Fall Camp Wraps With A Strong Scrimmage Saturday
By Joey Johnston
Fall football camp has ended for the USF Bulls. Now it's full speed ahead with preparations for the Sept. 2 opener at NC State.
Bulls coach Jeff Scott said his players had their "best scrimmage'' of the fall on Saturday morning. It began with a 100-yard kickoff return from freshman Jimmy Horn Jr., then featured a flurry of highlights, both offensively and defensively.
But there were also mistakes, such as three penalties. "Three too many,'' Scott said. "A coach is never going to be satisfied until there's zero (penalties).''
Scott was particularly upset about the types of penalties that were called. During one sequence, freshman quarterback Timmy McClain hit rangy receiver Logan Berryhill on a 45-yard catch-and-run play down to the 6-yard line. But on the next play, a USF receiver lined up in the neutral zone and an offsides penalty was assessed. The Bulls did not score on that drive. On another possession, an unnecessary pass interference call was made on third-and-11. Instead of a stop, the defense surrendered points.
"We've got to be a smarter football team,'' Scott said. "There's no excuse. We have four hours of meetings every day and we've got to get these things right. I've never been around a great player who was undisciplined off the field, not accountable, not doing the right things. Doing things right is who you are and we have to get our guys to understand situations.
"We're looking to make progress this season, so we're looking for any edge we can get. Making (silly) penalties hurts that. We have to control the controllable and playing disciplined and smart is something we can control.''
Offensively, junior running back Jaren Mangham, a transfer from Colorado, ran for touchdowns of 12 and 2 yards. Freshman Brian Battie had a 25-yard touchdown scamper and freshman quarterback Katravis Marsh had an 11-yard scoring run.
Junior running back Mychael Hamilton had three touchdowns in the goal-line session, meaning he has touched the ball seven times in goal-line situations during the last two scrimmages — with seven touchdowns.
Sophomore quarterback Cade Fortin had a 43-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Latrell Williams, while sophomore quarterback Jarren Williams delivered a 4-yard score to freshman Bailey Purcell.
Overall, Fortin was 6-for-9 for 143 yards, while completing passes of 43, 42 and 27 yards. McClain was 4-for-8 for 73 yards. Marsh had five carries for 69 yards, including a 38-yard run, and Jarren Williams was 1-for-2 for 4 yards in his only series. Junior receiver Bryce Miller had three catches for 79 yards, including a long touchdown strike from Fortin.
Defensively, junior linebacker Dwayne Boyles had a sack and two tackles for a loss in an overall impressive outing. Junior safety Isaiah Cromarty had the scrimmage's only interception. Sophomore defensive end Jason Vaughn and sophomore linebacker Brian Norris each had a sack, while senior defensive lineman Thad Mangum made another splash play, a tackle for a 3-yard loss when he crashed into the backfield to dump sophomore running back Kelley Joiner.
The decision is near
Scott said he's not yet ready to announce his starting quarterback. But with the scrimmages done and NC State preparations ahead, he could be close to making it official.
"We're not trying to trick anybody or create any suspense,'' Scott said. "As soon as we do name a starter, I'll be happy to announce it publicly. I don't think it's going to be a big surprise.''
Fortin has been considered the front-runner since spring drills and he has continued to get reps with the first team. But in most seasons, more than one quarterback is needed, so the skills of McClain, Marsh and Jarren Williams bear watching.
Alumni day
More than 50 USF football alumni attended Saturday's scrimmage, then had lunch with USF coaches and staff. In the 25th season for USF football, the accomplishments of past players and teams will continue to be spotlighted.
"That's something really important to me,'' Scott said. "Just to see them (past players) interact with our players was really special. I always tell our football alumni that it's their program. I may be the head coach and leader at this point, but those guys put everything on the line. It's our responsibility to build on that.''
The Selmon legacy
Thursday night, USF players heard from Claybra Selmon, the widow of Lee Roy Selmon, the Pro Football Hall of Fame player who became a cornerstone administrator during the formation of USF's football program. Scott said he has worked to educate himself about Selmon's legacy. Claybra Selmon's presence only enhanced what Scott and the USF players knew about the Tampa Bay sports and civic icon, who died in 2011.
"It's very evident that she still has a strong passion for the student-athletes here at USF,'' Scott said. "A lot of things I have been preaching are exactly what she told our players. These were the things important to her husband — doing your best in everything, being humble, reaching out to help people. These qualities are part of the DNA of our program and the people who founded it.''
