two made field-goal attempts — a 27-yarder by sophomore Spencer Shrader and a 30-yarder by junior Jared Sackett.
• Top defensive plays were turned in by junior linebacker Dwayne Boyles Jr., who had three tackles for a loss, and junior defensive back Vincent "Smoke'' Davis, who had back-to-back stops behind the line of scrimmage on running plays. The defense began the scrimmage by holding the offense scoreless on the first seven possessions. There were end-zone pass breakups by freshman defensive back TJ Robinson, sophomore defensive back Christian Williams and senior defensive back Brock Nichols.
• The scrimmage concluded with two periods of overtime. "That's one of our team commandments — 60 minutes or however long it takes to finish,'' Scott said. "Everything you do for 60 minutes can be decided by one play in overtime and you have to be ready for that.'' On overtime's first play, Joiner sprinted through a massive hole untouched down the left side for a 25-yard score. Blocking was secured by senior tight end Mitchell Brinkman, along with a pulling right side of the line, senior guard Michael Wiggs and junior tackle Demontrey Jacobs. "Brinkman helped wall it off, Wiggs kicked and Big Trey inserted,'' Bulls offensive line coach Allen Modridge said. "Boom! It was really nice.''
Snake Returns, Talks Unity
Former Bulls linebacker Stephen "Snake" Nicholas, a first-team all-conference player who spent seven seasons with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, took in Saturday's scrimmage and addressed the team afterward.
Nicholas, who previously worked on USF's coaching staff and also served as a defensive quality control coach with the Tampa Bay Bucs, said unity and togetherness will decide the team's direction.
"In unity is power,'' Nicholas said. "This is a brotherhood right here. If you see your brother struggling in some way, you step up and help because it's your brother.
"We've all been in the (COVID-19) bubble. What you have here is the real bubble. You're with the guys you can depend on and you'll be relying on them throughout your life. That's the bond you'll have. I wish I had (my USF days) back. Work hard and enjoy every bit of this. Don't let that moment pass.''
