USF (2-2; 1-0 American) at Navy (1-2; 0-1 American)
Saturday, Sept. 30 • 3:30 P.M. • Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (34,000) • Annapolis, Md.
SURFACE: FieldTurf
TV: CBSSN: Jordan Kent (PxP), Randy Cross (Analyst) & Sheehan Stanwick-Burch (Sideline)
AUDIO: 102.5 FM & HD 2/TuneIn - Bulls Unlimited
SERIES: Navy leads, 2-1
IN TAMPA: USF leads, 1-0
IN ANNAPOLIS: Navy leads, 2-0
LAST TIME: Navy won, 35-3, in 2019 in Annapolis
VS. AAC: 31-50, 11th season
AAC ROAD GAMES: 15-25, lost 13 straight
Last Win: at ECU, 45-20, in 2019
USF GAME NOTES
Marquel Blackwell, Matt Grothe, B.J. Daniels, Quinton Flowers and … Byrum Brown?
Yes, it's early. But after the first six starts of Brown's career — including the four that have the Bulls at 2-2 (1-0 in the American Athletic Conference), heading into Saturday's road test at Navy (1-2, 0-1 AAC) — he's following the lineage of USF quarterback royalty.
Dual-threat. Quality leader. Big-play talent. Fan favorite.
Some of Brown's biggest fans are former USF quarterbacks.
"He's very mobile, good at throwing on the run in a fast-paced offense, very intelligent, tough, got a good deep ball,'' Daniels said. "Everything I've seen from Byrum, I really like — a lot.''
"The kid's a stud,'' Grothe said. "He does whatever it takes to make a play and he makes everyone around him better because of that. I'm excited to watch him continue to grow.''
Brown (6-foot-3, 213 pounds), who celebrates his 19th birthday on Friday, has accounted for 18 touchdowns in his six starts, a USF record over that span. He leads the Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing yards for a quarterback (351 yards), and the AAC in rushing overall for that matter, and is coming off a 435-yard passing performance against Rice that ranks second all-time in USF history. He also caught a two-point conversion pass and posted the second-most total yards (517) in program history for good measure.
"He's so, so young,'' said receiver Naiem Simmons, who set a USF and state of Florida FBS record with 272 receiving yards against Rice. "And he's so, so good.''
But it's USF coach Alex Golesh who has the quintessential description of Brown — "tough-ass dude.''
"I'm fascinated just by watching him, what it looks like every day — and every day is better and better for him as a player, a leader and a teammate,'' Golesh said. "He's wired the right way. He works the right way. He's got the ability to bounce back (after adversity) like nothing ever happened, which is a really incredible trait and certainly for a quarterback, one you've got to have.
"When I say tough, I'm speaking mentally as much as I am physically. The physical toughness you can see. He has the mental resolve and the toughness when things go bad. The way he has responded has been incredibly positive. That takes mental toughness. We as adults can't do that a lot of the time. The ability to bounce back, come back and care about everybody else around you … Byrum just fascinates me.''
Brown was named AAC Offensive Player of the Week, along with being selected Davey O'Brien Award "Great 8'' and Manning Award "Star of the Week.'' He described the honors as a "blessing,'' but was quick to say none of them would've happened without his offensive line, running backs, receivers, tight ends and coaches who made the play calls.
"It's really a testament to everyone,'' Brown said.
Brown also praised his parents — Andrew and Nicole Brown of Raleigh, North Carolina — who inspired the toughness that Golesh constantly praises.
"My mom and dad always said you've got to be mentally tough,'' Brown said. "I was physically tough initially. But mentally tough … I was really weak. When a coach (yelled) at me, I'd go into my shell or crumble.
"But now … I take it as them caring and wanting me to be better. So, I just go from play to play, not harping on the past and thinking about it too much. Just go from play to play.''
Which sounds like the "next-play mentality'' that Golesh seeks.
As for Brown's physical toughness, it has earned him respect throughout the program.
"After our first game (at Western Kentucky), that was my first time really seeing how tough Byrum was,'' defensive lineman Rashad Cheney said. "That dude took some hits. He came back for each and every play. He came in on Sunday and you see scratches everywhere. It sends a message that the guy leading our team is tough as nails. That's what you want. It makes you want to go out and play hard. I'm pretty sure everybody on our team can't do anything but say positive things about that kid.
"You don't see too many young guys who come in with that type of confidence. It usually takes guys a few years to adjust and mature. Just having him as the leader of the team … I trust him with the ball in his hands more than anybody else in this country.''
–#GoBulls–
