Spring Football Early Standouts And Notables
By Joey Johnston
After two weeks of USF spring football practice, some familiar names — and several newcomers — have been early standouts. Every day can bring a new theme, but even with a relatively small sample size, some trends have developed.
Linebacker DJ Gordon
The offensive line is a unit of leadership — on and off the field. There's enviable depth at the skill positions. The defensive line has been retooled nicely. Competition is fierce at linebacker. Between players returning from injury and newcomers, the secondary appears to have great options.
"Overall, it just feels like a more mature team, one that is very locked in,'' Bulls coach Jeff Scott said. "I see very few guys looking for a way out. They are pushing through in practice. You finish like that every day in the offseason and that's the way you finish games in the fall.''
First-year USF offensive coordinator Travis Trickett said center Brad Cecil has him fired up because of "how he attacks everything.'' Guard Demetris Harris is "gritty" and Trickett "loves everything about how he works.'' Trickett also praised the toughness and physicality of offensive tackles Donovan Jennings and Demontrey Jacobs.
Logic says that Timmy McClain is the expected starter at quarterback — and Scott admitted that USF players would probably pencil him in as the first-stringer — but Katravis Marsh and freshman Byrum Brown continue to turn heads.
Trickett loves the crowded and diverse running backs room with holdovers Jaren Mangham, Brian Battie, Kelley Joiner, Mychael Hamilton and Yasias Young, plus Clemson transfer Michael Dukes, K'Wan Powell (returning from a knee injury) and freshman Jason Albritton of Newsome High School.
At receiver, Trickett said Xavier Weaver, coming off a team-leading 41 catches for 715 yards, is "as great a practice player as I've ever been around'' and that a much stronger Jimmy Horn (having added 12 pounds of muscle) has had a profound presence. Trickett is also intrigued with the physical presence of Clemson transfer Ajou Ajou (6-foot-3, 220 pounds).
Meanwhile, first-year defensive coordinator Bob Shoop said returning defensive linemen Rashawn Yates, Darrien Grant and Tramel Logan have been up to the task so far. He has also liked the work of transfers Jatorian Hansford (Missouri), Rashad Cheney (Minnesota), Clyde Pinder (North Carolina) and Nick Bags (Rutgers), plus freshman Jacquez Williams.
Putting more pressure on the quarterback is a huge priority, so Shoop has been heartened by the effort and competition up front.
"I appreciate having my name mentioned, but I'm not getting too high or too low on the words people say about me,'' Yates said. "There's a lot of work to do and I want to just keep getting better.''
At linebacker, Dwayne Boyles and Antonio Grier have a combined 55 starts and 416 tackles. But they are being pushed by a pair of newcomers, DJ Gordon IV (Minnesota) and junior-college transfer Jhalyn Shuler. Holdovers Demaurez Bellamy and Brian Norris also are strongly in the mix.
USF's secondary might be one of the squad's most competitive units. There's plenty of returning experience with cornerbacks Daquan Evans, Christian Williams and Josh Green, plus safeties Vincent Davis, Mekhi LaPointe and Matt Hill.
Shoop has been impressed with the return of safety Will Jones, a Kansas State transfer who suffered a season-ending injury two days before the 2021 season-opener. Shoop has also mentioned returning safety Timarcus Simpson as one of the team's most pleasant spring surprises, while transfer cornerback candidates Aamaris Brown (Kansas State) and Ray Thornton III (Clemson) are pushing for time as well.
"One of our big objectives is to develop depth, especially up front,'' Shoop said. "I think we are doing that. Coach Scott has set the expectation — Best is the Standard. We're looking to develop a championship style of play. These young men want to do well and we're trying to put them in position to be successful. We're off to a good start.''
The Bulls, currently on spring break, will return to the practice field next week. USF will hold its spring game on Saturday, April 9 at Raymond James Stadium, set for a 6 p.m. kickoff. The squad will be drafted into two teams that will compete. At halftime, USF football alumni will play in a flag football game.
