They exist in the shadows of a football game — filling ultra-necessary roles that influence a favorable result, but going largely ignored unless something goes terribly wrong.

Special teams often make an important difference and the USF Bulls (6-6) can vouch for that as they prepare for the Dec. 24 Hawaii Bowl against the San Jose State Spartans (7-6).

Andrew Stokes, the first-team All-American Athletic Conference punter, was a field-position weapon. The Bulls also had steady place-kicking with John Cannon and freshman Nico Gramatica, who displayed his vast potential by connecting on field-goal attempts of 58 and 51 yards in the same game.

Punters and place-kickers are the special-teams stars.

But what about the other guys?

"We have a core group that has played a ton on special teams and really made a huge difference,'' head coach Alex Golesh said. "Do they go unnoticed? Maybe by some of the fans, but certainly not by the coaches. We appreciate what they do. We know the importance of what they do.

"But the reality is many people have no idea of who they are. I love those guys. I feel like those are my guys. They do this not for the attention, but for a sheer love of the game and a sheer pride in being the best at what they do. I feel good that they get to enjoy the team success, go to the bowl game and hopefully have an experience they'll never forget.''

Who are these guys?

Here's a look at three of them.

 

Ryan Bolduc, holder.

Bolduc, a former quarterback at Sarasota Cardinal Mooney High School, is on track for success. He's a 4.0 student with designs on medical school. One day, he'd like to be an orthopedic surgeon or a cardiologist.

After his Cardinal Mooney graduation in 2020 — the COVID-19 year — Bolduc briefly considered some options to play college quarterback. But the schools were small and the financial aid too sparse. So, he hung up the helmet — for good, he thought — and enrolled at USF, an ideal spot for his undergraduate major, biomedical science.

One year into his USF experience, Bolduc received a phone call from the football staff. Want to join the team as a walk-on? Initially, Bolduc was stunned. After all, he hadn't thrown a football in about eight months. Bolduc's name was on a list compiled by the former staff, when they were considering preferred walk-ons.

"I worked out every once in a while, but I had to get my body prepared for college football,'' Bolduc said. "I was hesitant. But the more I thought about it, I said to myself, 'Heck, yeah. Let's do it.' It was something I had dreamed about as a kid and it was like I got a second chance at it.''

In Bolduc's first season, 2022, one quarterback transferred during training camp and the first two quarterbacks suffered season-ending injuries, so 18-year-old Byrum Brown was elevated to starter for the final two games. And that meant Bolduc was the backup — one injury away from game action — and he got practice reps with the second-string.

"I've always kept myself prepared to play and kept my body right,'' Bolduc said. "But there hasn't been any opportunities for me to take game snaps other than the Bethune-Cookman game (the 2024 opener) when we just ran the ball to kill the clock. I go to meetings and prepare like all of our other quarterbacks, but I kind of resigned myself to the fact that I'm not getting in the game.''

But Bolduc has found a valuable niche — holder for field-goal and extra-point attempts. Once, he vowed to never again hold for kicks after serving in that role during seventh-grade youth football. An opposing player was blocked into him and Bolduc wound up with a broken hand, costing him a year of quarterback play.

In the spring of 2023, though, the Bulls needed a holder and Bolduc volunteered. Under the watchful eye of coaches, Bolduc had an audition with dozens and dozens of reps — catch, spin … catch, spin … catch, spin — and he passed. The big adjustment was shifting from a right-hand hold to the left hand, giving a preferred angle to the kicker.

In two seasons, there have been no mistakes — not a one. He said it's muscle memory and repetition, a process that he never doubts and an average operation time of about 1.2 seconds. He said there's also an adjustment because Cannon and Gramatica take slightly different steps and they also like a slightly different lean of the ball.

In this season's game at Southern Miss, Bolduc got his magic moment. The Bulls lined up for a field-goal attempt, but it was a trick play as Bolduc deftly pitched the ball back to Cannon, who raced around the right side for a first down, just missing the end zone.

"I was really excited,'' Bolduc said. "I knew there was a chance we'd run the fake and I felt good about it working.''

Even with a largely anonymous role, Bolduc said he has enjoyed the time of his life, relishing the grind of practice, the preparation and the exhilaration of game day — all the qualities he thought he had left behind. He'll never forget executing the holds at Alabama before a capacity crowd of 100,000 and a national television audience.

Maybe one day, Bolduc can pass along those memories to his patients. There is one thing he'd like to enjoy before his final football game, although he acknowledges it's unlikely and time is running short.

"It would be cool to throw a pass in a college game,'' Bolduc said. "I realize it probably won't happen. But the whole experience is something that I'll cherish forever. I wouldn't trade my time at USF for anything in the world.''

 

Garrett Cates, long snapper.

In the transfer-portal era, did you know there's quite a competitive market for long snappers? And did you know that when USF signed Cates, a Steinbrenner High School graduate who played three seasons at Charleston Southern, he was considered a major acquisition?

Probably not.

But it's true.

Cates was ranked No. 2 in the Football Championship Subdivision long-snapper rankings (and No. 5 in all of college football, including the Football Bowl Subdivision), based on a formula that measured the location of his snaps, the speed of his snaps and the success of the coverage unit's pressure on the return man.

Cates, a defensive lineman in high school, said USF had always been his dream school. But he realized that long-snapping was his likely route to college football. His best offer was Charleston Southern, which provided the platform to prove himself as a valuable commodity.

"When I realized I wasn't going to grow into a blue-chip 6-foot-4 defensive lineman, I really starting concentrating on long-snapping,'' Cates said. "I became so passionate about it. It was all I thought about before going to bed. I was so locked in on the video and film and drills. I never would have guessed this for myself, but I became obsessed with long-snapping.''

