Bulls at NC State: Keys To Victory & Notables
USF GAME NOTES (PDF)
USF (0-0; 0-0 American) at NC STATE (0-0; 0-0 ACC)
Thursday, Sept. 2 • 7:30 P.M. • Raleigh, N.C., • Carter-Finley Stadium (57,583)
TV: ACC NETWORK & ESPN+: Dave O'Brien (p-by-p), Tim Hasselbeck (analyst) & Kelsey Riggs (sideline)
RADIO: 1250 AM WHNZ: Jim Louk, Sam Barrington & Joey Johnston
AUDIO STREAM: iHeartRadio - Bulls Unlimited1
SERIES: NC State leads, 2-1
By Joey Johnston
RALEIGH, N.C. — USF coach Jeff Scott has said this season is all about progress. In tonight's opener against the NC State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium, the Bulls' defense is probably the unit that must show the greatest improvement.
NC State brings a huge challenge.
The Bulls, which ranked 106th nationally in rushing defense (212.3 yards per game), must contend with the talented and rugged Wolfpack backfield of sophomore Zonovan "Bam'' Knight (5-foot-11, 210 pounds) and junior Ricky Person (6-1, 222).
That puts an emphasis on USF's defensive front, which includes the likes of nose tackle Kelvin Pinkney (6-3, 315), defensive tackle Thad Magnum (6-2, 275), defensive tackle Blake Green (6-1, 276) and defensive end Rashawn Yates (6-3, 280). NC State's expected starting offensive linemen average 308 pounds.
"Stopping the run — always,'' USF defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer said in describing his priority for the opener. "How we tackle their big backs is our biggest challenge. Then they bring in (number) 3 (Jordan Houston) and he has explosiveness. They have a veteran offensive line that has seen every front.
"If you don't stop the run, you're in for a long night. We're a better defense (from last season), I know that. How that's going to equate to wins and losses, I don't know. We just want to see steady improvement. Our guys will tell you they're more comfortable in the scheme. Now they have to execute against talented players. Those backs embarrassed a lot of ACC opponents last year. Their skill set is some of the best we will see all year.''
In addition to the physical challenge, Scott said the defense must show significant improvement in its mental approach.
"It's about alignment, assignment and people being where they're supposed to be,'' Scott said. "That's what defense is. On offense, one guy runs the wrong route and you may throw it over here for a touchdown and nobody even knows it (wrong route). Defensively, if one guy is out of a gap against these talented guys, it's a touchdown.
"So we have a big focus on being sure everybody understands their assignment, where they line up, where their eyes are. We have to get those backs on the ground because they're probably some of the best we'll see all year.''
Mangum said the Bulls are equipped to show multiple defensive fronts to NC State, varying from the base 3-3-5 look. Regardless of the alignment though, Mangum said it's mostly about heart.
"We do want to redeem ourselves and show what we're really all about,'' Magnum said. "We have the USF logo on our chest and the name on the back of our jerseys representing our families. We want to come out and execute, just play as hard as we can.''
Spencer, who said he also has great respect for the passing/running ability of Wolfpack sophomore quarterback Devin Leary, feels satisfied with his defense's preparation.
"We're a more confident team, but you can't hinge everything off one play, one drive or one game,'' Spencer said. "I'll be surprised when we turn on that film if the effort was not exceptional and the execution of what we're asking them to do is not better than what it has been.
"You can have all the scrimmages you want during fall camp, but now it's real. You're plugging in different pieces that have transferred and guys who didn't play (last season) and now you're going to see how they react in that (opening-game) environment. There's a lot of anxiety that comes with that. But it's also pretty cool to see how they're going to react. I think they're ready for that kind of challenge.''
Beating the Wolfpack
As a Clemson University player (2000-02) and assistant coach (2008-19), Scott was 13-2 against NC State. After the Wolfpack prevailed 37-13 in 2011, Scott's Clemson teams ran off eight straight victories against NC State, winning by an average 43-21 margin.
Carolina success
USF football is 8-2 all-time in North Carolina for the program's most victories in a state outside of Florida. That includes a 5-0 mark against East Carolina (highlighted by a 38-37 double-overtime win in 2003), a 2006 win at North Carolina (37-20) and a 2008 romp against N.C. State (41-10).
Matt Grothe passed for 259 yards in that 2008 game against the Wolfpack, who finished 6-7 and lost a bowl game against Rutgers. Against USF, N.C. State played without its injured starting quarterback, who finished with 17 touchdown passes and just one interception while earning ACC Freshman of the Year honors. That was Russell Wilson, who later transferred to Wisconsin and now seems on a Pro Football Hall of Fame trajectory with the NFL's Seattle Seahawks.
Connections
* USF cornerbacks coach George Barlow, in his first season with the Bulls, was most recently assistant head coach for defense and cornerbacks coach for NC State.
* USF has had three all-time lettermen who played at a North Carolina high school — cornerback Nick Cuccia (2017, Indian Trail Jireh Prep); linebacker LeGrande Harley (2007, Southern Durham High); and linebacker Brandon Peguese (2007, Greensboro Grimsley High)
* Former USF Athletics employee Brian Clark, who oversaw major financial gifts to the department, is now executive director of development and external relations for NC State's Poole College of Management. Clark, an integral part of Chamberlain High's 2001 state finalist team, played wide receiver at NC State and five seasons in the NFL before beginning his athletic administration career with USF.
Trivia time
USF has played games in 29 states (and Canada). Can you name the three states in which the Bulls have not lost a game? (Answer below).
Looking ahead
After tonight's game at NC State, the Bulls will prepare for their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 11 against the Florida Gators, ranked No. 13 in the Associated Press poll and No. 11 in the coaches poll. The Gators open Saturday night at home against Coach Willie Taggart's Florida Atlantic Owls.
It's the 45th time for the Gators to play in Tampa, which includes five Outback Bowl appearances, plus games at all four of Tampa's major football venues (Plant Field, Phillips Field, Tampa Stadium, Raymond James Stadium).
The Gators won the only previous meeting with the Bulls, 38-14 on Sept. 12, 2010 in Gainesville. Bulls' fans might remember the stunning start: USF mounted a 17-play, 96-yard drive on its opening possession, scoring on B.J. Daniels' 2-yard pass to tight end Andrew Ketchel.
As part of a 2-for-1 contract, the Bulls are scheduled to face the Gators in Gainesville on Sept. 17, 2022 and Sept. 6, 2025.
Trivia answer
USF football is undefeated in Louisiana, Massachusetts and Nevada. The sample sizes are small.
Louisiana (1-0) — USF defeated Tulane 34-28 on Oct. 21, 2017.
Massachusetts (1-0) — USF defeated UMass 58-42 on Oct. 6, 2018.
Nevada (1-0) — USF defeated Nevada 32-31 on Sept. 8, 2012.
