The USF career of running back Kelley Joiner — more like a frustrating odyssey, really — will continue into a sixth season.
"I'm still here,'' Joiner said with a smile.
With his bachelor's degree in public health already secured — after extending his Bulls' tenure with a redshirt season and a bonus COVID year — Joiner just wants better luck with his own health.
Broken right leg. Broken left foot. Turf toe. Just when Joiner seemed to find his stride, it seemed there was another physical malady around the corner.
"Everybody is on their own timing,'' said Joiner, who just celebrated his 25th birthday. "I feel like my time is yet to come. I'm going to be patient and let God do the rest.''
As Coach Alex Golesh's Bulls prepare for the annual Spring Game presented by USF Health on Saturday afternoon at Corbett Stadium, there's general curiosity about USF's newcomers (transfers and freshmen). It might be easy to forget about an old hand such as Joiner.
But just like the first day he arrived on USF's campus, Joiner's speed and elusiveness present interesting possibilities.
"You put the ball in Kelley's hands, get him in space, and he can hurt you,'' Golesh said.
Joiner (5-foot-9, 184 pounds) has three career 100-yard rushing games and 1,419 career yards on the ground. There were tantalizing moments, such as the 14-carry, 126-yard effort against Temple, the 12-carry, 103-yard game at East Carolina (when he also had a 60-yard touchdown run negated by penalty), along with a stunning 75-yard scoring reception at Temple on a short route when he outraced the defense.
There was also plenty of starting and stopping, such as the last two seasons. In 2022, he suffered a broken left foot during fall camp and was limited to just three games. Last season, after helping the team's light receiving corps by working in the slot during the spring, he had a turf toe at Navy that cost him three games of inactivity.
But when he's healthy and operating in space … watch out.
"Kelley has tremendous experience and a great attitude,'' said Nay'Quan Wright, who was USF's leading rusher (797 yards) last season. "He sees things. He notices things. He can help you like a coach. He's a very dangerous runner and we missed him last season, when he was so banged up. Now that he's fully healthy, I feel he's going to put it on full display.''
"He has had as good a spring as anybody on our football team,'' offensive coordinator Joel Gordon said. "We're happy to still have Kelley on our roster. He has flashed in the past. He can be a difference-maker for sure.''
"Kelley is lightning in a bottle, a guy with real speed, real juice,'' running backs coach Micah James said. "He can help our offense in so many ways and it's up to us to find those ways where we get him in one-on-one situations.''
Joiner said he's open to any possibilities, whether it's work as a ball-carrier, some plays in the slot or returning kickoffs. He already has quantified his top goal. He wants to reach the number 13.
"Playing in all 13 games — the whole regular season and the bowl game — would mean everything to me,'' Joiner said. "There were times when I thought I haven't done too much here at USF, not like I expected. Staying healthy would give me an opportunity to go out like I want.''
Staying healthy has always been a challenge. He was a legend at South Lake High School in the Central Florida town of Clermont, where he rushed for 372 yards and eight touchdowns in one game. By the third game of his senior season, he already had 1,006 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns before a broken right leg ended his prep career.
He's still highly regarded in his hometown, where he hopes to one day open a youth training facility, working with aspiring athletes and teaching them the proper values for success.
For now, though, his primary mission is winning an American Athletic Conference championship with USF.
"I could have left USF and gone to my next step, but this team has unfinished business,'' Joiner said. "We want to be the best offense in the nation. And as a team, we want a championship. I feel like I can help contribute to those goals.''
Joiner has switched to No. 8, his high-school number, instead of his familiar No. 3. His South Lake career also was unfinished business and No. 8 has always been his favorite number, primarily because it's worn by his most admired NFL player, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
"It looks good, but some of my teammates still call me K-3,'' Joiner said. "I just want to get back to playing the way I know I can. We're all excited for Saturday (spring game). It's really another practice really, but you get juiced up when there are fans in the stands. Coming off the season we had, it's going to be very exciting. And I'm happy to still be a part of it.''
–#GoBulls–