After his Charleston Southern success, Cates said he was "inundated'' with transfer offers from schools that needed a long-snapper, including a few Power Four programs, but the lure of playing for USF in his hometown was the deciding factor.

Cates' production has been consistent and Stokes has praised that as a factor for USF's excellent season in the punting game. There was one low snap to Stokes' feet — it still bothers Cates, although it was against Memphis in Orlando when rain began falling during the second half — but the punter told him not to worry.

"I owe him a nice steak dinner because it's tough to go low with his big frame, but he was so athletic and made it work,'' Cates said.

Including spring ball, training camp, fall practices and some specialized workouts, Cates said he estimates "about 100,000'' long snaps. He doesn't think about it. He relies on muscle memory and instincts.

He took a lot of pride — but not much credit — when Gramatica connected on a 58-yard field goal against Miami.

"I mean, when our quarterback throws a swing pass to Kelley Joiner and he goes 80 yards with it, Kelley did the work, but the quarterback had something to do with it, right?'' Cates said. "I feel the same way. I'm part of the operation and we all accomplished it together.''

Cates said he does take special pride in hustling down the field and getting a tackle on a punt play — or maybe forcing the return man into a fair catch.

"The biggest thing is I want to stay unknown,'' Cates said with a laugh. "I'm good with nobody knowing who I am. I'm actually great with it. Because if too many people know you're the long-snapper, it usually means there are problems and I don't want those.

"I'm happy to just keep doing my job and staying in the background.''

There's an NFL need for long-snappers and Cates' ultimate dream is to get a shot at the league.

"You stay ready for the league, you get that call and, boom, you might do two weeks in the league or you might do three years,'' Cates said. "I'm going to give it my all and hope for an opportunity.''

Meantime, Cates will continue practicing his craft and maintaining his impenetrable mental focus.

"Somebody from the other team is always talking to you, trying to get you distracted or rattled,'' Cates said.

"They say, 'You (stink),' or they get personal,'' Cates said. "I've had people look up my mom, dad or sister on Facebook and they're saying crazy things about them.

"But when I get to the field and I've visualized what's going to happen so many times, I may hear something, but it's in one ear and out the other. I'm going to stay on schedule and operate like clockwork. The minute you let them get into your head, that's when you have problems. I want to be efficient, like a machine.''

 

Yasias Young, gunner.

In his final season at Fort Myers High School in 2019, Young (5-9, 180) rushed for 1,170 yards (130-yard average) and 17 touchdowns. In one game, he had four carries for 204 yards, including a 99-yard touchdown run. He was named Lee County Offensive Player of the Year by the Fort Myers News-Press.

He expected that to be enough for an FBS scholarship offer.

It was not.

Southern Miss, Akron and Kent State kicked the tires, but nothing materialized. Young accepted a walk-on role with USF, hoping he could work his way into the running-back rotation. That never occurred, although Young has seen some action, rushing 36 times for 136 yards in mop-up duty.

"When you're a running back, everybody's dream is to be the man, to get the rock,'' Young said. "Ever since I was little, I was the main guy with the ball always in my hands. My time at USF has been much different, obviously.

"You're here for hours, putting in the work, and you get frustrated because you don't get the chance to show some results. But I'm always talking to myself with the mentality that it's going to be OK. I give thanks to my family. I give thanks to my girlfriend, who always tells me to stay positive and believe that my time will come. I'm always grinding and hoping. But I'm also grateful that I found a role on special teams. I know I'm doing the little things that help us win games.''

Young lines up wide on punt plays. He's trying to get downfield as quickly as possible to corral the punt returner. When the other team is punting, Young sometimes tries to spring loose and have an opportunity for a block, while usually lining up wide to stop the opposing gunner. Often, he is occupying a pair of opposing players, allowing a teammate to make the play.

In the final regular-season game of 2023, Young had a pair of special-teams tackles against Charlotte.

"Definitely a wonderful moment,'' Young said. "I hadn't really tackled anybody since high school, when I played some defense. It's a different feeling than carrying the ball as a runner, but I loved every single moment.''

Young said he believed USF was his best option because he wanted to major in family and marriage counseling, plus it was only two hours from his hometown.

"I told myself I was going to come to USF and grind — and that's exactly what I've done,'' Young said.

Young has twice been named a team captain and he said he feels appreciated by Golesh and the staff, which constantly emphasizes the importance of special teams and "winning in the margins.''

Young said he also takes pride in the accomplishments of USF's leading rusher, Kelley Joiner (766 yards, 11 touchdowns), one of his closest friends. They met during Young's first training camp when Joiner introduced himself. They have been almost inseparable ever since, alternately sharing the exhilaration and frustration that their football careers have provided.

After getting his bachelor's degree in communications and working on a master's in physical education, Young still wants to become a counselor. In high school, he described himself as the "popular loner'' — known by everyone, but often preferring to spend time alone. Still, his advice was constantly sought by everyone.

"You can't fully appreciate someone's situation until you walk in their shoes,'' said Young, whose first name was derived from a name seen by his mother in a Spanish Bible. "Sometimes, you just need to listen and be there for people. I love helping people and bringing a smile to their face.

 "What I've learned is to be grateful for whatever you have in life. Maybe I didn't become the star running back at USF, but I filled an important role on this team. People might not know who I am, but football is a team sport. It's about perseverance and producing when your number is called. I think I've given it 100 percent every time out. And I think if I become a counselor, that's one of the messages I can pass along. Even if things aren't going your way, even if your dreams aren't coming true, you keep a positive attitude and you try to help wherever you can.''

–#GoBulls–