The USF tight ends — a collection of physical, athletic and versatile players — figure to be a key to the Bulls' offense. They even have an appropriate nickname, which reflects their close-knit nature and mutually beneficial working relationship.

They are the "Tight Friends.''

Former USF center Brad Cecil originated the moniker last season and it has stuck. Bulls tight end Gunnar Greenwald said it fits.

"We work well together and all have interesting skill sets,'' Greenwald said. "It's a very close room. It's actually as close as it could be. I think we all bring good things to the table and it's going to benefit this team a lot.''

USF coach Alex Golesh already is dreaming of ways he can maximize the tight-end combinations.

"I love tight ends … they paid my bills for a long, long time,'' said Golesh, who was responsible for tight ends at five of his assistant-coaching stops. "I really like our group. It's a cool bunch of guys who are very smart and very talented.

"I think we've got three regular-role guys who can create a bunch of formational sets and be able to change up the pictures (on film). They are uniquely different and they allow you to play different offensively, which is what you want. The more multiple you are offensively, the harder you are to defend. Tight end is a critical position for us.''

USF's new tight ends coach, Clay Patterson, played tight end at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. He coached tight ends for four seasons at Minnesota, helping the Golden Gophers to one of the most dynamic offenses in program history during the 2019 season (5,616 yards of total offense and 443 points scored).

Tight end was an under-utilized position for the Bulls in 2022, when four players combined for 12 catches, 117 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games. That production could be eclipsed in a few weeks.

The primary tight ends in the offensive rotation coming out of the fall will be Greenwald (6-foot-4, 240 pounds), a junior from Satellite Beach; Jayson Littlejohn (6-4, 248), a senior in his second USF season after transferring from College of the Sequoias; and Weston Wolff (6-4, 240), a junior and Venice High product who's making his USF debut after playing at Maryland.

Greenwald made a big impression last season with his blocking — at times displaying a devastating downfield weapon by laying out defenders — but the former high school receiver said he's capable of consistent pass-catching as well.

Greenwald lived in Las Vegas until he was 15, when his family moved to Satellite Beach on Florida's East Coast.

"It completely changed who I was for the better,'' Greenwald said. "Everything is about the beach and the surf culture. I'm just so much at home on the beach. I love surfing, skim boarding and just seeing the sunrise and the sunset. It's where I find peace and happiness.

"But when I step between the lines, it's a whole different Gunnar. Ask anybody and they'll say I'm a laid-back dude, kind of chill. But when I'm on the field, I'm locked in and ready to go. I like to run people over. I bring the anger, for sure. Catching passes is great, but I don't mind doing the dirty work.''

Littlejohn, who has changed from No. 80 to No. 0, made a startling late-season impression in 2022. He had two receptions — and both went for touchdowns.

"I feel like number zero means I'm unique and there's no one like me,'' Littlejohn said. "I think I can make an impact by getting into some physical mismatches. We actually have a few tight ends who can do that.''

One of them is Wolff, who was recruited by Golesh for Iowa State, then UCF. He liked Golesh during his recruitment, calling him "one of my favorite assistant coaches I dealt with during recruiting,'' but opted for an offer to play with Maryland in the Big Ten Conference.

"When it didn't work out at Maryland and I jumped into the transfer portal, there was Coach Golesh right away and he was now at USF,'' Wolff said with a laugh. "Coach Golesh said, 'Wes, are you ready to make the right decision this time? Are you ready to come home?' I just said, 'Yeah coach, let's do it. I'm not going to make the same mistake again.' And here I am.

"This is honestly a dream offense for a tight end. We'll be blocking, of course, but we'll also be split wide, running routes, catching passes and scoring touchdowns. It's definitely an advantage to have a head coach who appreciates the tight-end position and understands what it can provide for the offense.''

What does Golesh have in store? Time will tell, but count on the tight ends to become a high-profile position.

"I'm excited,'' Golesh said. "Jayson Littlejohn was a junior-college guy who has played a ton of football. Man, he is athletic and fast. Weston Wolff is in that same mode, where he gives you a ton of flexibility on the perimeter and in the box. Gunnar Greenwald is like a grizzled vet who looks like more of a box guy, but he has gotten faster and quicker so he has a role on the perimeter as well.

"It's a really deep room and a fun group to be around. I like them a lot.''

Which could lead to a bonus Wolff didn't anticipate.

"He's always poking his head in our meetings, joking around sometimes, but being serious when he needs to be,'' Wolff said. "He has built a relationship with each of us. When a head coach does that, it really puts it into perspective and it makes you want to work hard for the guy.

"I really think we should make Coach Golesh an honorary member of the 'Tight Friends.' I think he deserves it.''

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