Mangham & Weaver look to build on 2021 Success under new coordinator Trickett
By Joey Johnston
Running back Jaren Mangham was spectacular in his first USF season — 671 yards rushing, 15 touchdowns (which ranked 13th nationally). He brought needed size (6-foot-2, 221 pounds) to the Bulls backfield after transferring from Colorado.
What does he have planned as an encore?
Mangham said it's all about team success.
"I'm always really confident in myself,'' said Mangham following USF's sixth practice of spring football. "Last year, I just wanted to prove to myself all over again that I could do it. Why not me?
"But even with the individual success, we still lacked team results. That's what I'm trying to focus on this year. I want to make sure I'm uplifting and bringing everyone else with me.''
It's a crowded and diverse running backs room with Mangham, holdovers Brian Battie, Kelley Joiner Jr., Mychael Hamilton and Yasias Young, the Bulls return their top four rushers and 93 percent of their rushing yardage from 2021. Add to that Clemson transfer Michael Dukes, redshirt freshman K'Wan Powell (returning from a knee injury) and freshman Jason Albritton of Newsome High School and the options are plentiful.
How the running backs are deployed — and how much of the workload goes to Mangham — will be something to watch under new offensive coordinator Travis Trickett.
"I'm never going to complain about anything,'' Mangham said. "I'm always grateful. I know we have a lot of guys who bring different things to the table. It's about the mentality you bring. What I tell the guys is every single day, whenever you do get the ball in your hands, make sure you make it count.''
Dealing With Adversity
Trickett said spring practice has been productive, but not particularly smooth and easy. That's by design.
"Our guys have been challenged not only physically, but mentally,'' Trickett said. "We've been making it very intense. You want to practice adverse situations, see how they react and respond. If something bad happens (in a game), you already know how the guy is going to respond.
"When you're the new guy (as coordinator), everybody wants to get on your good side. All of a sudden, when something adverse happens, do you still have that mentality? Or do you blame, complain or defend your actions? When something great happens, we're going to highlight it and celebrate it. But if something negative happens, this is where you say 'This is not OK. This will not happen. We won't allow it.' So, we're really looking at how guys react when they're frustrated and things don't go their way. And I have to say, so far, I love the way we have responded.''
Weaver Wants More
Wide receiver Xavier Weaver had a productive 2021 season with 41 receptions for 715 yards to lead the Bulls. He expects even more productivity in 2022.
"I feel like the game is slowing down for me,'' Weaver said. "I'm putting things together on the field and I'm really motivated by what we've got going on.''
Weaver's final catch of 2021 was probably his best. On USF's final drive at UCF, Weaver leaped high between two defenders to snag a 35-yard reception from Timmy McClain, setting up the Bulls at the Knights' 17-yard line. USF eventually reached the UCF 3, but couldn't punch it in and fell short, 17-13.
"I just saw the ball and went and got it,'' Weaver said. "A lot of people said that was the best catch they've seen me do, but I've been doing that (making spectacular catches) for a while now. It was one of my favorite catches. I wish it could've sealed the game for us.''
Football As A Second Language
Trickett said his philosophy and terminology is very close to former USF offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., now in the same position at Ole Miss. So far, the players have mostly had a seamless transition.
"With the language, it's easier if one person learns instead of 60 people learning,'' Trickett said. "I came in and said, 'OK, I believe in these things.' So, I learned the (previous) terminology. We want the language to be universal so we can apply it.''
Trickett said football language and terminology comprise most of the meeting time spent with his coaches.
"There's no ego,'' Trickett said. "It's about being on the same page as a staff and making it work for the players. Sometimes, I'll go over to Mo (offensive line coach Allen Mogridge) and say, 'What's your verbiage on this?' I want it clearly defined, so we're spitting out that same verbiage to the players.
"That's why we (coaches) are here so long (in meetings). The most valuable time we have is time with the players. We've got to maximize that time and make sure everything we do is extremely detailed and on point, so our kids can go out, react and play instead of trying to think.''
